Organic farmers heat up debate over new plant breeding techniques

Organic farmers raised the alarm in January 2016 over the potential 'severe' economic and environmental consequences of new plant breeding techniques for Europe's farming sector, calling for GMO legislation to apply when approving new seed traits.

In a policy paper published on 14 January 2016, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements EU (IFOAM EU) urged the European Commission to classify NPBTs as falling 'within the scope of the GMO legislation'.

New plant breeding techniques focus on developing new seed traits within a given species through genetic engineering.

EurActiv, 08.01.16: Commission to decide on new plant breeding techniques within three months http://www.euractiv.com/sections/agriculture-food/commission-decide-new-breeding-techniques-within-three-months-320784

IFOAM EU: Press Release, 14.01.16: The organic sector urges the Commission to classify new genetic engineering techniques as GMOs http://www.ifoam-eu.org/en/news/2016/01/14/press-release-organic-sector-urges-commission-classify-new-genetic-engineering

IFOAM EU: Position Paper: New Plant Breeding Techniques (December 2015) http://www.ifoam-eu.org/sites/default/files/ifoameu_policy_npbts_position_final_20151210.pdf

ESO: Background information: Safeguard farmers' traditional plant breeding rights, say MEPs http://www.europeansources.info/record/safeguard-farmers-traditional-plant-breeding-rights-say-meps/

EurActiv, 31.03.16: Decision on new plant breeding techniques further delayed http://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/decision-on-new-plant-breeding-techniques-further-delayed/

EurActiv, 15.04.16: Agricultural authorisation body in meltdown over ‘new GMOs’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/french-agricultural-authorisation-body-in-meltdown-over-new-gmos/

EurActiv: Tag: New plant breeding techniques http://www.euractiv.com/topics/new-plant-breeding-techniques/

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