New breeding methods and genome editing in agriculture

New breeding methods like genome editing make it possible to introduce precise, targeted improvements in plants, supporting productive agriculture with fewer resources under changing environmental conditions.

_{Natural mutations: the basis of diversity}

DNA breaks and repairs occur spontaneously and frequently in nature, causing natural mutations in cells. These natural mutations play a key role in evolution, ensuring that organisms can adapt to new or challenging conditions over time and therefore gradually change. This is why we see rich biodiversity today.

How does genome editing work in plants?

Genome editing builds on this natural principle but replaces the 'spontaneous' mutations with precision. Scientists can cut the genome at a precise and predefined position, inducing the cell's own repair mechanism. This in turn influences the expression of certain traits of the plant.

What can genome editing be used for in plant breeding?

Researchers first identify the function of plant genes that influence important traits, such as yield or resistance. Once a relevant gene is understood, genome editing can be used to adjust it in a targeted way. This makes it possible to develop crops with improved resistance to a disease, greater tolerance to climate stress, or enhanced nutritional value, digestibility or taste.

Can genome edited plants be distinguished from natural mutations?

The results of editing in the genome can be traced to a mutation – but you would not be able to determine whether it was achieved by conventional breeding methods, by genome editing, or had occurred naturally.

Does genome editing introduce foreign DNA into plants?

In most cases, genome editing in plant breeding does not involve the introduction of foreign DNA. The most widely used approach today, known as SDN‑1, creates very small, targeted changes within the plant’s own DNA without adding any genetic material. Resulting plants are non-transgenic and equivalent to those developed with conventional breeding.

Some applications of genome editing can produce genetically modified (GM) plants by introducing foreign genes.

What are the different genome editing methods and outcomes?

Depending on the crop or desired trait, different forms of genome editing can be used to enable versatility in the process. Zinc fingers, TALEN and CRISPR/Cas can all be applied in numerous ways. Given this, from a regulatory standpoint, it is important to evaluate the final product produced with these methods in a nuanced way.

How is genome editing regulated in the EU?

In the EU, following the 2018 ruling of the European Court of Justice, plants obtained through new genomic techniques (NGTs) were subject to the full GMO legislation, even if they contained no foreign DNA and were indistinguishable from conventionally bred plants. In practice, this created a barrier to using genome editing in commercial plant breeding in the EU.

Why was the EU legislation updated?

According to a study published by the European Commission in 2021, the existing legislation was not fit for purpose. It highlighted that NGTs could play an important role in building a more sustainable food system under the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy. Following this, the Council requested a broader assessment of the regulatory situation.

After conducting impact assessments and public consultations, the European Commission presented a legislative proposal in July 2023 for NGT plants. This proposal suggested a differentiated regulatory system for NGTs, creating a pathway distinct from GM regulations for plants that are “conventional-like” (Category 1 NGTs) and another pathway adapting present GM rules to NGT plants with more complex genetic changes (Category 2 NGTs). The introduction of this proposal initiated formal negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament.

How does the new EU regulatory framework for NGT plants work?

The EU’s new NGT Regulation was formally adopted in June 2026. The new framework distinguishes between different categories of NGT plants based on defined criteria.

Category 1 NGT plants could also occur naturally or through conventional breeding and are assessed against specific criteria. Compliance with the criteria is verified by national authorities or by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). These plants do not require authorisation under the EU GMO legislation and are regulated similar as conventionally bred plants.

Category 2 NGT plants are those that do not meet the criteria for Category 1. These plants remain subject to the existing GMO legislation, including risk assessment and authorization requirements.

When will the new EU framework enable the use of NGT plants in the market?

The new framework will be implemented once the relevant delegated and implementing acts are adopted. We expect that the first applications for Category 1 NGT verification can be submitted in the second half of 2028.

The updated rules provide better clarity and enable the use of genome editing of plants in the EU under defined conditions, bringing the framework closer to approaches used in other regions.