AFBV-WGG Bericht - AFBV-WGG Statement

► Update zu den laufenden Diskussionen über den Regulierungsvorschlag der Europäischen Kommission über Neue Genomische Techniken (NGTs) - Empfehlungen zum Trilog

► Update on ongoing discussions on the regulatory proposal of the European Commission on New Genomic Techniques ("NGTs"): recommendations to reach the Trilogue

► Point sur discussions en cours autour de la proposition réglementaire de la Commission européenne relative aux Nouvelles Techniques Génomiques (« NTG ») : pistes pour aboutir au Trilogue

Meetings-Veranstaltungen

Häusling M.: Podiumsdiskussion Grüne Woche: "Vom Feld bis ins Regal - Wie schaffen wir faire Preise für alle?"

Freitag, 17. Januar 2025; Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung - Bundesstiftung Berlin, Schumannstr. 8, 10117 Berlin

https://calendar.boell.de/de/civi_register/159599

https://www.martin-haeusling.eu/termine/3181-podiumsdiskussion-gruene-woche-vom-feld-bis-ins-regal-wie-schaffen-wir-faire-preise-fuer-alle.html

Kulturpflanzen und Nutztieren verbessern

10. Februar 2025, 14:00 bis 18:00 Uhr, Universität für Bodenkultur (BOKU), Ilse-Wallentin-Haus, Seminarraum 29; Peter Jordan Straße 82; 1190 Wien

https://www.oeaw.ac.at/en/detail/event/kulturpflanzen-und-nutztieren-verbessern

Press Releases - Media / Presse- und Medienberichte

Grunwald M.: Sorry, but This Is the Future of Food

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/13/opinion/food-agriculture-factory-farms-climate-change.html?unlocked_article_code=1.hU4.CDUS.H9BWZkFQu1dX&smid=re-nytopinion  (also a pdf-file is available)

Biosafe 10 Years: The Future of Food, Innovations and Safety in 2034

https://www.biosafe.fi/insight/the-future-of-food-innovations-and-safety-in-2034

Jong-hyun L.: Italy conducts outdoor gene editing trials to combat mold disease in wine production

https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-science/2024/12/17/JWZRVLCUHFDCDFFX5A7RMXIC2M/

GM Watch: EFSA’s opinions on GMO-derived fake meat product are full of data gaps and errors

https://gmwatch.org/en/106-news/latest-news/20489

EFSA FAF Panel (2024): Safety of soy leghemoglobin from genetically modified Komagataella phaffii as a food additive. EFSA Journal, 22(6), e8822. | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8822

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8822

Brian Kelly B.: Food security and CAP among key issues during Poland’s EU presidency

https://www.europeaninterest.eu/food-security-and-cap-among-key-issues-during-polands-eu-presidency/

Only some selected press releases or media reports are listed here. The daily up-date of the press releases and

 media reports are ►here: December week 51

Publications – Publikationen

EC (2024: EU agricultural outlook, 2024-2035.

European Commission, DG Agriculture and Rural Development, Brussels.

https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/document/download/48b04248-de6c-4608-bbcf-f2c9e0ed9d2b_en?filename=agricultural-outlook-2024-report_en.pdf

Jin, Y., Kristkova, Z. S., Kardung, M., & Wesseler, J. (2024). Impacts of accelerating agricultural R&D transfer on global food

security. GM Crops & Food 15(1), 1–12 | https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2024.2438419

Postponing the adoption of genome editing (GE) is costly, with lengthy regulatory processes contributing to postponement. Accelerating agricultural research and development (R&D) transfer is important for stimulating sustainable agricultural transitions and enhancing global food security. Using the MAGNET model, we incorporate dynamic R&D accumulation and compare economic projections in scenarios with accelerated R&D transfer. We calculate the cost of delay (COD) from postponing GE adoption. The results show that accelerating R&D transfer in high-income countries impacts economic performance, welfare, and food affordability globally; the annuity of COD ranges from losses of -$1.1 billion (Brazil) to gains of $18.5 billion (Europe). A 3-year acceleration of R&D transfer in all countries benefits middle and low-income countries the most (e.g. China, India, other Asian countries, and Sub-Saharan African countries), with the annuity of COD ranging from -$4.8 billion (Brazil) to $83.9 billion (China). Therefore, streamlining the GE regulatory framework is essential for enhancing food security and global welfare.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2024.2438419#abstract

Rabuma T, Moronta-Barrios F and Craig W (2024): Navigating biosafety regulatory frameworks for genetic engineering in

Africa: a focus on genome editing and gene drive technologies. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 12:1483279. | doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1483279

Genome editing and gene drive technologies are increasingly gaining attraction in Africa, with researchers exploring their potential applications in agriculture, health and the environment. Acknowledging that robust regulatory frameworks are crucial in facilitating the development and utilization of these technologies, informed decision-making is, however, being impeded by the fragmented information availability and readiness of regulatory authorities on the continent.

Objectives: This study investigates the regulatory frameworks governing genome editing and gene drive technologies in African countries, identifies common regulatory challenges and proposes actionable solutions.

Methods: Primary data were collected through questionnaires and complemented by analysing existing biosafety regulations from online databases and scientific literature.

Results: Our findings suggest that while a few African countries have recently updated their regulatory frameworks, many are still under discussion. Challenges to development and implementation include limited resources, expertise, awareness, and public resistance.

Conclusion: The findings underscore the urgent need for further development in regulatory capacities. By shedding light on these challenges, our study could provide African regulators with valuable insights to guide the formulation of effective regulatory frameworks. Such frameworks are essential for harnessing the potential of genome editing and gene drive technologies while safeguarding human health and the environment in Africa.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1483279/full

Abdo, A.I., Sun, D., Shi, Z. et al. (2024): Conventional agriculture increases global warming while decreasing system

sustainability. Nat. Clim. Chang. | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02170-4

Intensification of farming since the Green Revolution has led to large increases in yield but has also increased anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Here, by providing a global comprehensive cradle-to-gate quantification from seed to yield, we show that the global warming potential (GWP) of conventional agriculture of grain crops has increased eightfold from 1961 to 2020, whereas the sustainability index (SI) has decreased threefold. Tillage, synthetic fertilizers and irrigation together accounted for 90% of the increased GWP, linked to tenfold increases in fertilization and groundwater use and more than doubled mechanized and irrigated areas. We highlight regions with high GWP and low SI, such as South Asia, and project further threefold increases in agriculture GWP by 2100 compared with 2020 (3.3 ± 0.73 PgCO₂e) driven by declined use efficiency of the inputs. Green energy and climate-smart agriculture techniques can reduce the projected GWP in 2100 to 2.3 PgCO₂e and increase the SI fourfold.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-024-02170-4

Wie J., Liu J., Tian Y., Wang Z. et al. (2024): Discovery and engineering of ChCas12b for precise genome editing.

Science Bulletin. 69 (20), 3260-3271 doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2024.06.012.

Many clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat and CRISPR-associated protein 12b (CRISPR-Cas12b) nucleases have been computationally identified, yet their potential for genome editing remains largely unexplored. In this study, we conducted a GFP-activation assay screening 13 Cas12b nucleases for mammalian genome editing, identifying five active candidates. Candidatus hydrogenedentes Cas12b (ChCas12b) was found to recognize a straightforward WTN (W = T or A) proto-spacer adjacent motif (PAM), thereby dramatically expanding the targeting scope. Upon optimization of the single guide RNA (sgRNA) scaffold, ChCas12b exhibited activity comparable to SpCas9 across a panel of nine endogenous loci. Additionally, we identified nine mutations enhancing ChCas12b specificity. More importantly, we demonstrated that both ChCas12b and its high-fidelity variant, ChCas12b-D496A, enabled allele-specific disruption of genes harboring single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These data position ChCas12b and its high-fidelity counterparts as promising tools for both fundamental research and therapeutic applications.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095927324004080?via%3Dihub

Adamala K.P. et al. (2024): Confronting risks of mirror life. Science 10.1126/science.ads9158

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ads9158

EFSA

FEZ Panel 2024): Revised dietary exposure assessment of the food enzyme endo 1,4-β-xylanase from the genetically modified

Aspergillus oryzae strain NZYM-FB. EFSA Journal, 22(12), e9163. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9163

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9163

FEZ Panel (2024): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme containing endo-polygalacturonase and β-glucosidase from the non-

genetically modified Aspergillus tubingensis strain ARO. EFSA Journal, 22(12), e9125. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9125

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9125