Yesterday, the European Parliament voted in favor of a bill allowing genomic technologies for plant breeding in the EU, such as the Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR gene scissors. European farmers' access to modern technology is crucial to competitive agriculture and essential to secure food production in Europe.
In 2023, climate change will challenge farmers in Europe to the greatest extent. The result was smaller, poorer quality crops and lower profitability on the bottom line. The competitiveness of agricultural companies is under pressure, but the will remains strong. The agricultural protests across Europe are not evidence of this in the least.
This is a professional group with a great responsibility on its shoulders. It is Europe's agricultural companies that have to ensure that we are fed regardless of the harsh weather conditions and the state of security policy. Farmers therefore need access to the most modern and efficient tools to achieve their mission of increased and more sustainable food production in the Union.
Important for competitiveness
Genaxen Crispr is one of many tools that have the potential to contribute to safe food production in Europe and increase the profitability of agricultural companies. Genomic technology won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and has since been used in research in both medicine and agriculture. With genetic scissors, it is faster to develop new crops that are robust, resistant and adapted to address the urgent climate change facing all of society.
Plant characteristics have been changed through plant breeding to improve quality, increase resistance to disease or increase yield throughout the ages.
Plant characteristics have been changed through plant breeding to improve quality, increase resistance to disease or increase yield throughout the ages. Using genomic technologies, this change can be made faster and more accurately than with other techniques.
A common EU regulatory framework for genetic engineering is essential and creates good conditions for the reliable use and development of genetic engineering. This is a prerequisite for maintaining consumer confidence, which is essential in the production and sale of food. But it is important that the design and interpretation of the EU regulatory framework does not constitute an obstacle to development. Legislation must take into account both development and research, as well as the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises in Europe.
A very important step
Current EU legislation regulating the use of new modern genetic technology for plant breeding is not up to date. Legislation has been initiated and has been interspersed with research and development, both in Sweden and abroad. Therefore, the fact that the European Parliament voted yesterday in favor of the draft law on the use of genomic technologies for plant breeding in the European Union is extremely important.
As the climate changes, crops must change too. European farmers are now a big step closer to reaping the benefits of years of research, especially in Sweden. Research indicates that modern plant breeding technology is a clear part of future agriculture.
But many parts of the legislative process within the EU remain in place. At present, it is not at all certain whether we will make a final decision before the European Parliament elections in June.
European farmers want to take responsibility for increasing food production and making it more sustainable. Therefore, we hope that European decision-makers will urgently move forward with legislation in order to secure a strong and sustainable future food production within the Union.
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