The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) has released a new video showcasing experts from across the agricultural supply chain discussing the transformative potential of new genomic techniques (NGTs).
As the European Parliament gears up for hearings on the incoming College of Commissioners, food security remains a key concern. The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) has released a video featuring experts from the agricultural supply chain, highlighting the transformative potential of new genomic techniques (NGTs). Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) must take action by embracing NGTs to benefit European farmers, global food systems, and the environment.
The video underscores how NGTs such as CRISPR are a boost to plant breeding by enabling efficient, more precise development of crops with desirable characteristics such as drought tolerance and disease resistance, according to a press release. These innovations are crucial, considering the increasing demand for sustainable, climate-resilient crops. Key insights from the video include:
Efficiency and precision: Experts emphasize that genomic techniques allow targeted, budget-friendly modifications that can introduce characteristics in crops within five to seven years, compared to conventional breeding methods, which can take decades.
Food security and climate resilience: As farmers face increasing challenges from extreme weather and demands for more sustainable farming practice, NGTs enable improved plant varieties to adapt quickly to the realities of climate change, ensuring stable crop yields and contributing to global food security.
Barriers to access: Many EU farmers want improved varieties enabled by NGTs and are unable to access them due to current EU regulations.
The video features insights from a diverse group of experts: Patricija Gran, Researcher at Wageningen University Plant Research; Gary Rudgers, Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs at J.R. Simplot Company; Ying Shao, CEO of Plantik Biosciences; Dr. Leena Tripathi, Director of the Eastern Africa Hub at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA); Thor Gunnar Kofoed, Farmer and Vice-President of the Danish Agriculture & Food Council; and Tiberiu Dan Stan, Farmer and Vice-President of the Romanian Corn Producers Association.
As the EU continues its discussions on the use of NGTs, ASTA states that this video provides a timely resource for policymakers, researchers, and farmers to advocate for the adoption of these vital technologies, which are critical for ensuring agricultural sustainability and food security in both Europe and the United States.
“With climate change intensifying and the need for sustainable farming practices growing worldwide, plant breeding innovation offers a way forward,” said Andy LaVigne, President & CEO of ASTA.
“These genomic techniques provide us with the tools to not only ensure food security but also to develop improved varieties that are more resilient to environmental pressures. It is crucial that these technologies are fully utilized for the benefit of both farmers and consumers.”
Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/nBzyK5s7eP8
The post EU Researchers and Farmers Urge MPs to Support Genomic Innovations in New Video appeared first on Seed World.