New Genomic Techniques for Crops

The European Commission proposed a New Genomic Techniques (NGT) regulation creating a two-tier system for gene-edited crops: Category 1 plants with small, targeted mutations equivalent to what could occur naturally would be deregulated (treated like conventional crops), while Category 2 plants with more complex modifications would face lighter requirements than current GMO rules. The European Parliament voted to advance the proposal, and trilogue negotiations with the Council are ongoing as of early 2026.

The regulatory reform is itself a technology: it determines whether European plant breeders can use CRISPR to develop drought-resistant wheat, disease-resistant potatoes, and reduced-allergen crops — or whether these innovations continue to flow exclusively to the Americas, Asia, and other regions that already approved gene-edited crops. A 2018 European Court of Justice ruling classified all gene-edited organisms as GMOs, effectively blocking the technology in Europe while competitors deployed it commercially.

The stakes for European agriculture are significant: climate change is already reducing yields of key European crops, and conventional breeding takes 10-15 years to develop new varieties. CRISPR can achieve the same mutations in 1-2 years — the difference between adapting to climate change in time and being overtaken by it. Twenty-six European food and feed industry associations signed an open letter in November 2025 urging swift adoption. If passed, the NGT regulation would unlock a generation of European crop innovation that has been stalled for nearly a decade.