The Friends of the Earth Europe analyse in detail the possible negative effects of the surprising draft on NGT deregulation by the Polish EU presidency. In a recent press release and a couple of briefings it is shown that the new draft EU law would exclude the new generation of genetically modified organisms (so-called NGTs) from most EU legislative requiremenents. Parallel the NGO Save our Seeds (SOS) warns on serious dangers of the increasing use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the development of genetically modified (GM) plants in a report.
Patents: consolidating corporate control
The Polish draft aims to minimise the marketing of patented new GMOs. However, the real issue lies in the existing patent legislation which is riddled with loopholes and fosters the power of a few agribusiness giants – Bayer, Corteva and Chem China/Syngenta – over the food sector. Deregulation of new GMOs will not help curb these monopolies.
By allowing biotech giants to patent GMO traits as well as traits that occur naturally or through classical breeding methods, the law risks granting corporations ownership over natural seeds and conventionally bred products. This would block small and medium-sized breeders from accessing critical genetic resources, undermining their ability to adapt to emerging diseases or extreme weather, write the Friends of the Earth.
Convergence of generative AI and genetic engineering raises new concerns
Parallel the NGO Save our Seeds (SOS) warns on serious dangers of the increasing use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the development of genetically modified (GM) plants. "It is raising significant new concerns about their safety" emphasizes a press release. "These developments come at a time when the European Union (EU) is considering a far-
reaching deregulation of GM plants engineered with gene-editing technologies such as
CRISPR-Cas. Under draft EU rules, most gene-edited plants would bypass existing EU
requirements for GMO risk assessments, traceability, and consumer labelling. AI-driven genetic engineering now enables developers to even create 'new-to-nature' proteins and
organisms, which could pose previously unknown risks. If the EU moves forward with this deregulation, GM plants created by automated AI systems could enter the market without detection method, safety testing or consumer labelling, exposing EU citizens and the environment to previously unknown hazards", SOS experts argue.
Read the complete report "When Chatbots breed new plant varieties" or the summary "An Explosive Mix"
Franziska Achterberg, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Save Our Seeds, said:
“The convergence of these two technologies amplifies the weaknesses of gene editing — such as unintended side effects — by adding known shortcomings of generative AI, including the ‘black box’ effect, hallucinations, and data distortions. Rather than dismantling essential safeguards, the EU should establish forward-thinking GMO regulations that strengthen its oversight and control of genetically engineered plants, addressing the new challenges arising from these technological developments."
Briefings by Friends of the Earth:
Patents:
Impacts of deregulation:
Impacts of safety deregulation:
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