Breeders welcome EU shift on gene edited crops

EUROPE – The EU’s new proposal on gene edited crops has set off strong reactions from leading breeders who say the change will help them improve fruit and vegetable varieties while keeping their core breeding values intact.

Sun World International CEO Bernardo Calvo said the decision to allow gene edited varieties that can also appear through natural or conventional breeding shows a deeper understanding of the science. He told Fruitnet that “thanks to advances in science and technology, there are countless tools that will be added to classic breeding to improve precision and predicability.”

Calvo said gene editing tools help adjust traits without adding foreign material. He added that “they simply enhance the process of traditional breeding. They are not a new process.”

Growers, he noted, stand to gain the most. He said they continue to push for fruit with top quality and strong resilience. He explained that “gene editing techniques will propel our longstanding sustainability work on genetics that prioritises disease resistance and climate change resilience.”

Calvo said the EU’s move shows careful thought from regulators. “The EU’s decision reflects the careful and deliberate discernment that I feel is needed by regulators as innovations are introduced and studied.”

More breeders say the proposal gives room for growth

Xana Verweij, global biotech director at Enza Zaden, said the update marks an important shift because earlier rules forced the company to treat NGTs as GMO tools.

She explained that as a company committed to non-GMO breeding, that limit stopped them from using the techniques in commercial programmes. She said the provisional deal now “creates the opportunity to explore these technologies more broadly and, when appropriate, integrate them into Enza Zaden’s variety development programmes.”

Verweij said these tools help speed up work on resilience and quality. She added that this matters because global challenges keep tightening food supply systems. She said the company plans to move carefully and keep both staff and outside partners informed before taking any steps toward wider commercial use.

Eduard Fito, director of Semillas Fito, said the new rules will make research more precise but he does not expect major shifts in everyday breeding work. He raised a bigger worry about consumer acceptance. He said “this is precisely the biggest obstacle.” Fito believes shoppers look for clear value, and he doubts they will pay more for a product that shows no real difference.

Consumer trust may shape the next phase

Verweij said acceptance will depend on clear communication. She said Enza Zaden will keep explaining why and how it uses the tools while respecting non-GMO principles where needed.

Lena Maas, head of R and D operations at Hudson River Biotechnology, said the vote did not catch her team off guard.

She noted that “the likelihood of a vote being scheduled had been clear for some time.” Maas welcomed the result and said “seeing NGT1 plants positioned to be treated as non-GMO marks a significant and long-needed step toward a more innovation-friendly framework for Europe.”

Recent reports show that several EU member states now expect more funding requests tied to crop innovation. Industry groups also say the proposal may push seed firms to invest more in research once the final legal text reaches parliament for the next review.

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