Induced Genetic Variation in Crop Plants by Random or Targeted Mutagenesis: Convergence and Differences

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Genetics
• Biotechnology

Background:

• New Breeding Techniques (NBTs) enable targeted mutagenesis in crop plants.
• Current EU legislation, based on a 2018 CJEU decision, does not exempt NBT-modified organisms from GMO regulations.
• This contrasts with conventional mutagenesis methods, which are explicitly exempted due to long-term use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To challenge the EU court's assertion that NBTs operate at a disproportionately high rate compared to conventional mutagenesis.
• To highlight the convergence between NBTs and conventional mutagenesis, particularly with TILLING methods.
• To argue for a reconsideration of EU legislation regarding NBTs to support the European plant breeding industry.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of mutation rates and precision between conventional mutagenesis and NBTs.
• Examination of TILLING methods for detecting mutations across genomes.
• Legal and industrial impact assessment of current EU GMO legislation on NBTs.

Main Results:

• NBTs and conventional mutagenesis, especially with TILLING, now achieve high mutation rates.
• NBTs offer superior precision in targeting specific genes and generate fewer off-target mutations.
• The EU's regulatory distinction between these similar technologies creates a disadvantage for European plant breeders.

Conclusions:

• The technological convergence between NBTs and conventional mutagenesis invalidates the basis for their differing regulatory treatment in the EU.
• Stricter EU regulations on NBTs, compared to anticipated global trends, pose a significant threat to the competitiveness of the European plant breeding sector.
• Revising EU legislation to accommodate NBTs is crucial for fostering innovation and maintaining industry viability.