The European Commission is expected to table proposals for loosening EU rules on gene editing, more specifically, new genomic techniques (NGTs), in June this year.

NGTs, also known as plant breeding techniques, are a number of scientific methods used to alter genomes with the aim of genetically engineering certain traits into plants, such as drought

With the Commission gearing up to push for the liberalisation of the gene editing legislation, Germany could be a key player in determining how such a proposal will go down with member states.

The country’s green-led agriculture ministry has now put its cards on the table and came out against deregulating NGTs after minister Cem Özdemir had so far refused to take a stance on the matter.

How the agriculture ministry positions itself could be decisive in determining Berlin’s stance on the matter since the relevant ministries are split.

While liberal research and science minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger wants to harness the potential of new genomic techniques and clear barriers that stand in the way of this, green environment minister Steffi Lemke is a staunch opponent of gene editing.

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