Euroseeds Calls for Swift Adoption of the NGT Regulation
As ENVI prepares to vote on the EU New Genomic Techniques Regulation on 28 January, Euroseeds urges support for the agreed compromise. Following successful trilogue negotiations, Euroseeds warns that delays would harm plant breeding innovation, farmer competitiveness, climate-resilient crops, and EuropeтАЩs long-term food security, calling for swift adoption and implementation. The post Euroseeds Calls for Swift Adoption of the NGT Regulation appeared first on Seed World .
As the European ParliamentтАЩs Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) prepares to vote on the New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) Regulation on 28 January, Euroseeds, the European seed industry association, is urging support for the agreed compromise. This vote is a critical step toward the final adoption of forward-looking EU legislation that supports innovation in plant breeding.
Following the successful conclusion of trilogue negotiations in December 2025, which resulted in a compromise that maintains the European CommissionтАЩs core approach of distinguishing between different categories of NGT-derived plant products, Euroseeds is calling on ENVI members to support the agreed text. This would enable European breeders and farmers to utilize the latest breeding methods, as outlined in a recent press release.
The NGT Regulation aims to regulate genomic techniques that could be used in plant breeding, ensuring that these innovations are safe and sustainable. By establishing clear guidelines, the regulation seeks to promote the development of new crop varieties that are better adapted to climate change and other challenges. However, any further delay in adopting the regulation could have serious consequences.
Euroseeds warns that delays would harm plant breeding innovation, farmer competitiveness, and the development of climate-resilient crops. European plant breeders and seed companies might lose their competitive edge on the global stage, while farmers would be denied timely access to innovative crop varieties. Consumers, in turn, would miss out on improved products for the next decade or more. Ultimately, such delays could weaken EuropeтАЩs food security and resilience, making it more challenging to address future agricultural challenges.
Garlich von Essen, Secretary General and CEO of Euroseeds, emphasized the importance of the agreement reached at the end of last year. тАЬThe text does not entirely reflect the positions of the plant breeding and seed sector,тАЭ von Essen stated, тАЬbut it provides the basis to finally enable innovation in EU agriculture. Reopening the text in Parliament would create uncertainty and delay benefits that farmers, breeders, and society urgently need.тАЭ
Euroseeds is calling on Members of the European ParliamentтАЩs COMENVI to approve the text as it stands, allowing Europe to move forward and catch up with the rest of the world. The organization reaffirms its commitment to continue working constructively with EU institutions and regulators to support the effective and timely implementation of the NGT Regulation.
The stakes are high for EuropeтАЩs agricultural sector, which relies on innovation to remain competitive and sustainable in the face of global challenges. By swiftly adopting the NGT Regulation, the EU can ensure that its farmers and breeders have access to the latest techniques, fostering resilient crops and supporting long-term food security. The vote on 28 January will be a pivotal moment for the future of European agriculture and the global seed industry.
