The blueprint for a genetically engineered insecticidal maize was published today in the journal Frontiers in Plant Science. What makes it special is that it was designed using artificial intelligence (AI) for production by NGTs (new genomic techniques, or new genetic engineering). As a ‘construction manual’, a proposal put forward by the EU Commission for the future regulation of NGT plants was used. As a result, the NGT plants could be brought to market without prior mandatory environmental risk assessment.
The initial results of the experiment, in which Testbiotech played a leading role, have been available since May 2025, but the details have now been published in the international peer-reviewed journal. The AI-design uses new genetic engineering to intervene in the gene regulation of plants, and thus increase the concentration of a specific protein that also occurs in conventionally-bred plants. While the concentration of this defence protein naturally increases for a short time when insects attack, its production would be permanently increased in the AI-designed NGT plants.
Insecticidal plants may not only be toxic to the targeted pest species, but may also pose substantial risks to non-target organisms, food webs, ecosystem functions and biodiversity. Current EU legislative proposals would allow NGT plants with less than 20 genetic changes to be released into the environment, and marketed with no prior environmental risk assessment. Food products containing the plants would also not be subject to labelling requirements. There is, however, no reliable scientific evidence for NGT plants with less than a ‘magic threshold’ of 20 genetic changes to be considered safer than other plants.
The AI program successfully managed to design the NGT plants in accordance with the requirements of the EU Commission. It used the criteria proposed by the EU Commission as the basis for a ‘construction manual’ to circumvent mandatory risk assessment. As a result, the insecticidal AI maize can be seen as ‘experimental proof’ that the EU Commission proposal for the future regulation of NGT plants is inadequate and already outdated, even before it can enter into force.
The Commission proposal is currently being discussed in Brussels and is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks or months. Testbiotech is calling for the proposal to be rejected, as it does not ensure the safe handling of NGT plants.
Contact:
Christoph Then, info@testbiotech.org, Tel + 49 151 54638040
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