Testbiotech has taken a closer at the reporting in the German news magazine ‘DER SPIEGEL’ on plants obtained from new genetic engineering (or new genomic techniques, NGTs). The investigation focused on the time between 2018 and 2024. It is shown that certain core elements were continually repeated in a strikingly stereotypic way. In particular, the reported similarities between traditional plant breeding and NGTs do not adequately reflect the current state of knowledge.
The narrative spread by DER SPIEGEL and other leading German media, emphasizes that genetic changes (mutations) occur spontaneously or can be induced via chemical and physical mutagens in conventional plant breeding. On this basis assertions were made that there are no significant differences between mutations in conventional breeding and genetic changes induced by ‘gene scissors’. Similar claims are voiced by various stakeholders that want to preempt most NGT plants from mandatory risk assessment by equating them with conventionally bred plants.
However, a recent study confirms substantial differences between conventional plant breeding and NGTs. The reason is the specific mode of action of the biotech enzymes such as CRISPR/Cas. These differences also concern those NGT plants that would be exempted under future EU regulation. The findings are not only of importance for potential innovation in plant breeding, but also decisive in regard to the risks associated with NGT plants.
The factual claims made in DER SPIEGEL regarding the equivalence of NGTs and conventional breeding were neither substantiated nor put up for discussion. This resulted in scientifically substantiated risks associated with NGT plants being disregarded in the reporting. All in all, it conveys the scientifically untenable impression that the risks associated with NGT plants are fundamentally no different to those found in conventional breeding. Even in its most recent report on NGT plant regulation, DER SPIEGEL more or less follows this line of communication.
Testbiotech is warning about the consequences of one-sided media reports on this topic that may support flawed legislation with irreversible consequences for the environment. This week, the negotiators of EU Parliament and EU Council have agreed to equate most NGT plants with those obtained from conventional breeding. Just a few weeks are remaining before the final vote on the new regulation. Before this background, media now should critically assess the way how to report about NGT plants.
Contact:
Christoph Then, info@testbiotech.org, Tel + 49 151 54638040
Further information:
Documentation on reports regarding NGT plants in „DER SPIEGEL“ (German only)