Sunday Evening News 4310 - Week 27 - 2025
Weekly report on genetic engineering, genome editing, biotechnology and legal regulation.
June 2025-06-30 - July 2025-07-06
AFBV-WGG: Stand der Trilog-Diskussion über den Regulierungsvorschlag der Europäischen Kommission zu neuen
Genomtechniken („NGTs“)
Zu Beginn der dänischen Präsidentschaft, nehmen wir in Teil 1 zu den noch offenen Fragen aus dem Trilog-Verfahren Stellung. Im zweiten Teil gehen wir auf die Kriterien von Anhang I ein und geben Empfehlungen, um einen ausgewogenen Kompromiss zu ermöglichen.
Die AFBV-WGG-Stellungnahme wird am Montag, 07.07.2025 auf den Webseiten beider Organisationen veröffentlicht.
Update on Trilogue discussions on the regulatory proposal of the European Commission on New Genomic Techniques ("NGTs")
At the beginning of Danish presidency, we propose to comment on outstanding questions to be resolved in the Trilogue and, in the second part of this Note, discuss extensively the criteria of Annex I and share recommendations to enable a balanced compromise.
The AFBV-WGG statement will be published on Monday, July 7, 2025, on the websites of both organizations.
EFSA und Kommission:
Die Kommission hat bis Juli 2025 vier gentechnisch veränderte Pflanzen zum Import in die EU als Lebens- und Futtermittel zugelassen.
Die EFSA hat im 1. Halbjahr 2025 für 8 gv-Pflanzen die Sicherheitsbewertungen veröffentlicht (https://www.wggev.de/).
Im Quartal 2-2025 hat die EFSA die Sicherheitsbewertungen von 26 Lebensmittelenzymen veröffentlicht. 16 Lebensmittelenzyme werden mit gentechnisch veränderten Mikroorganismen hergestellt (GMMO). Bei allen bewerteten Lebensmittelenzyme hatte der wissenschaftliche Ausschuss FEZ keine Sicherheitsbedenken.
Für 10 Lebensmittelenzyme hat der FEZ-Ausschuss die Sicherheitsbewertungen abgeschlossen, die Ergebnisse wurden jedoch noch nicht verööfentlicht..
►Lebensmittelenzyme 2025 sicherheitsbewertet (1. Halbjahr 2025)
►Alle bislang sicherheitsbewerteten Lebensmittelenzyme
Press Releases - Media / Presse- und Medienberichte
Priority dossiers under the Danish EU Council Presidency
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2025/775852/EPRS_BRI(2025)775852_EN.pdf
Seed World Staff: Euroseeds Calls on Danish Presidency for NGT Action
https://www.seedworld.com/europe/2025/07/02/euroseeds-calls-on-danish-presidency-for-ngt-action/
Euroseeds calls on Danish presidency to continue to drive NGT discussions towards conclusion
Hodgson R.: The trouble with trilogues – when things start falling apart
Parliament halts trilogue talks on New Genomic Breeding Techniques
EU eyes new bioeconomy strategy to boost competitiveness
EU needs nearly 2 years to figure out if glyphosate causes cancer
Bergoënd A: EU: Fast zwei Jahre, um die möglichen Krebsrisiken von Glyphosat zu prüfen
Kommission genehmigt Verwendung sicherer genetisch veränderter Sojabohnen als Lebens- und Futtermittel
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/de/mex_25_1735 (Sojabohne MON 87705 x MON 87708 x MON 89788)
Only some selected press releases or media reports are listed here. The daily up-date of the press releases and
media reports are ►here: July, week 27
Publications – Publikationen
Johnson, N.W., Valenzuela-Ortega, M., Thorpe, T.W. et al. (2025): A biocompatible Lossen rearrangement in Escherichia coli.
Nat. Chem. | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-025-01845-5
Nature has evolved an exquisite yet limited set of chemical reactions that underpin the function of all living organisms. By contrast, the field of synthetic organic chemistry can access reactivity not observed in nature, and integration of these abiotic reactions within living systems offers an elegant solution to the sustainable synthesis of many industrial chemicals from renewable feedstocks. Here we report a biocompatible Lossen rearrangement that is catalysed by phosphate in the bacterium Escherichia coli for the transformation of activated acyl hydroxamates to primary amine-containing metabolites in living cells. Through auxotroph rescue, we demonstrate how this new-to-nature reaction can be used to control microbial growth and chemistry by generating the essential metabolite para-aminobenzoic acid. The Lossen rearrangement substrate can also be synthesized from polyethylene terephthalate and applied to whole-cell biocatalytic reactions and fermentations generating industrial small molecules (including the drug paracetamol), paving the way for a general strategy to bioremediate and upcycle plastic waste in native and engineered biological systems.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-025-01845-5#citeas
Joanna C. Sadler and Stephen Wallace (2021): Microbial synthesis of vanillin from waste poly(ethylene terephthalate).
Green Chem. 23, 4665
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is an abundant and extremely useful material, with widespread applications across society. However, there is an urgent need to develop technologies to valorise post-consumer PET waste to tackle plastic pollution and move towards a circular economy. Whilst PET degradation and recycling technologies have been reported, examples focus on repurposing the resultant monomers to produce more PET or other second-generation materials. Herein, we report a novel pathway in engineered Escherichia coli for the direct upcycling of PET derived monomer terephthalic acid into the value-added small molecule vanillin, a flavour compound ubiquitous in the food and cosmetic industries, and an important bulk chemical. After process optimisation, 79% conversion to vanillin from TA was achieved, a 157-fold improvement over our initial conditions. Parameters such as temperature, cell permeabilization and in situ product removal were key to maximising vanillin titres. Finally, we demonstrate the conversion of post-consumer PET from a plastic bottle into vanillin by coupling the pathway with enzyme-catalysed PET hydrolysis. This work demonstrates the first biological upcycling of post-consumer plastic waste into vanillin using an engineered microorganism.
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2021/gc/d1gc00931a
Druckman J.N., Ellenbogen K.M., Scheufele D.A., Yanovitzky I. (2025): An agenda for science communication research and
practice. PNAS 122 (27) e2400932122 | https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2400932122
Science should not unilaterally dictate individuals’ decisions or public policies. Yet, it provides a vital source of information for societies and individuals that can often improve outcomes and well-being. This requires, however, the effective communication of scientific information. We identify two paradigms for science communication. One focuses on dissemination, often seeking to inform, reframe, or correct beliefs. Another emphasizes participation and engagement with the goal of improving public understanding of science and scientists’ understanding of the public’s concerns, needs, and values. We argue that participatory approaches better address contemporary challenges concerning scientific uncertainty, politicized science, artificial value neutrality, and a reactive science communication infrastructure. These approaches though need to move away from transactional partnerships toward more cocreation and coproduction of knowledge. They also need to focus more on less motivated and/or engaged populations. Investment in a participatory infrastructure is crucial given that even the most path-breaking science only matters if it can be adequately communicated to relevant stakeholders.
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2400932122
Lewi D.M., Godoy P., Simeone F. (2025): Experiences, learnings and perspectives in the regulation of agricultural
biotechnology: the view from Argentina. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 13:1600642 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1600642
Argentina has established itself as global leader in setting enabling regulations for agricultural biotechnology. Between 2020 and 2023 the responsible administration strengthened this position through the adoption of innovative regulations for New Breeding Techniques and fostering broad international collaboration. The experience accumulated during this period serves to illustrate best practices, current shortcomings, anticipate future challenges, and point to the solutions that the sector will need in the next few years.
Groenen, M., Spaans, G. W., Bouwman, Lianne. M. S., Kleter, G. A., & van der Berg, J. P. (2025): Feasibility of a safe innovation
framework for crop breeding. GM Crops & Food, 16(1), 498–515 | https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2025.2524236
Biotechnological innovations accelerate the development of new plant varieties at an ever-increasing pace. A framework for safe innovation can create opportunities for the integration of safety considerations into each stage of the lifecycle of these products. Through stakeholder engagement, we discussed their views, preferences, as well as perceived challenges surrounding safe innovation and innovative biotechnological tools in the plant breeding sector. Furthermore, five scenarios for safe innovation frameworks were presented to them. Stakeholders from the Dutch plant breeding sector favored a self-regulated safety scenario, allowing the plant breeding sector to develop best practices with guidance from the government and independent researchers. Based on the stakeholders’ views, we developed a draft voluntary framework for safe innovation named “Safe Innovation in Plant breeding (SIP) Framework,” which is grounded in safe innovation principles, and focuses on food safety in particular.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2025.2524236?src=exp-la#abstract
see also: https://www.isaaa.org/blog/entry/default.asp?BlogDate=7/2/2025
Dolezel, M.; Miklau, M.; Heissenberger, A.; Kroeger, I.; Otto, M. (2025): Complexity Meets Risk—The NextGeneration of
Genome-Edited Plants - Challenges Established Concepts for Environmental Risk Assessment in the EU. Plants 2025, 14, 1723 | https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14111723
For 20 years, the environmental risk assessment (ERA) of genetically modified plants (GMPs) has used a comparative assessment approach, comparing the GMP to presumably safe and familiar non-modified plant varieties. With new genomic techniques, it is now possible to design complex GMP applications with systemic metabolic changes, resulting in novel plant phenotypes. These plant phenotypes can exhibit profoundly altered morphological, physiological, or compositional characteristics, intentionally lacking equivalence with parental plants and non-modified comparators. Through the analysis of case studies involving GMPs with modifications of complex metabolic pathways, we evaluate the current practice of the comparative safety assessment approach applied in ERA in the European Union and its ability to inform ERA, particularly regarding environmental risks. Our findings show that the existing approach has notable weaknesses when applied to complex GMP applications. We suggest complementing ERA with a hypothesis-driven assessment approach that considers various protection goals and relies on whole-plant experimental assessments to draw risk conclusions. As plant modifications become increasingly complex, such as the development of synthetic biology plants, conducting ecologically realistic assessments will be crucial for future ERA.
https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/11/1723
Mundorf J., Simon S., Engelhard M. (2025): The European Commission’s Regulatory Proposal on New Genomic Techniques
in Plants: A Spotlight on Equivalence, Complexity, and Artificial Intelligence. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202506.1088.v1
The European Commission (COM) has proposed to exempt certain genetically modified plants generated with new genomic techniques (NGTs) from the current European regulatory framework for genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In the suggested lex specialis so-called “category 1 NGT plants” (NGT1) are delineated from all other GMOs, as their genetic modifications are supposed to be equivalent to modifications found in nature or conventionally bred plants. Assuming a proportional risk potential, these NGT1 plants shall be marketed without any risk assessment. Here, we analyze the biological foundations of the proposal. We focus on the suggested equivalence criteria for NGT1 plants, which include thresholds for the size and number of genetic modifications per NGT1 plant. Our analysis shows that the constraints imposed by fundamental genetic principles are not adequately considered in the argumentation of the proposal. In this context, we discuss how genetic modifications in NGT1 plants can go beyond what can be achieved by conventional breeding techniques. Accordingly, the proposal would allow not only ”simple” NGT knockout mutants, but also complex genetic modifications, including de novo protein design and the use of artificial intelligence. We conclude that the approach of equating NGT applications with conventional breeding in such a general manner is invalid. The proposal does not consider the risk related intended and unintended effects on the phenotype. It is therefore neither scientifically justified nor suitable to adequately address potential risks of NGT plants.
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202506.1088/v1
Drought in Europe: June 2025: GDO analytical report
Drought conditions are affecting large parts of central, northern, and eastern Europe as well as northern Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, and the Middle East. Recent above-average temperatures in western Europe have exacerbated the effects of the prolonged lack of precipitation, particularly on soil moisture. Low flow conditions in river discharge are detected mostly in eastern Europe, in the Baltic Sea region, and in some rivers of Türkiye. Impacts on vegetation are emerging in eastern Europe. The already affected areas are mostly in the Mediterranean region. Seasonal forecasts point to a warmer than usual 2025 summer with dry conditions in a very large region extending from the UK to the Black Sea.
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC142857
Lin J., Yang J. (2025): CRISPR-Cas systems: A revolution in genome editing and its diverse applications Journal of Biomed
Research 5(1) | https://doi.org/10.46439/biomedres.5.050
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) Cas (CRISPR6 associated protein) system is an advanced adaptive immune system found in prokaryotes. First discovered in1987, CRISPR Cas has revolutionized genetic research in the past two decades. CRISPR-Cas9 the most widespread system enables precise gene editing by creating double strand breaks. Its ease of use and cost-effectiveness has lowered the barrier to entry for genetic research. CRISPR holds immense potential in many fields from agriculture to medicine. In agriculture, CRISPR has accelerated crop improvement by enabling precise gene edits for desirable traits. In medicine, CRISPR holds promise in xenotransplant, cancers and infectious diseases (HIV) treatment. This review traces the historical development of CRISPR-Cas systems, explores their unique applications, and discusses future advancements aimed at enhancing CRISPR’s precision and expanding its applications through technologies like prime and base editing.
Jiang, Y. et al. (2025): Improving plant C-to-G base editors with a cold-adapted glycosylase and TadA-8e variants.
Trends in Biotechnology, 43, Issue 7, 1765 - 1787
Plant cytosine (C)-to-guanine (G) base editors (CGBEs) have been established but suffer from limited editing efficiencies and low outcome purities. This study engineered a cod uracil DNA glycosylase (cod UNG, coUNG) from the cold-adapted fish Gadus morhua for plant CGBE, demonstrating 1.71- to 2.54-fold increases in C-to-G editing efficiency compared with the CGBE using human UNG (hUNG). Further engineering took advantage of TadA-8e-derived cytidine deaminases (TadA-CDs). These variants induced C substitutions with efficiencies ranging from 26.28% to 30.82% in rice cells, whereas adenine (A) conversion was negligible. By integrating coUNG and TadA-CDc elements with SpCas9 nickase, the resulting CDc-CGBEco achieved pure C-to-G editing without byproducts in up to 52.08% of transgenic lines. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis revealed no significant off-target effects of the CDc-BEs in rice. In addition, CDc-CGBEco enabled precise C-to-G editing in soybean and tobacco. These engineered CGBEs enhanced editing efficiency, purity, and specificity, suggesting their broad potential for applications in scientific research and crop breeding.
Mu, T., Song, Q., Liu, Y., & Song, J. (2025). Initiating the commercialization of genetically modified staple crops in China:
domestic biotechnological advancements, regulatory milestones, and governance frameworks. GM Crops & Food, 16(1), 450–481. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2025.2520664
Historically, China’s approach to genetically modified (GM) staple crops has been cautious. However, in 2021, China launched its first pilot program for the commercial cultivation of GM food crops and subsequently expanded their cultivation. Previously, the only GM plants cultivated in China were insect-resistant cotton and virus-resistant papaya. The regulatory and policy shifts, from initial research and cautious development to accelerated commercialization, led to significant changes in China’s safety-related regulatory framework for genetically modified organism (GMOs). Here, China’s progress in GMO research and commercialization over the past three decades is comprehensively analyzed. This review traces the evolution of core regulations governing GMO safety, summarizes the Chinese model of GMO safety governance, and highlights the remaining challenges as commercialization progresses. The goal was to present the international community with a GMO safety governance model reflecting China’s characteristics and practices, offering a Chinese solution to balancing GMO commercial adoption with ecological preservation.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2025.2520664?src=#abstract
Creeth R., Thompson A., Kevei Z. (2025): DNA-free CRISPR genome editing in raspberry (Rubus idaeus) protoplast through
RNP-mediated transfection. Front. Genome Ed. 7:1589431 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fgeed.2025.1589431
Protoplast-based systems have been utilised in a wide variety of plant species to enable genome editing without chromosomal introgression of foreign DNA into plant genomes. DNA-free genome editing followed by protoplast regeneration allows elite cultivars to be edited without further genetic segregation, preserving their unique genetic composition and their regulatory status as non-transgenic. However, protoplast isolation presents a barrier to the development of advanced breeding technologies in raspberry and no protocol has been published for DNA-free genome editing in the species. Pre-assembled ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs) do not require cellular processing and the commercial availability of Cas9 proteins and synthetic guide RNAs has streamlined genome editing protocols. This study presents a novel high-yielding protoplast isolation protocol from raspberry stem cultures and RNP-mediated transfection of protoplast with CRISPR-Cas9. Targeted mutagenesis of the phytoene desaturase gene at two intragenic loci resulted in an editing efficiency of 19%, though estimated efficiency varied depending on the indel analysis technique. Only amplicon sequencing was sensitive enough to confirm genome editing in a low efficiency sample. To our knowledge, this study constitutes the first use of DNA-free genome editing in raspberry protoplast. This protocol provides a valuable platform for understanding gene function and facilitates the future development of precision breeding in this important soft fruit crop.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genome-editing/articles/10.3389/fgeed.2025.1589431/full
Zeng, Z., Wang, H., Luo, Y., Chen, W., Xu, M., Wei, H., … Bian, H. (2025): CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of barley
lipoxygenase genes promotes grain fatty acid accumulation and storability. GM Crops & Food, 16(1), 482–497. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2025.2523069
Plant lipoxygenases (LOXs) catalyze the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can adversely affect grain storability. Although the genetic engineering of LOXs holds great potential for improving grain storage quality, this approach remains largely unexplored in barley. In this study, we identified five LOX genes in the barley genome: HvLOXA, HvLOXB, and HvLOXC1–3. HvLOXC1 exhibited the highest expression in early developing grains, roots, and shoots; HvLOXA was predominantly expressed in embryos, whereas HvLOXB and HvLOXC3 were weakly expressed across tissues. Transgene-free homozygous barley mutants of loxB, loxC1, and loxAloxC1 were generated using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing. Compared to the wild-type, all mutants displayed normal plant height, tiller number, and grain size, although the loxC1 and loxAloxC1 mutants exhibited significantly lower thousand grain weights. Notably, the total LOX activity in mature grains decreased by 36–42% in loxC1 mutants and by 94% in loxAloxC1 mutants, with no significant change observed in loxB mutants. Additionally, the loxAloxC1 double mutants had a significantly lower malondialdehyde content and accumulated 10–21% more fatty acids than the wild-type. Artificial aging treatment experiments revealed that loxAloxC1 mutants had enhanced grain storability, demonstrated by significantly higher germination rates, reduced lipid peroxidation, and improved seedling growth. Our findings highlight that the targeted knockout of LOX genes, particularly the double mutation of HvLOXA and HvLOXC1, represents a promising genetic strategy for improving grain storability and nutritional value in barley.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2025.2523069#abstract
Shang, S., He, Y., Zhao, R. et al. (2025): Fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase targeted by a Fusarium graminearum effector
positively regulates wheat FHB resistance. Nat Commun 16, 5582 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60736-y
Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum is a devastating disease that affects global wheat production. F. graminearum encodes many effector proteins; however, its virulence mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we identify a secretory effector candidate (FgEC10) that is essential for the virulence of F. graminearum. FgEC10 interacts strongly with wheat fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (TaFAH) and accelerates its degradation via the 26S proteasome pathway. In addition, we show that TaFAH interacts with proteasome 26S subunit, non-ATPases 12 (TaPSMD12) and that FgEC10 enhances the interaction between TaFAH and TaPSMD12. RNA silencing or overexpression of TaFAH in wheat plants shows that TaFAH positively regulates wheat FHB resistance. Overexpression of TaFAH promotes the expression of genes associated with disease resistance and the heading period. Metabolomic analysis reveals that overexpression of TaFAH increases the levels of several amino acids in wheat, and exogenous application of some of these amino acids show an increase in F. graminearum resistance in the wheat spike and seedling. Collectively, our study reveals a pathogenic mechanism and provides a valuable gene resource for improving FHB resistance and promoting heading in wheat.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-60736-y
Sraphet, S., Javadi, B. (2025): Exploring genetic diversity and genomic insights of Bacillus subtilis isolates from cassava
rhizosphere using molecular barcoding and whole genome sequencing. Sci Rep 15, 22708 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08736-2
Bacillus subtilis plays a significant role in both agriculture and industry. It is commonly isolated from agricultural environments, particularly various soil types. This study aimed to investigate DNA barcoding and whole-genome sequencing of B. subtilis strains, focusing on those specific to the cassava rhizosphere. Genetic identification and diversity of B. subtilis strains isolated from the rhizosphere of the Piroon 2 cassava cultivar were initially characterized using 16 S rDNA, a molecular marker for species-level identification. To explore strain-specific biodiversity within B. subtilis, repetitive DNA elements—specifically extragenic palindromic and BOX sequences—were analyzed across the genomes of the isolated strains. These repetitive sequences revealed two main structural patterns, providing clear and distinct genomic fingerprints for biodiversity analysis. The results showed that both REP and BOX sequences were highly conserved within specific regions of the B. subtilis genome, resulting in reliable and reproducible DNA patterns suitable for whole-genome phylogenetic analysis. While the 16 S rDNA approach showed a high sequence similarity among the B. subtilis strains (99.98%), whole-genome analysis using repetitive sequences allowed for clearer differentiation, with phylogenetic distances exceeding 97%. Whole-genome sequencing of the elite strain BsPr8 was performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform. The sequencing results yielded 56 contigs, with an average GC content of 43.67% and a total genome size of approximately 4,050 Kbp. Genome annotation identified 3,575 proteins with functional assignments, including 1,055 enzymes classified by Enzyme Commission numbers. The PATRIC database further annotated 3,937 genus-specific protein families. Additionally, 45 genes homologous to known antibiotic resistance genes were identified within the BsPr8 genome. These findings have important implications for sustainable agricultural practices and cassava cultivation. By elucidating the genetic diversity and genomic characteristics of B. subtilis strains, this study facilitates the identification of beneficial traits—such as plant growth promotion, pathogen suppression, and improved nutrient uptake. These strains hold potential for development as biofertilizers or biopesticides, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional chemical inputs.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-08736-2
Cangioli L., Fagorzi C., Vaccaro F., Varriale S. et al. (2025): Soil bacteria and symbiotic rhizobia synergistically promote
nitrogen fixation and biomass production of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plants even under water shortage conditions without altering the native rhizospheric microbiota. Applied Soil Ecology 213, 106283 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106283
In modern and sustainable agriculture, the exploitation of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is an alternative to synthetic nitrogen fertilizers which can lead to groundwater contamination, reduction of soil quality, and greenhouse gas emissions. This study aimed to exploit the synergistic effects of nitrogen-fixing symbiotic rhizobia and nonsymbiotic soil bacteria on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) yield in low-input farming. Two microbial consortia (Mix1 and Mix2) containing a nitrogen-fixing alfalfa symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti were tested along with a different number of soil bacteria whose PGP (Plant Growth Promoting) characteristics (IAA production, nitrogen fixation, and phosphate solubilization) led to synergistic effect. The two consortia and the S. meliloti strain were tested under increasingly complex conditions, through in vitro strain culture testing, growth chamber, pot trials, and field trials. In the laboratory growth chamber, the alfalfa plants inoculated with the consortium Mix2, containing more strains with different activities, showed increased nitrogenase activity compared to those inoculated with S. meliloti alone. Field experiments showed that biomass production and assimilation of nitrogen due to nitrogen fixation (15N test) of Mix2-inoculated plants was significantly increased compared to Mix1-inoculated and uninoculated ones (native microbiota), even under water shortage. Moreover, no significant impact of consortia on the native rhizospheric microbiota was detected. Our findings indicated that consortia containing both rhizobia and non-rhizobia PGP strains, which don't alter soil ecology, could be used for the enhancement of growth and nitrogen fixation of legume plants and that diversity and synergistic interaction of the consortium could be a good index for predicting success in field trials.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139325004214?via%3Dihub
Nasuti, C.; Solieri, L.; Krogerus, K. (2025): 3.0 Strategies for Yeast Genetic Improvement in Brewing and Winemaking.
Beverages 11, 100 | https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages11040100
Yeast genetic improvement is entering a transformative phase, driven by the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, and synthetic microbial communities with conventional methods such as sexual breeding and random mutagenesis. These advancements have substantially expanded the potential for innovative re-engineering of yeast, ranging from single-strain cultures to complex polymicrobial consortia. This review compares traditional genetic manipulation techniques with cutting-edge approaches, highlighting recent breakthroughs in their application to beer and wine fermentation. Among the innovative strategies, adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) stands out as a non-GMO method capable of rewiring complex fitness-related phenotypes through iterative selection. In contrast, GMO-based synthetic biology approaches, including the most recent developments in CRISPR/Cas9 technologies, enable efficient and scalable genome editing, including multiplexed modifications. These innovations are expected to accelerate product development, reduce costs, and enhance the environmental sustainability of brewing and winemaking. However, despite their technological potential, GMO-based strategies continue to face significant regulatory and market challenges, which limit their widespread adoption in the fermentation industry.
https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/11/4/100
Le Bloch, J., Rouault, M., Langhi, C. et al. (2025): The novel food evaluation process delays access to food innovation in the
European Union. npj Sci Food 9, 117 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-025-00492-x
This article analyzes the timelines of 292 novel food (NF) applications submitted to EFSA between 2018 and 2024 under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The average duration from submission to publication was 2.56 ± 1.19 years, with significant variability, and delays due to suitability checks and additional data requests. Improved guidelines and pre-submission support could streamline the process, fostering innovation and timely market access for NFs.