Meetings – Conferences / Treffen - Veranstaltungen

BVL event “Modern Molecular Methods in Biotechnology – Perspectives for Research and Applications“. This expert forum will take place at the Hotel ESTREL in Berlin on 24 to 25 February 2026

Synthetic Biology EMER Webinar Series

https://www.bakerinstitute.org/synthetic-biology-emer-webinar-series

Bio. Innovationen. Stärken. - Die Farben der Biotechnologie -Abschlussveranstaltung am 11.Februar 2026-Frankfurt

am Main

https://www.technologieland-hessen.de/bioinnovationen-veranstaltung

Anmeldung: https://events.technologieland-hessen.de/Anmeldung--BIS--Die-Farben-der-Biotechnologie--Abschlussveranstaltung--am-11-Februar-2026

Die Genschere in Dresden 26.3. bis 29.3 2026

Die CRISPR-Roadshow geht ein letztes Mal auf Tour! Der Eintritt zu allen Veranstaltungen ist frei! Anmeldungen: info@biowisskomm.de

https://www.crispr-whisper.de/2025/10/01/die-genschere-in-dresden/

Press Releases - Media / Presse- und Medienberichte

MEUNIER E.: Le gouvernement français favorable à la déréglementation de nombreux OGM

https://infogm.org/le-gouvernement-francais-favorable-a-la-dereglementation-de-nombreux-ogm/

MEUNIER E.: La déréglementation des micro-organismes OGM est en cours

https://infogm.org/la-dereglementation-des-micro-organismes-ogm-est-en-cours/

MESHAKA D.: The Council of the EU wants to maintain the patentability of GMOs/NGTs

https://infogm.org/en/the-council-of-the-eu-wants-to-maintain-the-patentability-of-gmos-ngts/

Clarkson P.: EU Trilogue Opens Regulatory Pathway For Plants Developed Using New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) To

The Benefit Of Agritech And Foodtech Innovators

https://www.mondaq.com/uk/patent/1733964/eu-trilogue-opens-regulatory-pathway-for-plants-developed-using-new-genomic-techniques-ngts-to-the-benefit-of-agritech-and-foodtech-innovators

DFG: Für eine krisenfeste Landwirtschaft: DFG-Senatskommission fordert stärkere Unterstützung für vielfältige

Anbausysteme von Nutzpflanzen

https://www.dfg.de/de/service/presse/pressemitteilungen/2026/pressemitteilung-nr-02

Positionspapier: https://zenodo.org/records/18265759

Ranke J.: Mercosur: Wenn die Grünen mit der AfD stimmen

https://www.die-tagespost.de/politik/mercosur-wenn-die-gruenen-mit-der-afd-stimmen-art-271442

VLOG: Grüne Woche: Sicher gentechnikfrei bald nur noch bei „Ohne Gentechnik“ und Bio?

https://www.ohnegentechnik.org/artikel/gruene-woche-sicher-gentechnikfrei-bald-nur-noch-bei-ohne-gentechnik-und-bio

BMFTR: Neue Technologien entwickeln: Hightech Agenda Deutschland

https://www.bmftr.bund.de/DE/Technologie/HightechAgenda/HightechAgenda_node.html

Only some selected press releases or media reports are listed here. The daily up-date of the press releases and

media reports are ►here: January week 04/2026

Publications – Publikationen

Vos, R., Martin, W. (2026): Green innovations are the best policy option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from

agrifood systems. Nat Food | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-025-01291-z

Given the unique characteristics of the agrifood sector, a review of six potential policy paths for greenhouse gas emission reductions shows innovative green farming practices — such as alternate wetting and drying for rice and better animal feeding techniques — as the most promising and attractive path. These approaches can rapidly and substantially lower emissions, address leakage, raise farmer incomes and reduce food prices through partial repurposing of existing farm support.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-025-01291-z#Ack1

Brockington, S.F., Malcolm, P., Aiello, A.S. et al. (2026): High-performance living plant collections require a globally

integrated data ecosystem to meet twenty-first-century challenges. Nat. Plants | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-025-02192-6

Documented living plant collections distinguish botanic gardens from other green spaces and horticultural landscapes. With more than 3,500 collections worldwide, these institutions steward at least 105,634 species—around 30% of all land plant diversity—while fulfilling amenity, educational, scientific and conservation roles. However, twenty-first-century challenges demand a re-evaluation of how these collections are documented and managed. We argue that meeting these emerging needs requires higher standards of coordinated information management and innovation in data infrastructures across the global network. This Perspective critically examines data management practices of living collections supporting scientific research and conservation, from institutional to global levels. We identify the renewed demands on living collections, highlight exemplar global data infrastructures, define data challenges inherent to living collections and explore how current systems fall short in enabling a connected global system. Finally, we outline a vision for high-performance collections, fully integrated into a robust global data ecosystem.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-025-02192-6

pdf-file: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-025-02192-6.epdf?sharing_token=Zqeo2qhJU7Bcb8V3_5urRtRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0NMmRWrzskSL0RckasT5EdqArvQhN-lWbOz6xORteFwZG3eNWLrziSchgXy3OOQ_6jPTswwV-eZlX7Cfewlthu1---_hZz9lhKXzYVYbKjO-0gtOAcI-X7gmoLMkolEtXw%3D

Huang, X., Su, D. & Xu, C. (2025): Revitalizing orphan crops to combat food insecurity. Nat Commun 16, 10596 |

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66020-3

Population growth, climate change, and limited dietary diversity pose growing threats to food security. This predicament is exacerbated by a small number of staple crops with limited genetic diversity, which constrains their adaptability to diseases, pests, and environmental changes. Orphan crops, with greater biodiversity, nutritional value, and local adaptability, could contribute to overcoming these challenges. Here, we review recent advances in germplasm identification as well as genetic and multi-omics analyses of orphan crops. We further discuss the potential for an integrated approach combining de novo domestication, speed breeding, and AI-empowered phenomics (DSAP) to accelerate the breeding of these species.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-66020-3

Domingo M.S., Fitzgerald B., Robitaille G.M., Ramakrishnan S. et al. (2025): Engineering compact Physalis peruviana

(goldenberry) to promote its potential as a global crop. PPP | https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.70140

Goldenberry (Physalis peruviana) produces sweet, nutritionally rich berries, yet like many minor crops, is cultivated in limited geographical regions and has not been a focus of breeding programs for trait enhancement. Leveraging knowledge of plant architecture-related traits from related species, we used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing to generate a compact ideotype to advance future breeding efforts and agricultural production. Goldenberry growers will benefit from these compact versions because it optimizes per plot yield, facilitating larger scale production to meet rising consumer popularity and demand.

https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ppp3.70140

Gautam, B., Jarvis, B.A., Esfahanian, M. et al. (2026): Creating a new oilseed crop, pennycress, by combining key

domestication traits using CRISPR genome editing. Nat. Plants 12, 74–87 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-025-02202-7

Considerable off-season farmland lies fallow because few crops can profitably fit between primary crops. As a remedy, we performed de novo domestication of the freeze-tolerant, rapid-cycling wild brassica Thlaspi arvense L. (field pennycress), identifying and stacking CRISPR–Cas9-induced mutations that have minimal impacts on seed yields. High-yielding varieties were created with seed compositions such as ‘double-low’ canola (low erucic acid and reduced glucosinolate) and reduced seed fibre content. Seed glucosinolate content was reduced by 75% by combining mutations in R2R3-MYB (MYB28/HAG1) and basic helix–loop–helix MYC (MYC3) transcription factors. Pennycress weediness was greatly reduced by knockout of the basic helix–loop–helix transcription factor TRANSPARENT TESTA8 (TT8), which lowered seed dormancy and seed coat protections, thereby mitigating re-emergence in fields. Domesticated pennycress offers farmers a low-carbon-intensity intermediate crop that fits between two full-season summer crops, resulting in three cash crops in 2 years, conferring cover-crop-like ecosystem benefits while producing grain for renewable fuels and enhanced food security.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-025-02202-7

Oyediran, I., Conville, J. & Boudreau, E. (2026). Expression dynamics of mCry3A and eCry3.1Ab transgenes in Bt corn

hybrids across growth and environments. Transgenic Res 35, 2 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-025-00478-1

In 2017 and 2018, studies were conducted in Iowa, US across three environments with a history of greater than expected corn rootworm injury i.e., greater than one node of injury to (US EPA 2009) and one environment without rootworm injury, and at different growth stages, to determine the expression levels of mCry3A and eCry3.1Ab transgenes in the roots of different Bt corn hybrids namely the molecular stack (MZIR098), breeding stack (MIR604 × 5307), 5307 and MIR604. ELISA results showed that expressions of both mCry3A and eCry3.1Ab transgenes, were higher in the MZIR098 molecular stack and breeding stack (MIR604 × 5307), than the MIR604 and 5307 at V3 and VT growth stages over both years. To protect the roots from feeding damage by the corn rootworm larvae, expression of the transgenes must be high at the V3 growth stage. The expression of the transgene was significantly impacted by the stage of plant growth while the environments with greater than expected corn rootworm injury did not impact expression of the transgenes. It was found that the expression of mCry3A and eCry3.1Ab transgenes were high at the V3 plant growth stage compared to the VT growth stage. Stacking two or more genes together in the same plant such as the molecular and breeding stacks have the potential to protect roots in environments with higher-than-expected damage and slow down the evolution of resistance in field populations of rootworms.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11248-025-00478-1

Yao Y., Guo W., Gou J., Hu Z. Et al. (2025). Wheat2035: Integrating pan-omics and advanced biotechnology for future

 wheat design. Mol. Plant. 18, 272–297

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) production is vital for global food security, providing energy and protein to millions of people worldwide. Recent advancements in wheat research have led to significant increases in production, fueled by technological and scientific innovation. Here, we summarize the major advancements in wheat research, particularly the integration of biotechnologies and a deeper understanding of wheat biology. The shift from multi-omics to pan-omics approaches in wheat research has greatly enhanced our understanding of the complex genome, genomic variations, and regulatory networks to decode complex traits. We also outline key scientific questions, potential research directions, and technological strategies for improving wheat over the next decade. Since global wheat production is expected to increase by 60% in 2050, continued innovation and collaboration are crucial. Integrating biotechnologies and a deeper understanding of wheat biology will be essential for addressing future challenges in wheat production, ensuring sustainable practices and improved productivity.

https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S1674-2052%2825%2900026-7

Dubey S.: (2025): Precision nutrition and the rise of genomics-based dietary interventions. IP Journal of Nutrition,

Metabolism and Health Science 8 (4):137–14

Precision nutrition represents a transformative shift from generalized dietary recommendations toward individualized nutritional strategies informed by genomic, metabolomic, and microbiome profiling. Advancements in high-throughput sequencing, computational biology, and AI-driven analytics now enable identification of genetic variants influencing nutrient absorption, metabolism, and disease susceptibility. Emerging evidence demonstrates that genomics-guided dietary interventions can optimize metabolic outcomes, reduce chronic disease risk, and improve treatment responsiveness in conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders. Despite promising progress, challenges persist, including limited population-specific genomic data, variable clinical validity, high implementation costs, and ethical concerns regarding genetic privacy. This review synthesizes recent developments in genomics-enabled precision nutrition, evaluates the evidence supporting genotype-diet–disease interactions, and outlines future opportunities for integrating multi-omics approaches into personalized dietary care systems.

https://jnmhs.com/archive/volume/8/issue/4/article/25933/pdf

Reminder – Reactions of SENews 458

Brookes, G., & Smyth, S. J. (2024). Risk-appropriate regulations for gene-editing technologies. GM Crops & Food, 15(1),

1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2023.2293510

This paper explores the scope for the newly emerging technologies, based on gene editing (GE) contributing to addressing the global challenges that we face. These challenges relate to food security, climate change and biodiversity depletion. In particular, it examines the science and evidence behind the most appropriate forms of agricultural production to meet these challenges, the targets set in the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) agreed to at the end of 2022 and the possible role of GE technologies in contributing to meeting these targets. It then examines the most risk-appropriate regulatory environment required to best facilitate the adoption of GE technology, drawing on the experiences of the impact of regulatory systems for other innovations used in agricultural and food production systems such as genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2023.2293510?scroll=top&needAccess=true#abstract

pdf-file: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/21645698.2023.2293510?needAccess=true

Conko, G., Kershen, D., Miller, H. et al. (2016): Conko, G., Kershen, D., Miller, H. et al. A risk-based approach to the regulation of

genetically engineered organisms. Nat Biotechnol 34, 493–503 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.3568Nat Biotechnol 34, 493–503 | https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.3568

Current regulatory regimes for genetically engineered crops fail to use a scientifically defensible approach or tailor the degree of regulatory review to the level of actual hazard or risk. We describe a rational way forward.

https://www.nature.com/articles/nbt.3568

Barton, J., Crandon, J., Kennedy, D. et al. (1997): A model protocol to assess the risks of agricultural introductions.

Nat Biotechnol 15, 845–848 | https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0997-845.

https://www.nature.com/articles/nbt0997-845

EFSA

GMO Panel (2026): Assessment of genetically modified soybean MON 94313 (application GMFF-2022-6595). EFSA Journal, 24(1),

e9843 | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9843

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9843

GMO Panel (2026): Assessment of genetically modified soybean MON 87769 for renewal authorisation under Regulation (EC)

No 1829/2003 (dossier GMFF-2023-21253). EFSA Journal, 24(1), e9845. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9845

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9845

BIOHAZ Panel (2026): Update of the list of qualified presumption of safety (QPS) recommended microbiological agents intentionally

added to food or feed as notified to EFSA 23: Suitability of taxonomic units notified to EFSA until September 2025. EFSA Journal, 24(1), e9824. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9824

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9824