Meetings – Conferences / Treffen - Veranstaltungen

Biofach 2026: junge Stimmen, neue Märkte - Weltleitmesse für Bio begleitet Branche im Aufbruch

Vom 10. bis 13. Februar 2026 lädt die Biofach wieder zum Branchentreff nach Nürnberg.

https://mobil.biopress.de/de/rubrik/index/78/news/bio-tops.html

https://mobil.biopress.de/de/inhalte/details/10735/biofach-2026-junge-stimmen-neue-maerkte.html

"Deregulierung der Neuen Gentechnik - rechtliche Fragen - Auswirkungen auf die Bio- und „Ohne Gentechnik“-Branche"

Freitag, 13.02.2026, 11:15 - 12:15, Nürnberg Messe, NCC Ost | Ebene 2 | Saal Oslo

https://www.martin-haeusling.eu/termine/veranstaltungen/biofach-messe-deregulierung-der-neuen-gentechnik-rechtliche-fragen-auswirkungen-auf-die-bio-und-ohne-gentechnik-branche

DLG-Wintertagung 2026: KI als Produktivitätsturbo für Food & Agrar

24. und 25. Februar 2026, Convention Center, Messegelände Hannover

https://www.dlg.org/events/dlg-wintertagung-2026

Press Releases - Media / Presse- und Medienberichte

dpa-AFX: Umweltausschuss gibt grünes Licht für Gentechnik-Regeln

https://www.onvista.de/news/2026/01-28-umweltausschuss-gibt-gruenes-licht-fuer-gentechnik-regeln-0-10-26473563

Neue Züchtungstechniken: Warum differenziert werden muss

https://andrea-luebcke.de/presse/gentechnik-gastbeitrag-agra-europe/

WGG: Der ENVI-Ausschuss stimmt dem NGT-Kompromissvorschlag zu – ein weiterer Schritt für eine Gesetzgebung zur

 Regulation neuer genomischer Techniken

https://www.wggev.de/envi-ausschuss-stimmt-ngt-kompromissvorschlag-zu/

Testbiotech: Freie Bahn für eine disruptive Technologie?

https://www.testbiotech.org/aktuelles/freie-bahn-fuer-eine-disruptive-technologie/

Carte blanche for a disruptive technology?

https://www.testbiotech.org/en/news/carte-blanche-for-a-disruptive-technology/

Gene-editing, new genomic techniques – what, why and how they are different

https://www.farmersjournal.ie/tillage/news/gene-editing-new-genomic-techniques-what-why-and-how-they-are-different-901795

Nelson S.: Comment: A new dawn for innovation – why the EU’s gene editing ruling matters

https://www.fruitnet.com/eurofruit/comment-a-new-dawn-for-innovation-why-the-eus-gene-editing-ruling-matters/270365.article

Selby G.: EU Parliament’s environmental committee backs trilogue deal on New Genomic Techniques

https://www.foodingredientsfirst.com/news/envi-backs-eu-ngt-deal.html

Euroseeds: Plant Breeding Innovation Regulation clears next hurdle on way forward to a modern EU framework for NGTs

https://euroseeds.eu/app/uploads/2026/01/26.0049-Plant-Breeding-Innovation-Regulation-clears-next-hurdle-on-way-forward-to-a-modern-EU-framework-for-NGTs.pdf

National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology: Creating Clear Regulatory Pathways for Biotechnology

https://www.biotech.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/NSCEB-Future-of-Regs-Full-Series-FINAL.pdf

POINT NEWSLETTER NR. 283 – JANUAR 2026 Aktuelle Biotechnologie

https://www.scienceindustries.ch/_file/39164/point-2026-01-283-d.pdf

MEUNIER E.: The deregulation of GMO microorganisms is underway

https://infogm.org/en/the-deregulation-of-gmo-microorganisms-is-underway/

Informationsdienst Gentechnik: EU-Entwurf: Schutz vor Gentech-Bakterien soll sinken

https://www.keine-gentechnik.de/nachricht/eu-entwurf-schutz-vor-gentech-bakterien-soll-sinken

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 05/2026

Publications – Publikationen

Barraza-Botet C., Nadal D., Rosen M., Winickoff D. (2026): A comparison of the innovation and regulatory environments for

biotechnology and biosolutions across the European Union and the United States. OECD Science, Technology and Industry Working Papers 2026/02 | https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/1ec20342-en

Biotechnology has significant potential to drive economic growth and address major societal challenges, but realising this potential across sectors requires effective and well-designed policies. This OECD Working Paper strengthens the evidence base for biotechnology policymaking by examining two critical dimensions: innovation-enabling conditions andregulatory practices. It provides quantitative and qualitative analysiscomparing innovation performance and regulatory environments in the European Union and the United States. The paper first assesses innovation conditions through indicators related to venture capital, patenting, financing, workforce skills and manufacturing capacity. It then compares regulatory frameworks across the two jurisdictions, highlighting shared challenges such as regulatory uncertainty, fragmentation and complexity, limited adaptability, insufficient pre-submission engagement, and lengthy approval processes with high associated costs. Together, the findings support policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic in designing policies that foster innovation, unlock the economic potential of biotechnology, and facilitate market entry to strengthen competitiveness.

https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2026/01/a-comparison-of-the-innovation-and-regulatory-environments-for-biotechnology-and-biosolutions-across-the-european-union-and-the-united-states_21fd0ca2/1ec20342-en.pdf

 Annual Review of Genetics - Volume 59, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/genet.2025.59.issue-1

https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/genet/59/1

Purnhagen, K.P., Wesseler, J.H.H. (2025). Precaution and the Precautionary Principle: A View on the EU—The Example of

Modern Biotechnology. In: Marciano, A., Ramello, G.B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Law and Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76422-6_835

The precautionary principle is a general principle of Union law and part of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The precautionary principle holds a prominent position in EU secondary regulations related to GMOs. However, when it comes to interpretation of this principle, it is often observed that it is construed in a manner that blurs the delicate distinction between the precautionary principle and the principle that preventive action will be taken. This tendency puts the integrity of the precautionary approach, which serves as the foundational basis of the precautionary principle, at risk. This entry highlights the differences between a precautionary approach and the precautionary principle in EU law and the implications this has for the debates on GMOs. The economic rationale for a precautionary approach underpinning the precautionary principle will be presented and the misunderstandings and misuses discussed.

https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-3-031-76422-6_835

Han, J., Asioli, D., Zanello, G. and Caputo, V. (2026): Consumer Preferences for Gene-Edited Foods: A Review of the

Literature and Discussion of Industry and Policy Implications. J Agric Econ, 77: 12-24. https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-9552.70008

Gene editing (GE), a revolutionary genetic engineering technology that makes targeted modifications to plant and animal genomes, offers the potential to address key challenges in food security, nutrition, safety, health, agricultural productivity, and sustainability, yet consumer demand for GE foods remains uncertain and complex. This study reviews (1) the factors affecting consumer preferences for GE foods and (2) studies on consumer acceptance of GE foods that feature comparisons to genetically modified (GM) foods. The present manuscript also discusses implications for industry and policymakers and identifies areas where additional research would further promote the acceptance of GE technology. A total of 74 consumer studies were identified, reviewed, and discussed. The results indicate that many factors drive consumer preferences for GE foods, mainly sensory attributes, nutritional content, price, risk perception, trust in institutions, consumer socio-demographics, and available knowledge and information about GE technology. Furthermore, we found that consumers generally prefer GE foods over GM foods, but this preference varies depending on specific products and contexts. These findings provide useful insights for science, industry, and policymakers aiming to develop, commercialise, and regulate GE foods. Finally, several future research avenues are outlined and discussed.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1477-9552.70008

Velimirović, A., Jovović, Z., Berjan, S., El Bilali, H., & Allahyari, M. S. (2026): Public perception of genetically modified

organisms (GMOs) in Montenegro: insight for sustainable biotechnology and policy development. GM Crops & Food, 17 (1) | https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2026.2620884

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) hold significant potential for enhancing agricultural sustainability, yet public acceptance remains limited. This study examined consumer perceptions of GMOs in Montenegro, where traditional agriculture coexists with emerging biotechnology. Using an online survey of 1178 respondents, attitudes toward GMOs, health and environmental risk perceptions, and media influences were analyzed. Results showed that 76% of respondents considered GMOs harmful to human health, with strong concerns regarding environmental and animal impacts. Women and respondents with higher education levels expressed higher risk awareness. K-means clustering identified three consumer groups – Highly Concerned (34.9%), Moderately Concerned (37.9%), and Critical but Uncertain (27.2%) – differing in awareness, information sources, and consumption behavior. Findings highlight the role of misinformation and low institutional trust in shaping public attitudes. Strengthening science-based communication and transparent labeling policies is essential for fostering informed decisions and supporting the integration of biotechnology into sustainable agriculture.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2026.2620884

Bearth, A., Fischer, A.R.H. (2026): Uncomfortable trade-offs in plant protection – public perceptions of chemical and

biotechnology options. Agric Hum Values 43, 31 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-025-10818-w

Improvements to the agricultural system and tackling challenges emerging from societal, geo-political or climate change requires decision makers to consider trade-offs between technological solutions and consumer preferences. Such a challenge is the breeding of resilient crops through traditional techniques (i.e. crossbreeding, mutagenesis) and new breeding techniques (i.e. transgenesis, cisgenic genetic modification, intragenesis, genome editing), and the protection from pests and diseases using plant protection products. This article presents nuanced insights into consumers views of plant protection products and new breeding techniques regarding the specific case study focused on potato blight. Two online studies were conducted in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. In the first study (N = 965), synthetic and natural fungicides, cisgenic genetic modification and genome editing were rated similarly by the participants in terms of acceptance and perceived naturalness. The second study (N = 1061) extended these insights and showed that different types of fungicides (i.e. natural vs. synthetic, named vs. unnamed) elicited different spontaneous associations, levels of acceptance and perceived naturalness. Interestingly, the ubiquitous mutagenesis was rated similarly as breeding techniques currently restricted by EU regulations.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10460-025-10818-w

Trump, B.D., Cummings, C.L., Ellinport, B. et al. (2026): Governing the AI–biotech convergence.

EMBO Rep 27, 259–264 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44319-025-00628-w

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1038/s44319-025-00628-w

Bornberg-Bauer, E., Eicholt, L.A. (2026): Emergence and evolution of protein-coding de novo genes. Nat Rev Genet |

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41576-025-00929-9

De novo genes generally refer to genes that arise from previously non-coding sequences. This evolutionary path — when randomly expressed sequences become folded and active proteins — challenges our understanding of genetic innovation and has prompted studies to address the evolutionary and mechanistic knowledge gaps. More specifically, prior work has illuminated the mechanisms underlying the origin of de novo genes, their potential functional roles in the cell and the evolutionary processes that lead to these functions. Recent advances in both experimental and computational approaches have contributed to insights into the emergence of de novo genes and the broader implications for our understanding of biological complexity. In this Review, we place particular emphasis on efforts to quantify the likelihood of de novo gene emergence in eukaryotes given genomic characteristics, as well as the mechanisms by which de novo protein structures that are not actively selected against become amenable to selection-driven changes.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41576-025-00929-9

Solanki M., Yousuf F., Sundaram R.M., Katta S. et al. (2026): KAMALA, a genome edited rice variety with improved yield by

finetuning cytokinin oxidase activity released in India. Biorixiv | https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.23.701329

Increasing yield is of major importance for Asian and African food security. Knock out mutants in the rice cytokinin oxidase gene CKX2 had shown potential for yield improvement. Here we explored whether subtle changes in CKX2 activity by editing FAD and cytokinin binding site sequences could improve the Indian mega-variety Samba Mahsuri. Knock out and single mutants in FAD and cytokinin binding sites induced by CRISPR/Cas12a caused moderate yield increases. Among 80 CKX2 alleles, five lines with in-frame mutations in both FAD and cytokinin binding domains produced even higher yield. One line, KAMALA, showed superior agronomic performance in 18 field locations (irrigated and rainfed ecologies) over three seasons in trials conducted by AICRPR (All India Coordinated Research Project on Rice), with an average 19% grain yield increase, early maturity, complete panicle emergence, and unaltered grain quality. KAMALA was registered as the first genome-edited variety ready for cultivation by Indian farmers.

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.23.701329v1.abstract

Karippadakam S., Achary V.M.M., Vishnudasan D., Nair B.K.G, Hemangini Parmar H. et al. (2026):CRISPR mediated inactivation of

 OsPLDβ1 phospholipase enhances drought tolerance by upregulating stress-related genes and antioxidant enzymes in rice. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry  111071 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111071

Membrane lipids serve as precursors for intracellular signaling molecules, with the activation of phospholipases constituting an initial step in this process. Phospholipase D, a crucial family of enzymes that hydrolyze membrane lipids, plays a pivotal role in plant responses to stress. In this study, we used gene editing to disrupt the OsPLDβ1 function in rice and evaluated its performance under drought conditions. The Ospldβ1 mutants exhibited enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, which led to reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, decreased seedling injury and mortality, and improved photosynthetic performance during drought stress. Additionally, the Ospldβ1 mutants exhibited lower levels of drought stress indicators, including lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage, and chlorophyll loss. The Ospldβ1 mutants showed lower ROS accumulation and better germination, and root development compared to the wild-type plants upon exposed to methyl viologen and mannitol. The expression other PLD family member genes (OsPLDα,1 OsPLDα3, OsPLDδ1, OsPLDδ2, OsPLDδ3) and stress responsive genes were upregulated in the Ospldβ1 mutant lines during the drought stress condition. This study investigated the negative function of the OsPLDβ1 gene in the drought tolerance mechanism. Deploying the Ospldβ1 allele in breeding programs may facilitate the development of climate-resilient crop cultivars to address the climate change situation.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0981942826000574

Zhang L., Zhou Z, Wu R., Chen Y. ewt al. (2026): Improvement of Resistance to Rice Blast and Bacterial Blight by

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Mutagenesis of OsERF922 and Xa41 in Rice. Agronomy 16 (3): | 10.3390/agronomy16030349

Rice blast and bacterial blight are two major diseases that seriously threaten rice production. Developing rice germplasm with enhanced resistance to multiple diseases while maintaining favorable agronomic traits is essential for sustainable breeding. In this study, two rice landraces from Motuo County, Xizang Autonomous Region, China, Benglinba and Gare, were used to simultaneously edit OsERF922 and Xa41 using a structurally optimized dual-target CRISPR/Cas9 vector, pRGEB32-2T. A total of 32 and 28 T₀ transgenic plants were generated in the Benglinba and Gare backgrounds, respectively. Targeted mutagenesis generated eight homozygous oserf922 mutants and three homozygous xa41 mutants in Benglinba, and four and five homozygous mutants in Gare. Twelve double homozygous mutant lines (nine Benglinba and three Gare) were selected for further analysis. Disease resistance assays showed that these double mutants exhibited significantly enhanced resistance to the rice blast fungus strain GDYJ7 and the bacterial blight pathogen strain GDXO-1, with markedly reduced lesion size or lesion length compared with wild-type plants (p < 0.001, Student’s t-test). Importantly, three independent T-DNA-free double mutant lines from each genetic background displayed no significant differences from their corresponding wild types in major agronomic traits, including plant height, effective panicle number, panicle length, seed-setting rate, or thousand-grain weight (p > 0.05). Grain quality parameters, such as brown rice rate, milled rice rate, amylose content, and gel consistency, were also unaffected. Overall, this study generated rice materials with enhanced resistance to rice blast and bacterial blight while maintaining elite agronomic and quality traits, providing valuable germplasm resources and a feasible strategy for the precise improvement of disease resistance in rice landraces from Xizang Autonomous Region.

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/16/3/349

Grbich M., Muñoz M., Zúñiga G.E., Valdovinos G., Giovana Acha G. et al. (2026): Transgene-Free Editing of PPO2 in Elite Potato

Cultivar YAGANA for Reduced Postharvest Browning. Agronomy 16, 216 https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy1602021

Enzymatic browning, driven by polyphenol oxidase (PPO), remains a major postharvest challenge for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), reducing product quality, shelf life, and consumer acceptance. To mitigate this trait in the elite tetraploid cultivar ‘Yagana-INIA’, we applied a geminivirus-derived CRISPR–Cas9 system to edit the StPPO genes most highly expressed in tubers, StPPO1 and particularly StPPO2. A paired-gRNA strategy generated a double-cut deletion in StPPO1, while StPPO2 editing required a complementary single-gRNA screening workflow. High-resolution fragment analysis and sequencing identified three StPPO2-edited lines, including one that lacked GFP, Cas9, and Rep/RepA sequences, confirming a transgene-free editing outcome. Edited tubers exhibited visibly reduced browning relative to wild type, and biochemical assays showed decreased PPO activity consistent with targeted disruption of StPPO2. Amplicon sequencing verified monoallelic editing at the gRNA2 site in the non-transgenic line. These results demonstrate the utility of a replicon-based CRISPR system for achieving targeted, transgene-free edits in tetraploid potato and identify a non-GM StPPO2-edited line with improved postharvest quality under Chile’s regulatory framework.

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/16/2/216

EFSA

FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme abstract aspergillopepsin I from the non-genetically modified Aspergillus

 niger strain CCTCC M 2023234. EFSA Journal, 24(1), e9831. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9831

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9831

GMO Panel (2026): Assessment of genetically modified soybean GMB151 × DAS-44406-6 (application GMFF-2024-21774, EFSA-Q-

2024-00330). EFSA Journal, 24(1), e9844. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9844

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9844