Meetings – Conferences / Treffen - Veranstaltungen

What the Food-Forum "Crisis Proof" – am 24.03. in Berlin

https://www.ernaehrungsindustrie.de/what-the-food-forum-crisis-proof/

Anmeldung: https://www.bve-online.de/vf/_eEB9eE5AT

Press Releases - Media / Presse- und Medienberichte

Bündnis in Bayern warnt vor Gentechnik im Bier

https://lebensmittelpraxis.de/industrie-aktuell/47719-bier-und-saatgut-organisationen-protestieren-gegen-eu-gesetz-zur-neuen-gentechnik.html

Bioland: Bayerisches Bier gentechnik- und patentfrei erhalten!

https://www.bioland.de/aktuelles/neues/news-und-pressemitteilungen/bayerisches-bier-gentechnik-und-patentfrei-erhalten-

Wolfgang in Neues; Die DNA der Politik

https://www.biowisskomm.de/2026/02/die-dna-der-politik/

WGG: Europäischer Gerichtshof: Mitgliedstaaten dürfen den Anbau von GVOs auf ihrem Territorium untersagen

https://www.wggev.de/eugh-bestaetigt-anbauverbot-von-mais-mon-810-in-italien/

Nishith Desai Associates: New genomic techniques (ngt) regulation in the EU: innovation, oversight, and the patent

question

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=2c723051-2aae-4d92-a0f0-108491c50490

Nielson A.: Gene Editing Is Getting Faster. Commercialization Still Isn’t

https://www.seedworld.com/us/2026/02/19/gene-editing-is-getting-faster-commercialization-still-isnt/

WIPO: World Intellectual Property Report 2026

https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/world-intellectual-property-report-2026/en/index.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 08/2026

Publications – Publikationen

Tautz D., F Pallares L., Andersson L., Barghi N. et al. (2026): Beyond Mendel: a call to revisit the genotype–phenotype map

through new experimental paradigms. Genetics 232, iyag024 | doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/iyag024

The long-standing notion that genotypes map to phenotypes through simple one gene–one trait relationships continues to shape both research in the life sciences and public understanding, with implications for policy and funding priorities. Yet this paradigm is increasingly recognized as inadequate for explaining continuous phenotypic variation and the complex genetic architectures of the genotype–phenotype map. Modern genetics emerged from the early 20th-century synthesis of Mendelian and biometric schools of heredity, with R.A. Fisher demonstrating early on how multiple discrete loci could collectively produce continuous variation. Despite this fundamental insight, Mendelism—with its focus on single genes and standardized genetic backgrounds—became the dominant framework, shaping current genetics research and molecular biology as well as science education. The advent of large-scale genomic data has revealed yet again the limitations of this reductionist approach. Evidence from quantitative genetics now shows that most phenotypes arise from complex networks of many interdependent genes and their dynamic responses to environmental perturbations. Here we trace the historical roots of how Mendelian classical genetics departed from the biometric school to create the current predominant paradigm in genetics, despite fundamentally unresolved issues. Moving on from this one-sided paradigm will require systematic development of integrative, evolutionarily grounded experimental approaches that better capture the multigenic and context-dependent nature of inheritance. Achieving such an extended perspective will require methodological innovation, including advances in large-scale (e.g. automated) phenotyping. Dedicated research programs will be necessary to advance a new era of genetic research into the complex mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation.

https://academic.oup.com/genetics/advance-article/doi/10.1093/genetics/iyag024/8488818

Stocker, M., Bächler, F. (2026): Democratizing CRISPR? Legal complexity, access and the right to science.

Nat Biotechnol 44, 183–188 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-025-02997-y

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-025-02997-y

Sheridan, C. (2026): EU pushes for broad changes to biotech rules as China gains ground.

Nat Biotechnol 44, 167 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-026-03016-4

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-026-03016-4

New Genetic engineering Techniques (NGT): New GMOs in Cultivation New GMOs in Development Commissioned by the

Federal Offce for the Environment (FOEN)

https://www.bafu.admin.ch/dam/de/sd-web/CvUB4NcuTbzd/new-genetic-engineering-techniques.pdf

Albrecht I. (2026): Das Vorsorgeprinzip in Zusammenhang mit der absichtlichen Freisetzung von mittels Gene Drive

gentechnisch veränderten Organismen

Eine Betrachtung aus der Perspektive des Völkerrechts und des US-amerikanischen Rechts  (Buch )

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-658-50876-0

de Grazia C., Rada.N.E., Graff G. (2026): Diffusion of Genetically Modified Crop Technology

Technology diffusion is central to the process of innovation, as new products or processes must be adopted for them to make meaningful contributions to societal welfare or economic growth. We focus here on the global diffusion of technology that has the potential to improve food insecurity and address challenges posed by climatic effects, genetically modified (GM) crops. We adopt a variety of sources and methods to demonstrate the reach and timing of genetically modified crop technology diffusion worldwide, relying primarily on national regulatory approval information. Specifically, we depict the international adoption of genetically modified crop technology over time and assess the rate at which GM cotton, maize, and soybeans have been adopted within countries. In addition, we examine two case studies that assess an underused information source—trademark data—to determine whether they provide an alternative measure of diffusion. The case studies focus on two different contexts: established branded technologies and nascent technologies. In addition to significant overlap with regulatory approval data for established branded technologies, trademarks appear to provide an indicator of pre-commercialization in countries where regulatory approval coverage can expand. We end with guidance on when trademarks may serve as an indicator of international technology diffusion

https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo-pub-econstat-wp-93-en-diffusion-of-genetically-modified-crop-technology.pdf

Mansi, M., Danai, P. (2026): The emerging impact of CRISPR and gene editing on global crop improvement.

Transgenic Res 35, 8 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-026-00484-x

The advent of CRISPR-based genome editing has revolutionized crop improvement, offering unprecedented precision and efficiency in modifying key agronomic traits. This review comprehensively examines the mechanisms, applications, and future potential of CRISPR technology in enhancing global crop production. CRISPR-Cas systems, originally identified as adaptive immune mechanisms in bacteria and archaea, have been repurposed for targeted genome editing in plants. The CRISPR-Cas9 system, in particular, has emerged as a powerful tool for introducing site-specific double-strand breaks, enabling precise genetic modifications. The three-stage process of adaptation, expression, and interference underlies the CRISPR mechanism, with guide RNAs directing Cas endonucleases to specific genomic loci. Advances in CRISPR technology have expanded its applications beyond gene knockouts, encompassing base editing, prime editing, and epigenome editing. These innovations have facilitated the development of crops with enhanced yield, stress tolerance, disease resistance, nutritional content, and post-harvest quality. However, challenges related to off-target effects, regulatory hurdles, ethical concerns, and public acceptance must be addressed to fully harness the potential of CRISPR in agriculture. Integration of CRISPR with other cutting-edge technologies, such as synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, and high-throughput phenotyping, holds immense promise for accelerating crop improvement efforts. As research continues to refine CRISPR tools and expand their applicability across diverse plant species, this transformative technology is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping a sustainable, resilient, and productive global food system for future generations.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11248-026-00484-x

Mikac K.M., Davila J.H.D., Powley M.J., Barclay S., Pezzini D., Reisig D.D. (2026): Helicoverpa zea selected on Bt corn have wing

shapes better suited to long distance flight. Environmental Entomology 55 (1), nvaf117, https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvaf117

Evolution of resistance within insects to pest control has resulted in changes to the organism’s morphotype, including changes in wing shape. Both geometric morphometric and finite element method (FEM) were used to examine wing changes in Helicoverpa zea sampled from 4 different Bt corn treatments in North and South Carolina, United States. The 4 treatments were pure-stand non-Bt corn (treatment 1); pure-stand Bt corn with 2 toxins (Cry1Ab and Cry1F; treatment 2); pure-stand Bt corn with 3 toxins (Cry1Ab, Cry1F, and Vip3A; treatment 3); and seed blended Bt corn with 80% containing 3 toxins (Cry1AB, Cry1F, and Vip3A) and 20% having no toxins (treatment 5). Geometric morphometric analyses revealed significant wing shape differences in both female and male moths were driven by moderately selected moths (treatments 2 and 5). Male and female moths, especially from treatment 5, had longer and more slender forewing shape conducive for longer distance flight. FEM modeling of the flight potential in both male and female H. zea revealed that the highest wing elastic deformation values for wind speed, indicating the most impact on wing structure, occurred for treatment 2> treatment 1> treatment 3> treatment 5. Wing elastic deformation was significantly more pronounced in female than male moths. In conclusion, we found that one generation of selection on Bt corn in the field could induce H. zea wing phenotypes more conducive for potential long-distance dispersal and should be further investigated by directly testing the impact on migratory flight. Our study contributes to the growing body of evidence that selection of H. zea on Bt crops may influence adult dispersal behavior.

https://academic.oup.com/ee/article/55/1/nvaf117/8328228?login=false#548929320

Shi, C., Chen, S., Wang, J. et al. (2026): A tomato telomere-to-telomere super-pangenome empowers stress resilience

breeding. Nat Genet | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-026-02508-y

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), one of the world’s most valuable vegetable crops, has suffered from diminished genetic diversity and stress resistance. Wild tomatoes serve as an invaluable genetic reservoir, yet their potential for stress resilience remains largely unexploited in tomato breeding. Here we report a genus-wide super-pangenome across 16 tomato species by integrating 20 telomere-to-telomere genomes and 27 published chromosome-scale genomes. Genus-wide population analysis demonstrates broad genetic diversity with limited gene flows among principal clades. Pan-centromere analysis reveals a diverse landscape and dynamic evolution of the mysterious tomato centromeres involving rapid diversification, satellite emergence and repositioning. A comprehensive catalog of structural variants uncovers extensive rearrangements, especially from wild tomatoes, and discovers key molecular markers associated with salinity resistance. Structural-variant-based genome-wide association studies identified a leucine-rich repeat receptor gene SlGMAK conferring gray mold resistance. Our telomere-to-telomere super-pangenome will accelerate exploiting the untapped potential of wild relatives to improve modern tomatoes for stress resilience.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-026-02508-y

Su J., XuX., Baik J.S., Cseke L.J. et al. (2025): Polymerization-mediated SRFR1 condensation in upper lateral root cap cells

regulates root growth. The Plant Cell 38 (1), koaf292 | https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koaf292

Primary root growth, regulated by internal hormone signals, adapts to external factors such as water availability, soil compactness, and microbial interactions. An essential step in root growth consists of cell divisions in the meristem, with the outermost root cap layer thought to provide protection. However, recent studies reveal that lateral root cap (LRC) cells control meristem size and lateral root initiation. In this study, we identified an upper LRC-specific protein condensation mechanism involving SUPPRESSOR of rps4-RLD1 (SRFR1) that governs root growth and show that growth conditions and hormone treatment dynamically modulate condensate accumulation. SRFR1 condensate formation is driven by its plant-associated N-terminal tetratricopeptide repeat (PANT) polymerization domain and fine-tuned by the adjacent intrinsically disordered region 1 (IDR1). Mutational and biophysical analyses show that IDR1's zwitterionic nature is essential for its regulatory role, acting as a chaperone to promote PANT polymerization at low temperatures while preventing aggregation at high temperatures. This enables SRFR1 condensate formation across a wide temperature range. Notably, the zwitterionic IDR1 can be functionally substituted by zwitterionic dehydrins. Shifting IDR1 toward a negative state impairs, whereas a positive shift enhances SRFR1 condensation and further improves root growth. The association of zwitterionic IDRs with polymerization domains is common, suggesting that this mechanism broadly prevents irreversible aggregation and promotes physiological polymerization under varying temperatures.

https://academic.oup.com/plcell/article/38/1/koaf292/8407376

Kumar J., Alok A., Fox J., Srivastava A. et al. (2026): A Tissue Culture Free Genome Editing Strategy in Plants Using Broad-

Host-Range Viral Vectors Derived from Geminiviruses. doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.02.15.705632

The use of viral vectors offers a promising alternative to traditional transformation methods for creating gene-edited plants. In this study, we developed a novel plant genome editing system by delivering Cas9, Cas12f, and Cas12j nucleases along with their guide RNAs using a broad-host-range geminivirus, Wheat dwarf India virus (WDIV), in combination with Ageratum yellow leaf curl betasatellite (AYLCB). Cas9, Cas12f, and Cas12j nucleases were efficiently expressed along with corresponding guide RNAs under viral promoters. By leveraging tRNA spacers in place of external promoters and terminators, we significantly reduced the overall cargo size, streamlining vector design. Additionally, we compared the traditional AtU6-driven gRNA delivery with a novel spacer:gRNA:spacer format in Cas9-expressing lines and observed comparable editing efficiencies. The broad host range of WDIV and AYLCB, combined with this tissue culture free genome editing platform, opens up possibilities for editing across a wide range of plant species.

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.15.705632v1.full.pdf

Lerner A., Lieber A.D., Nelson-Dooley C., Leu A. et al. (2026): Genetically Modified Microorganisms: Risks and Regulatory

Considerations for Human and Environmental Health. Microorganisms 14 (2), 467; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14020467

Advances in affordable genetic engineering have accelerated the creation and large-scale environmental release of genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs). While beneficial applications exist, GMMs may present unique, long-term risks to human and environmental health. Unlike static chemicals, GMMs are biologically active, self-replicating entities capable of rapid mutation and global dispersal. Current regulatory frameworks place responsibility on each country to regulate GMMs, without a clear, coordinated international policy. This review details critical risk scenarios, including horizontal gene transfer to native species and the possible disruption of vital human microbiomes (gut, oral, and infant), which could increase resistance to degradation, promote traits that expand a microbe’s range of hosts or ecological niches, and enhance the production of novel metabolites with unexpected biological activity. In soil, GMMs may support the emergence of “super bugs” or destabilize carbon sequestration cycles, potentially impacting climate resilience. Engineered microbial enzymes in the food supply may also act as environmental drivers of autoimmunity. Given the limited understanding of microbial ecology, we propose a decision-based biosafety workflow emphasizing pre-release risk assessment and continuous post-release monitoring. We urge national and international regulators to adopt the precautionary principle to better protect human health and the environment from the potential negative outcomes of GMMs.

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/14/2/467

Tirabante Terrones, N., Gonçalves, V. R., Nelissen, H., Gonzalez, N. et al. (2026): Enhanced expression of the ScTpx2 gene

confers tolerance to drought stress in transgenic sugarcane. GM Crops & Food, 17 (1) | https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2025.2612426

Drought events can have a devastating impact on agriculture, and due to climate change, such extreme events are expected to become more frequent. Sugarcane plays a critical role in the Brazilian economy by producing sugar and bioethanol, contributing positively to the reduction of CO₂ emissions. Although sugarcane is considered resilient to drought, this stress remains the primary abiotic factor reducing sugar and biomass yields. Here, we describe the role of a sugarcane gene, ScTpx2, which is induced by drought in sugarcane leaves under field conditions. When overexpressed in Arabidopsis, ScTpx2 enhanced plant survival under extreme water deficit and improved performance under mild stress conditions, which better represent field scenarios. We subsequently overexpressed the ScTpx2 gene in sugarcane plants. After 10 days of water deficit at 30% field capacity in a greenhouse, net photosynthesis in ScTpx2-overexpressing lines (ScTpx2OE) was 12–23% higher than in wild-type plants. While malondialdehyde (MDA) content, a marker of oxidative stress, increased by 129% in wild-type plants under water deficit, in ScTpx2OE plants, the increase ranged from 20% to 107%. Additionally, the vascular bundles and xylem areas were larger in ScTpx2OE compared to WT. These findings suggest that the ScTpx2 protein influences the development of the vascular system, thereby improving water transport efficiency. Our results demonstrate that overexpression of the ScTpx2 gene mitigates the effects of water deficit in sugarcane, offering promising opportunities for biotechnological applications in developing drought-tolerant commercial cultivars.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2025.2612426

Saldaña-Padilla, A. et al. (2026): CRISPR Editing for Quality and Nutritional Improvement of Cereals. In: Abd-Elsalam, K.A.,

Ahmad, A. (eds) Gene Editing in Cereals. Sustainability Sciences in Asia and Africa(). Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-95-6722-5_15

As essential foods in many cultures’ diets, cereals collectively account for about half of global caloric intake. The world’s food supply relies on a small number of species, including rye, oats, barley, sorghum, rice, wheat, and maize, because they are all members of the same family. This poses a risk to global food safety, given the extreme weather conditions caused by climate change and/or geopolitical conflicts. Therefore, improving both nutritional characteristics and those that enable them to survive increasingly adverse weather conditions through technologies such as CRISPR-Cas gene editing is essential. The components of the CRISPR-Cas system allow genes to be edited specifically to silence or overexpress them, without the need to introduce genetic material other than that belonging to the cereal in question. This, in turn, could improve consumer acceptance and facilitate the procedures that different countries’ regulations impose on genetically modified products. This technique has already been used to fortify cereals that are deficient in certain vitamins or amino acids, for example, by editing the genes (overexpression of proteins) that code for a metabolic pathway that synthesizes them, thereby increasing their content. Similarly, genes have been edited so that cereals capture and retain more minerals such as zinc and iron. Likewise, editing with CRISPR-Cas has made it possible to reduce cultivation times, plant size, and productivity, as well as to improve their organoleptic and cooking characteristics, ensuring greater production and increased cereal reserves. In turn, it has been possible to generate cereals capable of resisting abiotic factors such as drought, heat, and salinity, among others, and to resist biotic factors such as diseases caused by microorganisms. Finally, editing cereal genomes without inserting exogenous genes poses a lower biosafety risk than other techniques and could be more morally acceptable than their genetically modified counterparts.

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-95-6722-5_15

Qin G., Shentu Q., Pan J., Lin L. et al. (2026): Multiplex Gene Editing Creates Triple-Resistant Rice Against Both Insect

Herbivores and Pathogens Plants 15 (4), 601 | https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15040601

Rice (Oryza sativa) production faces serious threats from multiple biotic stresses, particularly the brown planthopper, rice blast, and bacterial blight. Developing resistant cultivars is the most sustainable control strategy. Compared to race-specific resistance genes, disrupting susceptibility genes often confers broader and potentially more durable resistance. However, engineering broad-spectrum resistance against both insect pests and pathogens by editing susceptibility genes remains challenging. In this study, we employed multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 editing to simultaneously disrupt key susceptibility genes involved in distinct defense pathways: ACS2 (for brown planthopper), Bsr-D1, ERF922 or Pi21 (for fungal blast), and Xa5 (for bacterial blight). Three triple-mutant lines (abx, aex, and apx) were successfully generated, and all exhibited significantly enhanced resistance to brown planthopper, blast, and bacterial blight without compromising major agronomic traits compared to the wild type. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of multiplex susceptibility gene editing as a precise and efficient strategy for breeding rice varieties with synchronized, broad-spectrum resistance to both insect pests and pathogenic diseases.

https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/15/4/601

Niu Z,, Bai S., Xiao Y, Lai J. Et al. (2026): Genome-Guided Identification of an OTA-Degrading Amidohydrolase AMH2102

from Acinetobacter kookii AK4 with Enhanced Soluble Expression in Escherichia coli. Toxins 18 (2), 101 | https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins18020101

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a globally distributed mycotoxin that poses serious threats to food safety and human health due to its nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, and carcinogenic properties. Previous enzymatic detoxification strategies for OTA have been constrained by low degradation efficiency or poor soluble expression of highly active enzymes. In this study, a bacterial strain with strong OTA-degrading activity was isolated and identified as Acinetobacter kookii AK4, which degraded 95.44% of 1 μg/mL OTA within 6 h. The predominant OTA-degrading activity was derived from intracellular enzymes. Through genome mining and experimental validation, gene2102 was identified as encoding an amidohydrolase. The enzyme was designated AMH2102 and was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. Codon optimization combined with fusion of an N-terminal SUMO tag increased the soluble expression of AMH2102 by 14.81-fold, enabling complete (100%) OTA degradation within 3 min. Overall, this study achieved the identification of an efficient OTA-degrading strain and enzyme and explored strategies for improving enzyme expression, yielding effective outcomes that provide useful references for future studies on strain mining and enzyme engineering.

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/18/2/101

Lerner A., Lieber A.D., Nelson-Dooley C., Leu A. et al. (2026): Genetically Modified Microorganisms: Risks and Regulatory

Considerations for Human and Environmental Health. Microorganisms 14 (2), 467; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14020467

Advances in affordable genetic engineering have accelerated the creation and large-scale environmental release of genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs). While beneficial applications exist, GMMs may present unique, long-term risks to human and environmental health. Unlike static chemicals, GMMs are biologically active, self-replicating entities capable of rapid mutation and global dispersal. Current regulatory frameworks place responsibility on each country to regulate GMMs, without a clear, coordinated international policy. This review details critical risk scenarios, including horizontal gene transfer to native species and the possible disruption of vital human microbiomes (gut, oral, and infant), which could increase resistance to degradation, promote traits that expand a microbe’s range of hosts or ecological niches, and enhance the production of novel metabolites with unexpected biological activity. In soil, GMMs may support the emergence of “super bugs” or destabilize carbon sequestration cycles, potentially impacting climate resilience. Engineered microbial enzymes in the food supply may also act as environmental drivers of autoimmunity. Given the limited understanding of microbial ecology, we propose a decision-based biosafety workflow emphasizing pre-release risk assessment and continuous post-release monitoring. We urge national and international regulators to adopt the precautionary principle to better protect human health and the environment from the potential negative outcomes of GMMs.

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/14/2/467

EFSA

EFSA ((02026): Literature horizon scan for new scientific data on plants, microorganisms and animals, and their

products obtained by new genomic techniques (October 2025). EFSA Journal0 24 (2), e9929 | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9929

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9929