Publications – Publikationen

Michali, M. et al. (2026). The Conditions for Trust in Science, Technology and Innovation. In: Iordanou, K., Ravn, T., Zwart, H.

(eds) Trust in Science. SpringerBriefs in Research and Innovation Governance. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-15723-2_2

This chapter examines three historical case studies: (1) ‘genetic modification to genome editing’; (2) ‘controversies over climate science’, and (3) ‘artificial intelligence in social media’. On this basis it develops an understanding of how public trust and confidence in science, technology, and innovation (STI) can be gained, maintained, or lost. This leads to practical recommendations for ethical and societally sustainable STI. There are both intuitive and evidenced warrants for trust in science. Intuitive warrants arise when innovation creates an immediate sense of familiarity, making the future feel like a natural continuation of the past. Evidenced warrants occur when science generates new insights or produces technologies that benefit individuals or society. However, trust in science may be undermined by scientific fraud, the dismissal of public concerns about innovations that challenge societal values, and the populist rejection of science, often accompanied by conspiracy theories. Building and maintaining public trust in STI is a multifaceted challenge that requires coordinated efforts from scientists, research institutions, funding bodies, regulators, and democratic governance processes. A commitment to transparency, proactive engagement with public concerns, risk assessment and mitigation, responsible communication, and strong regulatory frameworks is essential for navigating the complexities of technological advancement and ensuring public trust.

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-032-15723-2_2

Kim, A. Y., Lee, B., Choi, D. in, & Lee, H. Y. (2026): Genetically modified foods and human health: a comprehensive review

and cross-national time-trend analysis. GM Crops & Food 17 (1) | https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2026.2634489

GMOs have remained at the center of scientific and societal debate since their regulatory authorization and subsequent market introduction in the 1990 s. This review synthesizes epidemiological evidence from the literature, including observational studies and prior systematic reviews, alongside international policy frameworks, to evaluate potential associations between GMO exposure and human health. Current evidence does not support consistent causal links between GMO consumption and cancer, reproductive toxicity, allergies, or other chronic diseases. We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and international health databases, applied predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and synthesized national-level epidemiological data using time-trend and Joinpoint regression analyses. Across countries and disease categories, no consistent temporal alignment was observed between GMO authorization and changes in disease incidence, and pooled breakpoint analyses showed heterogeneous patterns with estimates frequently overlapping zero. Overall, the findings provide no consistent epidemiological support for associations between GMO consumption and major chronic diseases.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2026.2634489#abstract

Mewett, O., McMurdy, J., Bertho, L. et al. (2026): Re-evaluating the site-directed nuclease classification as a regulatory

trigger for genome-edited plant products. Nat Biotechnol | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-026-03028-0

Site-directed nuclease (SDN) classification into SDN-1, SDN-2 and SDN-3 outcomes is used for regulating genome-edited plant products in some countries. This reductive categorization system fails to cover the breadth of genome editing technologies developed over the past decade and their rapidly approaching commercial use. Here, we argue that, in the context of plant breeding, regulations should focus on the characteristics of the genome editing outcome, rather than specific methods used in the development process. Such a science-based, outcome-focused regulatory approach would future-proof the risk-proportionate oversight of plant breeding innovations and enable a more efficient delivery of improved crop varieties amidst growing concerns of climate change and evolving pests and diseases.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-026-03028-0

Ramakers J.J.C., Waqas A. Malik W.A., Welcker C., Parent B. et al: (2026): Evaluation and optimization of wheat and maize

national variety evaluation systems in Europe. Field Crops Research 341, 110420 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110420

Context and objective: To facilitate sustained productivity gains in wheat and maize across Europe, we analysed a long-term (2003–2018) European Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) dataset to quantify genotypic (G) and genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI) variation and to assess variety-testing precision for grain yield.

Methods: Mixed-model analyses were applied to partition genetic and environmental sources of yield variation across European VCU networks in seven countries and to estimate variety-comparison precision (LSDs) and annual genetic trends for both crops.

Results: Across Europe, G and GEI variances were comparable, explaining in total 10–29 % of total phenotypic variance in wheat and 8–29 % in maize. LSDs ranged 0.29–0.56 t ha⁻¹ and 0.38–0.81 t ha⁻¹ , respectively. Genetic trends ranged 0.45–1.81 % yr⁻¹ for wheat and 0.90–1.31 % yr⁻¹ for maize. Testing precision allowed effective comparison of wheat and maize varieties differing by 2.7–10.5 and 3.3–6.4 release years, respectively, aligning with typical breeding turnover rates. Stronger GEI was associated with larger genetic trends in maize yield, whereas in wheat, observed trends were substantially smaller than the maximum potential implied by GEI magnitudes. Combining data from national VCU networks improved precision and allowed for efficient comparison of varieties not jointly tested.

Conclusions: European VCU networks are well-optimized for the number of testing locations given national evaluation periods (2–3 years). Strengthening connections among national VCU networks could further improve precision, while integrating environmental and genetic information would enable a predictive testing system, accelerating breeding progress and the development of resilient varieties.

Significance: This first pan-European appraisal of current VCU testing efficiency for two major crops provides a quantitative basis for optimizing variety evaluation across Europe.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378429026000961

Westbrook J.W., Malukiewicz J., Zhang Q., Sreedasyam A. et al. (2026): Genomic approaches to accelerate American chestnut

restoration. Science 391, Issue 6786, 730-735 | DOI: 10.1126/science.adw3225

More than a century after two introduced pathogens killed billions of American chestnut trees, introgression of resistance alleles from Chinese chestnuts has contributed to the recovery of self-sustaining populations. However, progress has been slow because of the complex genetic architecture of resistance. To better understand blight resistance, we compared reference genomes, gene expression responses, and stem metabolite profiles of the resistant Chinese and susceptible American chestnut species. To accelerate resistance breeding, we conducted large-scale phenotyping and genotyping in hybrids of these species. Simulation and inoculation experiments suggest that significant resistance gains are possible through selectively breeding trees with an average of 70 to 85% American chestnut ancestry. The resources developed in this work are foundational for breeding to create diverse restoration populations with sufficient disease resistance and competitive growth.

https://www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.1126/science.adw3225

Shen C., Ji Z., Jiao W., Zhang S, Huang Y., Qin Y. et al. (2026): OsWRI1a coordinates systemic growth responses to nitrogen

availability in rice. Science 391, Issue 6788, 937-945

INTRODUCTION: Plants have evolved the ability to optimize resource allocation, enabling adaptive development under environments with fluctuating nutrient availability. Nitrogen (N) is an essential macronutrient that determines growth and productivity. Therefore, plants undergo profound developmental reprogramming when external N levels change. Under N deficiency, most plants reallocate biomass toward the root to enhance nutrient foraging, whereas under sufficient N supply, resources are reallocated to the shoot to promote aboveground growth. In rice, N limitation triggers auxin accumulation in the root by destabilizing the amino transferase DNR1 (DULL NITROGEN RESPONSE 1), thereby promoting root development. In contrast, elevated N increases the abundance of NGR5 (NITROGEN-MEDIATED TILLER GROWTH RESPONSE 5) in the shoot, which activates the expression of multiple shoot-branching genes to enhance tillering. However, the mechanism that coordinates N-responsive reprogramming of root and shoot development remains largely unknown.

RATIONALE: An increase in the root-to-shoot biomass ratio under N limitation is undesirable in agriculture, as excessive root allocation promotes underground competition and reduced shoot growth limits grain yield. Maintaining a stable root-to-shoot ratio under varying N conditions could sustain yield while reducing dependence on environmentally unsustainable fertilizer input. To identify the molecular players coordinating N-responsive developmental reprogramming, we performed a mutant screen and cloned LOC_Os11g03540, corresponding to the seed oil biosynthesis regulator gene OsWRI1a (WRINKLED1a). The oswri1a mutant exhibited similar root-to-shoot biomass ratios without altering carbon reallocation under both high and low N supply. Our subsequent investigation revealed the mechanism by which OsWRI1a coordinates N-responsive development and assessed its potential as a genetic target for crop improvement.

RESULTS: We found that OsWRI1a regulates shoot and root development through both shared and distinct mechanisms. In the shoot, OsWRI1a functions as a transcription factor and directly promotes NGR5 expression, thereby enhancing tillering. In the root, OsWRI1a up-regulates multiple genes involved in N metabolism, leading to improved N-use efficiency (NUE). Root OsWRI1a disrupts the interaction between DNR1 and the F-box protein RNR10 (REGULATOR OF N-RESPONSIVE RSA ON CHROMOSOME 10), which monoubiquitinates DNR1 to inhibit its degradation. RNR10 also mediates the polyubiquitination and degradation of OsWRI1a itself. Elevated OsWRI1a abundance destabilizes DNR1, promoting auxin accumulation and enhancing root development. In contrast, RNR10 does not detectably mediate OsWRI1a degradation in tiller buds, suggesting tissue-specific regulation of OsWRI1a stability. Collectively, OsWRI1a acts as a regulatory hub linking two previously distinct mechanisms that coordinate N-responsive root and shoot development. Finally, we identified a superior OsWRI1a haplotype, predominantly found in indica rice varieties, conferring higher OsWRI1a abundance. Genetically introducing this allele into japonica varieties significantly improved NUE and grain yield.

CONCLUSION: We conclude that N-responsive OsWRI1a integrates root and shoot developmental regulation by transcriptionally activating genes involved in tillering and N metabolism and by disrupting the RNR10-DNR1 negative regulatory module of auxin accumulation specifically in the root. Introgression of a superior natural OsWRI1a haplotype that increases its abundance enables plants to maintain a stable root-to-shoot balance under N limitation and enhances grain yield, highlighting OsWRI1a as a promising target for sustainable crop improvement.

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aeb8384

Ferrero M., Acquadro A., Moglia A. (2026): From Lab to Field: CRISPRing Major Cultivated Solanaceae for Crop

Improvement. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(5), 2238 | https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27052238

The Solanaceae family includes some of the most economically and agronomically important crops, such as tomato, potato, pepper and eggplant. Recently, CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing has emerged as a powerful tool for functional genomics and crop improvement, enabling precise and efficient genetic modifications. This review provides an overview of CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing technologies and their applications in the major cultivated Solanaceae crops. The use of CRISPR/Cas9 systems for targeted gene knockout and knock-in approaches is described, together with advances in precision editing strategies such as base editing and prime editing, which allow precise nucleotide substitutions and small sequence changes. The expanding CRISPR toolbox is further explored through alternative Cas proteins, such as Cas12a and Cas13 with distinct targeting features and potential applications. Emerging delivery strategies, including ribonucleoprotein-mediated editing in protoplasts, virus-induced gene editing (VIGE), de novo induction of meristems and genome editing by grafting, represent promising approaches to generate transgene-free edited plants. In addition, the current status of field trials involving genome-edited Solanaceae crops in Europe is outlined, considering the regulatory landscape and legislative requirements for their release in the environment. Despite regulatory constraints, some genome-edited crops have reached the market, highlighting their potential to contribute to sustainable agriculture and crop improvement.

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/5/2238

Rossi F., Santonicola S., Colavita G: (2026): A Review of Horizontal Gene Transfer for the Natural Functional Improvement

of Microorganisms Relevant to Food Technology. Sci 2026, 8(3), 56 | https://doi.org/10.3390/sci8030056

Different groups of microorganisms—namely lactic acid bacteria (LAB), coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), dairy propionibacteria, yeasts, and molds—play essential roles in producing safe fermented foods of animal and plant origin with high nutritional value and sensory quality. The acquisition of genetic traits with technological relevance by natural horizontal gene transfer (HGT) via transformation, conjugation, phage transduction, and other routes would broaden the spectrum of beneficial activities exerted by individual microbial strains with no limitations for their use in food. Therefore, this critical review aimed to identify the potential for natural genetic improvement of microbial species relevant to food technology, based on reports of natural genetic exchanges occurring in environmental niches and laboratory conditions. Results showed that the species most frequently involved in natural HGT is Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, followed by Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactococcus lactis. Extensive HGT events enabling adaptation to food have been observed in domesticated filamentous fungi. The transferred traits of technological relevance include resistance to various stress factors, exopolysaccharide (EPS) and bacteriocin production, protein and amino acid utilization, phage immunity, lactose and citrate metabolism in dairy species, and use of plant carbohydrates in vegetable adapted species. Methods suitable for detecting HGT events in microbial communities have been developed and can aid in isolating improved strains for use in fermented foods.

https://www.mdpi.com/2413-4155/8/3/56

Rathi K., Devi N., Singh B., Ayyagari A., Kumar V., Chaudhari D.N. Ahire J.J.(2026):Microbial Risks in Food: Evaluation of

Implementation of Food Safety Measures. Hygiene 6 (1), 12 | ;https://doi.org/10.3390/hygiene6010012

The process of ensuring the safety of the food supply is dynamic. Both the possibility of contamination and the effectiveness of safety precautions are impacted by changes in the kinds of food consumed, the geographical origins of food products, and the methods by which these foods are processed. For instance, compared to earlier generations, consumers’ general understanding of safe food preparation and handling techniques has decreased due to a higher reliance on prepackaged convenience foods. Nowadays, consumers depend increasingly on other people to make sure the food they eat is safe. Growing consumption of minimally processed foods and growing imports of fresh products from other nations have resulted from changes in consumer tastes and food processing technologies. This review aims to critically synthesize existing knowledge on microbial risks in food, focusing on their sources, mechanisms of contamination, risk evaluation methodologies, and implementation of food safety measures. Major foodborne pathogens, including Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Norovirus, are discussed alongside factors influencing their survival and transmission. Today Clostridium botulinum, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp. remain among the major foodborne pathogens, but during the last two decades food-borne diseases such as shigellosis, listeriosis, campylobacteriosis, and diseases caused by pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli have become increasingly salient. These new concerns necessitate continued investment in research and technology development to improve the safety of the food supply. The review highlights current approaches to microbiological risk assessment, regulatory frameworks, and control strategies, while also addressing emerging challenges such as antimicrobial resistance, biofilms, and ready-to-eat foods. By integrating risk evaluation with practical implementation strategies, this review provides valuable insights for researchers, regulators, and food industry stakeholders seeking to strengthen food safety systems and reduce the burden of foodborne diseases.

https://www.mdpi.com/2673-947X/6/1/12

EFSA:

FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme trypsin from the genetically modified Fusarium venenatum strain NZYM-FG.

EFSA Journal 24 (3), e9951 | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9951

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9951

FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme papain, a cysteine endopeptidase complex from the latex of Carica papaya L.

EFSA Journal, 24 (3), e9950 | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9950

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9950