Publications – Publikationen

Cardi, T., Vitale, A. (2026): Evolution and implementation of EU regulation on new genomic techniques. Nat. Plants 12, 1650–1655 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-026-02402-9

With the approval of the European Council and the European Parliament, Regulation (EU) 2026/1388 on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their products was finally adopted by the European Union on 17 June 2026. This is a remarkable achievement considering that Directive 2001/18/EC, the main legislation on the environmental release of genetically modified organisms, dates back to 2001, and that the first Working Group on New Plant Breeding Techniques was established by the European Commission in 2007 with the aim of identifying legislation more appropriate to technologies developed after 2001.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-026-02402-9

Frébort I., Hjort C.: (2026): Unlocking Innovation in European Plant Breeding: A Perspective on the New Genomic Techniques Framework. New Biotechnology 96, 163-167

New genomic techniques (NGTs), including targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis, can accelerate plant breeding and support the development of crops adapted to abiotic stresses associated with climate change and to biotic stresses such as pests and diseases, resource limitations and changing societal needs. Their application in the European Union has nevertheless been constrained by legislation adopted before these technologies became available, especially Directive 2001/18/EC, and by the regulatory gap following the 2018 decision on Case C-528/16 of the Court of Justice of the European Union. The recent Regulation (EU) 2026/1388 establishes a dedicated framework that differentiates NGT plants with changes comparable to those obtainable naturally or by conventional breeding from plants carrying more complex modifications. This Perspective welcomes the shift towards greater scientific proportionality and considers how it can translate European research strength into varieties and products reaching farmers, value chains and consumers. Although only few genome-edited crops have reached commercial application to date, they do not necessarily predict the future direction of genome-edited crop development. Nevertheless, they illustrate that genome editing is already being applied to a diverse range of product concepts beyond experimental research. We argue, however, that regulatory reform alone will not unlock innovation. Success will require harmonised implementation, practical and affordable access to enabling technologies, intellectual property and breeding germplasm, participation by public institutions and smaller breeders, and transparent evaluation of environmental, social and economic outcomes. The forthcoming European Biotech Act II also offers an opportunity to develop coherent, application-specific approaches for NGT microorganisms and industrial biotechnology.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871678426001172

Mangal, H., Mathur, S., Chaurasia, A. et al. (2026): CRISPR genome editing in food and feed crops: intellectual property challenges, global accessibility, and the Indian perspective. Transgenic Res 35, 41 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-026-00516-6

The ever-increasing global demand for food and feed, coupled with population growth and climate change, necessitates the development of high-yielding and stress-resilient crops. CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology has emerged as a transformative genome-editing tool due to its efficiency, precision, and ability to generate targeted genetic modifications. This review highlights recent advances in CRISPR genome editing, including base editing, prime editing, and novel Cas variants, together with emerging approaches such as epigenome editing, mitochondrial genome editing, and hypercompact Cas systems, and their applications in improving crop productivity, stress tolerance, and nutritional quality. In food and feed crops, these applications also include crop-specific priorities such as grain and nutritional quality in food crops and digestibility, forage quality, and mineral bioavailability in feed and forage crops. Particular emphasis is placed on the complex intellectual property (IP) landscape surrounding CRISPR technologies, including patents on editing systems, delivery platforms, and proprietary vectors. These intellectual property barriers can restrict research access, technology transfer, and commercialization, particularly in developing countries. The review further discusses patent limitations, licensing frameworks, and strategies to enhance equitable global access through collaborative approaches such as non-exclusive licensing, humanitarian licensing, indigenous technology development, and international partnerships. Overall, the review underscores the need to balance innovation, intellectual property protection, and global accessibility to ensure that CRISPR-based technologies contribute effectively to worldwide food and feed security and sustainable agriculture.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11248-026-00516-6

Franziska Koller F.(2025): The Potential of NGTs to Overcome Constraints in Plant Breeding and Their Regulatory Implications. Int. J. Mol. Sci.2, 26 (23),  | 1391;https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311391

Conventional plant breeding relies on the occurrence of chromosomal crossover and spontaneous or non-targeted mutations in the genome induced by physical or chemical stressors. However, constraints exist concerning the number and variation of genotypes that can be achieved in this way, as the occurrence and combination of mutations are not equally distributed across the genome. The underlying mechanisms and causes of reproductive constraints can be considered the result of evolution to maintain the genomic stability of a species while at the same time allowing necessary adaptations. A continuous horizon scan was carried out to identify plants derived from new genomic techniques (NGTs), which show that CRISPR/Cas is able to circumvent at least some of these mechanisms and constraints. The reason for this is the specific mode of action: While physico-chemical mutagens such as radiation or chemicals merely cause a break in DNA, recombinant enzymatic mutagens (REMs), such as CRISPR/Cas, additionally interfere with cellular repair mechanisms. More recently developed REMs even expand the capabilities of NGTs to introduce new genetic variations within the target sequences. Thus, NGTs introduce genetic changes and combinations that are unknown in the current breeding pool and that are also unlikely to occur as a result of any previously used breeding methods. The resulting genotypes may need to be considered as ‘new to the environment’. The technical potential of NGTs should also be taken into account in regulatory provisions. Previously unknown genotypes and phenotypes may negatively impact plant health, ecosystems, biodiversity, and plant breeding. It must further be acknowledged that the different outcomes of NGTs and conventional breeding are not always evident at first sight. As a starting point, within a process-oriented approval process, molecular characterization can inform the following steps in risk assessment and guide requests for further data.

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/23/11391

Woźniak-G. E. and Tyczewska A. (2026):Public perception and acceptance of biotechnology in agriculture: insights from Poland. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.; Sec. Biosafety and Biosecurity; Volume 14 - 2026 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2026.1983759

Agricultural biotechnology encompasses a range of technologies, including genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which have been developed and applied in agriculture for several decades, as well as the more recently developed new genomic techniques (NGTs), which have attracted increasing attention in the context of challenges related to sustainable agriculture and food security. However, its successful implementation depends not only on technological progress but also on public acceptance. This study presents a structured literature review synthesizing the existing evidence on public acceptance of agricultural biotechnology in Poland. Relevant studies were identified through a structured search of the Scopus and Web of Science databases using predefined search terms related to public acceptance, perceptions, attitudes, GMOs, NGTs, and Poland. The reviewed literature was analyzed to identify patterns in public awareness, perceptions, attitudes, and the main determinants influencing technology acceptance. The review shows that research conducted in Poland has focused predominantly on GMOs, while empirical evidence on public perceptions of NGTs remains scarce. Public acceptance is strongly influenced by the application context, perceived risks and benefits, trust in science and institutions, and the level of public awareness. Biotechnology applications associated with health and environmental benefits generally receive greater support than those related to food production. The review also identifies significant research gaps, including the limited number of studies on NGTs and the need for more comprehensive analyses of the social determinants of biotechnology acceptance. These findings provide a basis for future research and may support evidence-based communication and policymaking regarding agricultural biotechnology.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2026.1983759/full?utm_source=F-NTF&utm_medium=EMLX&utm_campaign=PRD_FEOPS_20170000_ARTICLE

Ortiz-Barrientos, D., Jordan, D. & Cooper, M. (2026): The hidden geometry of breeding constraints. Nat. Plants 12, 1316–1324  | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-026-02332-6

Thousands of years of breeding and agronomic change have pushed genetic change into increasingly narrow corridors. The approach has worked effectively, but gains are slowing and much genetic variance expected from heritability estimates is not readily found. We propose that breeding constraints, the practical demands that make crops useful, force genetic exploration onto curved, lower-dimensional surfaces within the larger landscape of possibility. In crops, these constraints arise jointly from genetic choices and management decisions about fertilizer, sowing density, weed and pest control, irrigation and harvest logistics, which together define the range of environments in which genotypes are routinely grown. These constraints may hide certain classes of gene interactions from breeding programmes, creating an additive appearance where the underlying biology may remain epistatic. Selection moves by additive steps, but on a curved, constrained surface: the speed looks additive, but the long-term path follows the geometry of the constraints. This framework particularly applies to major crop species subjected to intensive directional selection over many generations for stable agricultural requirements, the context where constraint-based filtering of genetic variance is most pronounced. When selection has had less opportunity to impose its effects and gene interactions are weak, this geometric filtering may be less consequential. But when epistatic effects shape fitness, constraints could hide substantial genetic potential behind these boundaries. This Perspective suggests potential escape routes from current plateaus: strategic wide crosses, transgene combinations and targeted edits that access genetic variance currently excluded by constraints.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-026-02332-6

da Silveira Fonseca, M.L., de Souza Júnior, L.C., dos SantosNascimento, F. et al. (2026): A banana susceptibility gene underlying fusarium wilt: validation as a target for disease resistance. Mol Biol Rep 53, 1491 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-026-12689-8

Background: Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, remains the principal constraint on banana production, particularly for the widely cultivated cultivar ‘Prata-Ana’ (AAB) in Brazil. Given the limited efficacy of conventional control strategies, susceptibility (S) genes have emerged as promising targets for developing resistant cultivars. This study investigated the expression of the banana DMR6 gene during the interaction with Foc. DMR6 was selected because it is a conserved plant susceptibility gene that negatively regulates salicylic acid-mediated immunity, making it a promising target for genome editing.

Methods and Results: Banana plantlets were inoculated with Foc Subtropical Race 4 under controlled conditions. Temporal expression of the banana DMR6 gene was analyzed by RT-qPCR, and host defense responses were assessed by histochemical and microscopic analyses. DMR6 expression initially decreased and subsequently increased, reaching a 6.5-fold induction at 72 h post-inoculation relative to non-inoculated controls. This expression peak coincided with spore formation and advanced vascular colonization. Although infected roots exhibited callose deposition and phenolic compound accumulation, these defense responses were insufficient to restrict pathogen progression, resulting in severe disease symptoms and a disease severity index of 80% at 90 days after inoculation.

Conclusions: The findings indicate that banana DMR6 functions as a negative regulator of plant immunity and is closely associated with susceptibility to Fusarium wilt. These results provide a molecular basis for future functional validation and support DMR6 as a potential target for precise genome editing to develop resistant banana cultivars.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11033-026-12689-8

Zhong, V., Jones, M.A., Cabales, A. et al. (2026): Genetic code expansion enables plant-directed control of bacterial activity. Nat Biotechnol | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-026-03360-5

Microorganisms have the potential to deliver growth-promoting benefits to plants and crops; however, to be useful in a field setting, their gene expression should be programmable and restricted to specific plant hosts and conditions. Here, using O-methyl-L-tyrosine (OMY) as a model compound, we establish noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) as a tool for plant-based control of associated microbial activity. We use genetic code expansion to engineer OMY-dependent control of protein synthesis in the soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Engineered B. subtilis strains express an orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and tRNA pair that, upon provision of OMY, results in suppression of in-frame amber stop codons in target transcripts. We engineer Arabidopsis, tomato and poplar to biosynthesize OMY, showing that plant-derived OMY can stimulate gene expression in both model and wild soil bacteria. This demonstrates that inducible and tissue-specific expression of a single biosynthetic enzyme by the plant enables on-demand control over microbial activity, establishing ncAAs as a tool for programming plant–microorganism partnerships.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-026-03360-5

Dhiman S., Pooja B., Pankaj K., Pankti, P., Dhruvansh P. (2026): Biofortified feed crops: bridging plant biotechnology and animal-derived functional foods. Front. Sustain. Food Syst., Sec. Crop Biology and Sustainability, Volume 10 - 2026 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2026.1963997

Micronutrient deficiency continues to be a significant global nutritional problem, especially in populations relying on staple diets with limited micronutrient diversity. Biofortification presents a sustainable way to enhance crop nutritional quality through methods like agronomic practices, traditional breeding, microbial interventions, nanotechnology, transgenic techniques, and genome editing. This review critically explores these strategies, focusing on their application to feed and forage crops, which are often neglected in biofortification discussions. It examines factors affecting micronutrient uptake, accumulation, transport, and bioavailability in plants, as well as their transfer from biofortified feed to animals and subsequently into milk, meat, and eggs. The review also discusses how nutrient-enriched feed impacts animals health, productivity, and the nutritional value of animals products. Importantly, it highlights gaps in understanding the efficiency of nutrient transfer across the soil–plant–feed–animal–food–human pathway, especially how increased micronutrient levels in forage improve animals mineral status and human nutrition. Finally, the review points to emerging opportunities to integrate crop biofortification with animals nutrition efforts, including precision breeding, genome editing, microbial methods, and targeted nutrient management. An integrated approach like this could extend biofortification’s benefits beyond human food crops, supporting better feed quality, enhanced animals productivity, healthier animal-derived functional foods, and more sustainable, nutritionally resilient food systems.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2026.1963997/full

Zhang W.; Toprak U.; Mohamed A.; Chakkalakkal G., Eleftherianos I.; Smagghe G. (2026): RNAi-based biopesticides: from gene silencing to biosafety, Entomologia Generalis

RNA interference (RNAi)-based biopesticides represent a cutting-edge, third-generation pest management strategy characterized by gene-silencing specificity, rapid environmental degradation, and minimal toxicity to non-target organisms (NTOs). Their mechanism, based on a sequence-specific messenger RNA (mRNA) degradation via the Dicer-RISC complex, enables high precision in targeting pest species while reducing collateral impacts. Recent studies highlight that unformulated (naked) double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) degrades swiftly in environmental matrices, reinforcing its low persistence. However, potential off-target effects in non-target species with high sequence homology remain a concern, which can be mitigated through advanced bioinformatic filtering and tailored dsRNA design, being an active area of innovation. Human and animal safety assessments confirm that dsRNA is rapidly digested and does not bioaccumulate, supporting low dietary risk evaluations by regulators. Emerging challenges include the evolution of target pest resistance under repeated exposure, which has sparked interest in strategies like gene stacking and rotational RNAi applications to sustain efficacy. Nanoformulations have become a research hotspot, offering enhanced dsRNA stability and cellular uptake, though their safety and environmental profiles remain formulation-specific and require further scrutiny. Several RNAi products have received regulatory approval (e.g., by EPA, EFSA, FSANZ), signaling growing international acceptance. These approvals emphasize the importance of case-by-case risk assessments and global harmonization of regulatory frameworks. This review synthesizes current findings and highlights innovations in RNAi biopesticide development, safety, and regulation,offering critical insights for the creation of robust, species-specific, and sustainable pest management systems

DOI: 10.1127/entomologia/3821

Awais, M., Ali, S., Batyrbek, M., Li, L., Zhao, J., Kang, Z., & Ma, J. (2026): Genetic structure and virulence profiling of Puccinia striiformis reveal complex pathotype diversity associated with predominant MLG-10 and MLG-12 lineages in Xinjiang. BMC Plant Biology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-026-10071-1

Background: Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), the causal agent of wheat stripe rust, continues to threaten global wheat production through the emergence of new virulent races. Xinjiang is a major wheat-producing border region connecting China with Central Asia and serves as an important epidemiological corridor for pathogen dispersal. Although previous studies have described Pst virulence diversity in this region, the relationship between genetic lineages and virulence phenotypes remains poorly understood.

Methods: A total of 115 Pst isolates collected from major wheat-growing regions of Xinjiang were analyzed using 17 SSR markers and virulence patternson 25 Yr isogenic lines and 19 Chinese differential cultivars. Genetic and phenotypic data were integrated to evaluate population structure, multilocus genotype diversity, and pathotype variation.

Results: High virulence frequencies [> 80%] were detected against Yr1, Yr2, Yr6, Yr9, Yr17, Yr18, Yr27, Yr28, Yr29, Yr44, and YrA, indicating widespread resistance breakdown during the 2023 cropseason. In contrast, Yr5, Yr8, Yr10, Yr15, Yr32, and YrTr1 remained highly effective, with virulence frequencies below 10%. A total of 36 multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were identified, revealing substantial genetic diversity within the Xinjiang Pst population. Among these, MLG-10 and MLG-12 were the Predominant in this region and exhibited the most complex virulence profiles, with broad virulence across multiple Yr genes. The prevalent race CYR34 was detected across multiple MLGs, with higher frequencies observed in the predominant MLG-10 and MLG-12, highlighting the distribution of this virulence phenotype across diverse genetic backgrounds.

Conclusions: These findings provide the first comprehensive SSR-based characterization of Pst populations in Xinjiang and establish a baseline for future surveillance of pathogen population dynamics. The identified associations between dominant multilocus genotypes and virulence profiles may support future studies on resistance breeding and regional disease surveillance.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12870-026-10071-1

EFSA

GMO Panel (2026): Assessment of genetically modified maize Bt11 × MIR162 × MIR604 × GA21 and its subcombinations for renewal authorisation under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (application GMFF-2025-35594). EFSA Journal, 24(10), e10365. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10365

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10365

FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase from the genetically modified Escherichia coli K12 strain DSM 34230. EFSA Journal, 24(10), e10342. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10342

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10342

FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of a food enzyme containing cellulase and endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanase activities from the non-genetically modified Trichoderma reesei strain DP-Nzc104. EFSA Journal, 24(10), e10339. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10339

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10339