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European Sustainable Agriculture through Genome Editing

EU-SAGE

EU-SAGE is an association representing more than 150 European plant scientist, institutes and societies that have joined forces to provide information about genome editing and promote the development of European and EU member state policies that enable the use of genome editing for sustainable agriculture and food production.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Michaela Šojdrová (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur for opinion)

23 Oct 2023 · New Genomic Techniques

Response to Sustainable food system – setting up an EU framework

25 Oct 2021

EU-SAGE response to inception impact assessment on a framework for sustainable food systems EU-SAGE supports the goal of the initiative that seeks to find harmonized ways to stimulate food systems to become more sustainable. That food systems need to become more sustainable is without doubt. The major question is what type of harmonized framework will be the most effective, without having unanticipated, undesired or even unacceptable consequences for actors across the food chain. EU-SAGE is of the opinion that it will be important to assess the four different policy options in detail in terms of their effectiveness and their consequences. A number of indicative elements for the assessment are enlisted, however other important elements are the possible consequences for food affordability. In many other product areas, the sustainable choice is often more expensive than other choices, but in the long term the higher purchase price may be compensated with lower running costs. In the purchase of food that is not possible and in terms of creating ‘pull provisions’ probably the strongest pull strategy would be to create a situation where the sustainable food choice is the most affordable choice, or at least prevent that the sustainable choice is significantly more expensive. In the inception impact assessment also the possibility of a labelling system is mentioned, that would have the goal to support consumers in making sustainable food choices. It is important that such a labelling system is transparent, easy to understand, truly supports sustainable food choices and does not use criteria that have no relationship with sustainability. In parallel to this consultation on a framework for sustainable food systems, there is also a consultation on the inception impact assessment for legislation for plants produced by targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis. In the latter initiative it is also proposed to include a way of appreciating or analysing contributions of these plants to sustainable food systems. It is very important that these two initiatives do not lead to inconsistencies or the introduction of discriminatory requirements for one particular category of products. In order to avoid this, EU-SAGE proposes that in the policy proposal for plants produced by targeted mutagenesis no requirements for sustainability analysis are taken up, but that instead the general sustainability framework will apply as is proposed in this inception impact assessment on a framework for sustainable food systems. In case the framework leads to additional administrative procedures and for instance to requirements to perform sustainability assessments, it is important that these are feasible for all relevant operators. Furthermore, the framework should be proportionate and non-discriminatory towards all technologies that can contribute in sustainability gains and to the Farm-to-Fork and Sustainable Development Goals. EU-SAGE fully supports the proposal to strive for a harmonised sustainability approach for all the Member States, and avoid significant differences that would result in certain products being allowed in one but not in another Member State.
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Meeting with Giorgos Rossides (Cabinet of Commissioner Stella Kyriakides), Roberto Reig Rodrigo (Cabinet of Commissioner Stella Kyriakides)

1 Jul 2021 · VC Meeting - New Genomic Techniques

Meeting with Roberto Reig Rodrigo (Cabinet of Commissioner Stella Kyriakides)

28 Jan 2021 · VC meeting: Genome editing.