Stakeholder Consultation on Social Acceptability of Genome Edited Plants

Description

Jurisdictions around the world have responded differently to the increasing use of genome editing in plant breeding. USA, Canada, Brazil and Argentina, all of them with large-scale and routine use in agriculture of 1st generation genetically modified (GMO) crops, decided to regulate certain types of genome-edited plants differently than GMOs or even exempted them from GMO legislation at all. This facilitates a wide-spread use of such plants without labelling in major agricultural exporters. In several other jurisdictions where GMO crops have been cultivated in only negligible quantities or not at all, initiatives can be observed towards opening up for such GE crops.
The Stakeholder Consultation on Social Acceptability of Genome Edited Plants addresses these recent developments. Sessions 1 and 2 will bring together experts and stakeholders to review and explore these developments on the national level. Selected cross-cutting issues and developments will be explored in more depth. Session 3 will focus on chicory plants as a case study with high significance for Europe. So far, the use of genetic techniques for plant breeding innovation focused on major crops and large markets. The activities and achievements in the EU-funded project CHIC (Horizon 2020, Chicory as a multipurpose crop for dietary fibre and medicinal terpenes, more information at http://chicproject.eu/) clearly illustrates how genome editing differs from 1st generation GMO crops. This session aims at presenting and discussing three key achievements: genome-editing methods established for root chicory, improved inulin production for dietary use, and terpene as a high-value compound from root chicory. In the light of the discussion in Session 1 and 2, possible specific factors hindering or facilitating chicory innovation will be discussed.
This consultation provides a forum dedicated to open discussion of very topical but sometimes politically and economically sensitive issues. Participation is free of charge but open to invited participants only. All participants agree to follow Chatham House Rules.

Period	21 Sept 2022 → 22 Sept 2022
Event type	Workshop
Location	Brussels, BelgiumShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International