Vote on New Genomic Techniques a Step Forward for EU Agriculture

Commenting on the approval in the EU Parliament today of the New Genomic Techniques (NGT), IFA Grain Chair John Murphy the decision is a big step forward in improving the competitiveness of the European agricultural sector.

“The framework for use of these breeding techniques will take some years for new varieties to come to fruition. Nonetheless, it is a significant development and provides access to a key tool in addressing current and future threats to crop yields and food security posed by climate change, pests and disease resistance,” John Murphy said.

“NGT will allow faster and more timely incorporation of traits which support the development of more resilient crops and plants. Perhaps most importantly, it also aligns the EU with technological and legislative breeding developments which have been available in other countries outside the European Union for many years,” he continued.

IFA believes that the proposal is balanced, practical and transparent. It has been studied and debated extensively for the past three years across the various EU institutions. It is very important that this framework is now implemented so the EU plant breeding sectors can commence research and development in this area. 

“Irish tillage farmers are now more than ever reliant on producing high-yielding crops to stay financially solvent in the face of serious input cost escalation, declining direct payments and a significant loss of plant protection products. However, the availability of NGT varieties will provide solutions that will help address some of the agronomic and economic challenges that our tillage growers face now and into the future,” John Murphy concluded.