Unlike most of the rest of the world, the European Union uses 30-year old ‘precautionary principle’ to regulate GMOs and gene editing, effectively banning them. Here is a primer – Genetic Literacy Project

The European Union (EU) has been at the forefront of the debate around genetically modified organisms (GMOs), with the region implementing a range of measures to limit their presence in the food chain. In recent years, the EU has adopted a precautionary approach to GMOs, leading to a range of bans and restrictions on the cultivation, import, and sale of GM crops and food products. 
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2023/01/13/unlike-most-of-the-rest-of-the-world-the-european-union-uses-the-30-year-old-precautionary-principle-to-regulate-gmos-and-gene-editing-effectively-banning-them-here-is-a-primer/

Viewpoint: ‘Organic-only policies are the new face of European colonialism’ — Here’s how crop biotechnology innovation is opening doors to Africa’s self sufficiency – Genetic Literacy Project

Former colonies of Europe were banned from sale unless they obeyed Europe when it came to food. Yet Africa has seen the light.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/10/19/viewpoint-organic-only-policies-are-the-new-face-of-european-colonialism-heres-how-crop-biotechnology-innovation-is-opening-doors-to-africas-self-suffici/

80% of EU citizens recognize differences between gene edited crops and GMOs. What does that mean for CRISPR crop regulations? – Genetic Literacy Project

Four out of five European citizens recognize the profound differences between new breeding techniques like gene-editing and the old GMOs.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/10/17/80-of-eu-citizens-recognize-differences-between-gene-edited-crops-and-gmos-heres-what-that-means-for-crispr-crop-regulations/

Viewpoint: European Greens defend organic policy, claim genetic engineering causes ‘uncontrollable, unintended and unsafe mutations’ in food — but this does not hold up to decades of evidence – Genetic Literacy Project

A very dry summer alongside a low supply of fertilizer and energy spikes have created the perfect storm for the European agricultural sector, with staple crops like sunflower and grain maize plummeting by 12 and 16 per cent respectively (1).
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/10/06/viewpoint-european-greens-defend-organic-policy-claim-genetic-engineering-causes-uncontrollable-unintended-and-unsafe-mutations-in-food-but-this-does-not-hold-up-to-deca/

Viewpoint: Global policy analyst on why Europe’s goal to reduce pesticide use by 50% is dangerously misguided – Genetic Literacy Project

Alexander Bernhuber, environmental spokesman for the ÖVP in the European Parliament, is to represent the interests of EU agriculture in the negotiations to revise the EU Pesticides Regulation. From autumn, the European Parliament will be intensively negotiated about the future handling of plant protection products.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/08/19/viewpoint-global-policy-analyst-on-why-europes-goal-to-reduce-pesticide-use-by-50-is-dangerously-misguided/

Viewpoint: Global food crisis is fast-changing views on biotech crops — while Europe remains a science laggard – Genetic Literacy Project

The war in Ukraine is forcing us to rethink many of the consensuses established within European progressivism. Specifically, the war has changed the
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/06/29/viewpoint-how-the-global-food-crisis-is-fast-changing-views-on-biotech-crops-while-europe-remains-a-science-laggard/

Viewpoint: New Zealand’s ban on GMOs and gene editing aligns it with Europe — but is out of step with science and its citizens – Genetic Literacy Project

Attitudes about GMOs within New Zealand appear to be slightly shifting towards being more liberal. Surveys conducted between 2000 – 2009 were generally
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/06/17/viewpoint-new-zealands-ban-on-gmos-and-gene-editing-aligns-it-with-europe-but-is-out-of-step-with-science-and-its-citizens/

Russian invasion of Ukraine throws cloud over European Union’s Green Deal Farm to Fork plans – Genetic Literacy Project

The European Commission’s “Farm to Fork” strategy seeks to reduce pesticides by 50 percent, devote 25 percent of agricultural land use to organic farming,
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/03/18/russian-invasion-of-ukraine-throws-cloud-over-european-unions-green-deal-farm-to-fork-plans/

Viewpoint: Why Europe’s Green Deal Farm to Fork Policy organic embrace is a rejection of green, sustainable agriculture — and will isolate Europe – Genetic Literacy Project

With its new Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, the EU plans to expand organic farming, an approach that rules out both synthetic chemicals and modern
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/02/03/viewpoint-why-europes-green-deal-farm-to-fork-policy-organic-embrace-is-a-rejection-of-green-sustainable-agriculture-and-will-isolate-europe/

Viewpoint: How the hazard-based, European-promoted ‘Precautionary Principle’ has undermined global agriculture — and why we should kill it – Genetic Literacy Project

wenty years is a long time in the wilderness. Since 2001 and the European Environment Agency’s publication, Late Lessons from Early Warnings, the European
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/01/24/viewpoint-how-the-hazard-based-european-promoted-precautionary-principle-has-undermined-global-agriculture-and-why-we-should-kill-it/