Parma, 26 June 2024 – We will talk about regulatory challenges and research prospects regarding new genomic techniques in agri-food Tuesday 2 July at the University of Parmain a study meeting included in the PNRR project Onfoods – Research and Innovation for Sustainable Food and Nutrition (Spoke 1 – Global Sustainability) and within the project Food for Future of the Department of Law, Political and International Studies (Department of Excellence 2023-2027).
Crispr and the agri-food sector: regulatory issues and first experiments the title of the scheduled meeting to 11 a.m. in the Flag Room of the headquarters (via Università, 12): opportunity to explore potential and problems, also from a legal perspective, linked to new genomic techniques (also known as Assisted Evolution Technologies – TEA) in the sector. The new techniques, which are much talked about also in the fight against hunger, poverty and malnutrition, present the possibility of obtaining more sophisticated products than traditional genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and could therefore provide an important contribution in terms of food security and in combating the impacts of climate change, with the possibility of creating more resilient varieties while maintaining the organoleptic characteristics of the product.
However, the marketing and the possibility of carrying out experiments on the varieties obtained through the use of genetic modification techniques has never been simple, starting from the regulatory regime which since 2018 has subjected new genomic techniques to the regulation on GMOs.
Faced with the challenges that the agri-food sector is having to face and the multiple demands made by the relevant scientific community, there are significant developments today. At a European level, a new Regulation is in the process of being approved aimed at simplifying the authorization process for products deriving from new genomic techniques, differentiating this discipline from that envisaged for GMOs. Similarly, as regards the Italian context, in June 2023 Law 68 (relating to the conversion of the so-called Drought Decree) introduced the possibility of cultivating for research purposes varieties obtained through the use of new genomic techniques (including technique is also included Crisprcapable of editing the genetic makeup of plant species), identifying the relevant authorization path.
The first Italian experimentation, based on the research project, therefore began in May 2024 Answer: the cultivation of a variety of rice genetically modified in order to be resistant to a certain species of fungus (Pyricularia oryzae) which causes brusone, the main rice disease. However, the experimentation was compromised, on the night between 20 and 21 June, by a serious vandalism attack.
All this and much more will be discussed at the meeting on 2 July, which will be moderated by the scientific director of the project Food for Future Lucia Scaffardi. After the introduction of Tommaso Ganinoprofessor of general arboriculture and tree cultivation at the University of Parma, will speak Victoria Brambillaprofessor of general botany at the University of Milan and responsible for the research project Ris8imo with my colleague Fabio Fornara, Roberto Defezfirst researcher at the Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources of the CNR of Naples, e Maria Chiara Errigoresearcher in constitutional law at the University of Parma.
