MEPs debate the position of the Parliament for negotiations with EU countries on EU rules on new genomic techniques to make our food system more sustainable and resilient. Opening statements by Jessica POLFJÄRD (EPP, SE), Veronika VRECIONOVÁ (ECR, CZ) on behalf of AGRI Committee and Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

food safety (T)

plant health (T)

cultivation of GMOs on the territory of Member States (T)

POLFJÄRD, Jessica (EPP, SE, SE)

VRECIONOVÁ, Veronika (ECR, CZ)

DALLI, Helena (MT, EC)

Delivery EE2024 (T)

Plants obtained by certain genomic techniques and their food and feed: opening statements by Jessica POLFJÄRD (EPP, SE), Veronika VRECIONOVÁ (ECR, CZ) on behalf of AGRI Committee and Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Jessica POLFJ&Auml;RD, (EPP, SE), Rapporteur, Every day we eat her breakfast, lunch and dinner. Thanks to farmers who invested in and cultivated the land to give us food on the table. And it's thanks to those farmers that European food positions are top of the class globally. But our farmers are struggling today.

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Jessica POLFJÄRD, (EPP, SE), Rapporteur, They're fighting, and many are asking themselves whether it's worth it, largely because of droughts or flooding, which affects the quality and size of yields, and finally also profitability. This continues while we face a global food crisis, worrying times show us how vulnerable we are to disturbances in our trade flows, and we see how this affects our day to day lives.

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Jessica POLFJÄRD, (EPP, SE), Rapporteur, European farmers must be given the right tools to face the future when the demands of our agriculture increase and our climate changes. Today, we do have technology which has been awarded prizes and can contribute to taking steps forward in the EU's work on the climate.

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Jessica POLFJÄRD, (EPP, SE), Rapporteur, It can strengthen the competitive competitiveness of European agriculture and increase our food production. Although the knowledge and the technology does exist in Europe, we are unable to harness this possibility. However, for many years this has been under debate and it has now been negotiated in the European Parliament for the past few months.

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Jessica POLFJÄRD, (EPP, SE), Rapporteur, This is a proposal which lays the foundations for a modern regulatory framework, and which allows for the use of this technique in a responsible and safe way. We will always be faced with new challenges, where politics has to be brave and look to the future in order to find new solutions.

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Jessica POLFJÄRD, (EPP, SE), Rapporteur, Politics must place in trust in innovation and science. This is one of those times. NGTs are used in other parts of the world, and if we want the European Union to continue to be pioneering in innovation and in new technologies, we need a regulatory framework in place that makes this possible. This is currently not the case.

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Jessica POLFJÄRD, (EPP, SE), Rapporteur, Tomorrow, this Parliament has the option of saying yes to new technology and to the future. By voting in favour of this proposal we will show that we are a Parliament that stands up for science, and we want to invest in the future of agriculture.

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Jessica POLFJÄRD, (EPP, SE), Rapporteur, In 2020, the Nobel Prize for chemistry was awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna for their innovative research. Letters make 2024 the year when we show that Europe can not only avoid scientific breakthroughs, but also use them to European advantage. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (Czech), Veronika VRECIONOVÁ (ECR, CZ), AGRI Committee, We are seeing many opponents of precision breeding methods here in the European Parliament. And they're very deliberately being confused with GMOs to negatively influence public opinion. But new genomic techniques are not GMOs. They're breeding methods close to conventional breeding.

SOUNDBITE (Czech), Veronika VRECIONOVÁ (ECR, CZ), AGRI Committee, They're more efficient, more precise, and faster. They produce new varieties with no use of foreign DNA. Precision breeding methods will give off farmers plants that will be more drought resistant, be less susceptible to moulds and other pests, and make better use of nutrients.

SOUNDBITE (Czech), Veronika VRECIONOVÁ (ECR, CZ), AGRI Committee, Give a chance to methods that are supported by the general professional public, and that are commonly used in other parts of the world. Give sustainable and competitive European agriculture a chance. Vote for new genomic techniques.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Thank you, president and honourable members. I am grateful for the intense efforts by the European Parliament to make progress on the legislative proposal on plants obtained by new genomic techniques. In particular, I thank the rapporteur, Jessica Polfjard, for her leadership on this important file.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, We find ourselves at a critical point in deciding how innovations in plant breeding can make our agrifood system more sustainable, environmentally friendly and globally competitive. And, by extension, how they can address the pressing needs of society and deliver food safety and security.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, At a time where farmers ask for our support, it is crucial to give them new tools. We need tools that respond to the pressing challenges of breeders and farmers and food production. Farmers are making their voices heard. They want their activities to remain economically viable and globally competitive.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, We have a responsibility to engage with our farmers. Address their concerns and find appropriate solutions. We must also engage genuinely with citizens about how new technologies can help make agriculture more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, We have listened to the different voices and put forward a balanced set of new rules that are proportionate, contribute to food security and guarantee food safety. I am glad to see that the report proposed by the rapporteur and supported by the ENVI Committee, maintains the overall architecture of our proposal and the need for differentiated requirements based on two categories of plants obtained by new genomic techniques.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, I remind you that this differentiation is supported by science, and allows for a regulatory framework that ensures the resource safety without unnecessary burden. This is key to delivering legislation that enables innovation while not compromising on safety legislation to support farmers and their crucial work.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Many countries around the world have taken, or are taking, measures to update their regulatory systems, to exploit the potential of new genomic techniques. They are creating regulatory systems adapted to the 21st century. The EU should not miss the opportunity now to do the same.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, At the stage, the Commission reserves its position on the proposed amendments. We will consider them once Parliament and Council have established their positions and we enter into trilogue discussions. Even so, I shall highlight a couple of issues.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, On the patentability of plants obtained by new genomic techniques, we have already expressed our commitment to undertake a thorough assessment and if necessary, take action. I reiterate that commitment today. I understand the legitimate concerns in this area, however, as always, any substantial changes need to be carefully assessed and based on real evidence.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, I stress how important it is for the Commission and the subsequent discussions to maintain the logic of the proposal as informed by the scientific consensus, namely, that certain plants obtained by new genomic techniques are as safe as conventional plants.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, They should, in our view, be subject to the same rules as conventional plants, including on risk assessment, traceability, labelling and sustainability. I welcome the progress so far. It paves the way for our joint work in this area. As always, you can count on the Commission's full support and commitment in the future negotiations. I thank you.