News

The European Council and Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on the new regulatory framework for New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), supporting food security, innovation, and reduced dependence on external inputs.

Key Points of the Agreement:

1. Confirms that NGT-1 plants (those equivalent to conventional plants) will follow a simplified procedure, with:

• Verification only at first generation
• No mandatory labelling for food/feed products
• Labelling only for seeds and reproductive material

2. Defines an exclusion list of traits not allowed in NGT-1 (e.g., herbicide tolerance).

Image courtesy of our Member Cesare Varallo.

3. NGT-2 plants (with more complex changes) remain under full GMO legislation, including:

• Authorisation
• Labelling
• Traceability
• Monitoring
• Member State opt-out options.

4. Includes provisions to improve transparency on patents and licensing, including a public database and an expert group on patenting.

5. The European Commission will publish a study on patent impacts one year after entry into force.

Next steps

The provisional agreement will now have to be endorsed by the Council and the Parliament before it can be formally adopted.

Read full European Council press release. 

A4I is a programme that gives UK businesses of any size access to cutting-edge R&D expertise and facilities to help solve problems that they have been unable to tackle using standard technologies and techniques. It might be around product reliability, cost or product lifetime.

The National Measurement Laboratory (NML) at LGC is a founding partner of the A4I Programme and is the UK’s designated institute for chemical and bio-measurement, supporting the work of the Government Chemist.

Through A4I, we provide companies with access to our state-of-the-art measurement and analytical capabilities, helping them address problems and challenges in innovative ways, boosting their competitiveness and productivity. Other partners include, National Physical Laboratory (NPL), the National Engineering Laboratory (NEL), the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Advanced Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies, Henry Royce Institute, National Gear Metrology Lab, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Newton Gateway to Mathematics

Through improved chemical and bio-measurements we support manufacture and trade, protect consumers, enhance skills, and improve quality of life. 

Read our A4I cases studies to find out how the NML helped companies with their measurement challenges in other sectors such as environmental monitoring or food.

Air Quality Research – AQR optimises clean water treatment technology

Puraffinity - tackling global water scarcity with game-changing innovation.

Coconut Collaborative Ltd - Rapid and robust screening approaches to support food quality control.

APPLICATIONS FOR ROUND 8, STAGE 1 ARE NOW OPEN UNTIL AUGUST 31, 2022

For more information about the Programme and how to apply, please visit the  A4I website

Do you have a question for the NML? email us here

Horizon Europe Cluster 6 Work Programme 2021-2022 on Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment includes two proposed calls related to food authenticty:

• HORIZON-CL6-2022-FARM2FORK-01-04: Innovative solutions to prevent adulteration of food bearing quality labels: focus on organic food and geographical indications p199
• HORIZON-CL6-2022-FARM2FORK-01-11: Effective systems for authenticity and traceability in the food system p217

Further information can be found at: wp-9-food-bioeconomy-natural-resources-agriculture-and-environment_horizon-2021-2022_en.pdf (europa.eu)

The commission are also hosting a number of information days that run until 16 July for those who might be interested in preparing a proposal. Homepage | Horizon Europe Info Days 2021 (horizon-europe-infodays2021.eu)

This site also contains a document library under each topic with useful information.

For UK specific information visit: https://www.gov.uk/business-finance-support/horizon-2020-business-grants-uk

Under the Horizon Europe programme, which focuses on the future funding of food and agriculture research by the European Commission, investment in food research and innovation will see an increase. The Commission has earmarked €10 billion for the food sector, with an emphasis on food safety, which has €1.68 billion confirmed. This embraces quite a wide area of research which could include the safety issues arising out of food fraud.

Read more about the programme on FoodNavigator.

Following extensive consultation with the Food and Drink Industry, Campden BRI, one of our Food Authenticity Centres of Expertise, publishes a report of industry needs that can be met through innovation in science and technology. The consultation spanned ‘pre-farm to post-fork’, so many needs were identified.

Commonly expressed needs:

• Sustaining product quality in the face of rising costs of operations and materials
• Soil health - recognition of soil as a resource and methods for its protection
• Human microbiota - understanding and harnessing the role of gut microbes in diet-related health conditions
• Anti-microbial resistance - addressing its significance for the food and drink sector
• Artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber-security - managing the benefits and risks of the ‘connected world’ (e.g. Internet of Things, ’Big Data’, and machine learning)

Long-standing needs that are common to different parts of the supply chain, include:

• Assuring product safety through systems and analytical tools
• Encouraging consumer well-being through healthy diets
• Protecting consumers and industry from food fraud
• Encouraging sustainable practices, reduced use of resources and adding value to waste
• Tackling industry’s ´skills shortage´.

Read full report