I Have a Dream: Organic Movements Include Gene Manipulation to Improve Sustainable Farming

Abstract

Several papers in a Special Issue of Sustainability have recently discussed various aspects to evaluate whether organic farming and gene manipulation are compatible. A special emphasis was given to new plant breeding techniques (NPBTs). These new approaches allow the most predictable genetic alterations of crop plants in ways that the genetically modified plant is identical to a plant generated by conventional breeding. The articles of the Special Issue present the arguments pro and contra the inclusion of the plants generated by NPBTs in organic farming. Organic movements have not yet made a final decision whether some of these techniques should be accepted or banned. In my view these novel genetically manipulated (GM) crops could be used in such a way as to respect the requirements for genetically manipulated organisms (GMOs) formulated by the International Federation of Organic Movements (IFOAM). Reviewing the potential benefits of disease-resistant potatoes and bananas, it seems possible that these crops support organic farming. To this end, I propose specific requirements that the organic movements should proactively formulate as their standards to accept specific GM crops.

Plant organic farming research – current status and opportunities for future development

“…These new genomics assisted techniques provide breeders with handy tools for costand labour-effective precise gene editing at a resolution of a single base substitution with little or no off-target effects on the rest of the genome [108]. Although, these techniques show great promise for revolutionizing plant breeding, the debate on whether they should be allowed in plant breeding for organic agriculture is still ongoing with many publications advocating [109][110][111][112][113] or opposing [114] their adoption in organic plant breeding. However, considering the draft position paper of International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) on the New Plant Breeding Techniques [115], most of these techniques are considered GMO and incompatible with organic agriculture and organic plant breeding, respectively.…”

Organic Farming and Climate Change: The Need for Innovation

“…Certainly, some suggested changes, such as limited use of synthetic fertilizers [21], would compromise the integrity of the label, threaten consumer confidence, and possibly result in detrimental environmental impacts. There are others, however, such as accepting new crop breeding techniques [22][23][24][25], which might allow organic farmers to substantively address the current yield gap without the use of additional inputs. Making changes like this would undoubtedly be contentious and risk setting back the industry if consumer confidence is lost.…”

Time to Redefine Organic Agriculture: Can’t GM Crops Be Certified as Organics?

“…New plant breeding techniques (NPBTs) are most promising for organic farming. NBPTs, like cisgenic technology is being advocated as non-GM by some researchers ( Lombardo and Zelasco, 2016 ; Ryffel, 2017 ). If this interpretation is accepted in IFOAM draft position paper “Position on Genetic Engineering and Genetically Modified Organisms,” IFOAM (2016) then it would, in principle, accept genetic transformation ‘technique’ as a potential tool for creation of ‘orgenic’ crops ( Ryffel, 2012 ) – GM crops which are compatible with the standards of organic farming.…”