Europe's Farm to Fork Strategy and Its Commitment to Biotechnology and Organic Farming: Conflicting or Complementary Goals?

Dennis Eriksson,Stephan Clemens,Kai P. Purnhagen,Richard G.F. Visser,Louise O. Fresco,Matin Qaim,Justus H.H. Wesseler,David Zilberman,Andreas P.M. Weber,Jale Tosun

doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2021.03.012

Abstract

The European Commission's Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, under the European Green Deal, acknowledges that innovative techniques, including biotechnology, may play a role in increasing sustainability. At the same time, organic farming will be promoted, and at least 25% of the EU's agricultural land shall be under organic farming by 2030. How can both biotechnology and organic farming be developed and promoted simultaneously to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? We illustrate that achieving the SDGs benefits from the inclusion of recent innovations in biotechnology in organic farming. This requires a change in the law. Otherwise, the planned increase of organic production in the F2F strategy may result in less sustainable, not more sustainable, food systems.

Highlights

The European Commission’s Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, under the European Green Deal, acknowledges that innovative techniques, including biotechnology, may play a role in increasing sustainability
How can both biotechnology and organic farming be developed and promoted simultaneously to contribute to the overall aim of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? It is a common interpretation that the current EU legal framework regulates many products resulting from novel techniques in plant breeding as genetically modified (GM) organisms (GMOs), while organic farming and processing of organic products legally exclude the use of GMOs
While some facets of organic farming can contribute to the achievement of these SDGs, we focus on those aspects where it does not or only to a limited extent and where biotechnological innovations have the potential to serve as a remedy

Summary

Commitment to Biotechnology and Organic

Organic farming will be promoted, and at least 25% of the EU’s agricultural land shall be under organic farming by 2030 How can both biotechnology and organic farming be developed and promoted simultaneously to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? It is a common interpretation that the current EU legal framework regulates many products resulting from novel techniques in plant breeding as genetically modified (GM) organisms (GMOs), while organic farming and processing of organic products legally exclude the use of GMOs. How can both biotechnology and organic farming be developed and promoted simultaneously to contribute to the overall aim of achieving the SDGs? We illustrate that achieving the SDGs benefits from the inclusion of biotechnology innovations in organic farming To make this possible, we advocate for a change in the EU law.

Organic farming in combinaƟon with agricultural biotechnology

Findings

Outstanding Questions