Keep our food GMO-free

If the European Commission’s plans go ahead, the rules regarding new breeding techniques will soon change. This could mean that CRISPR-Cas, a form of genetic modification used to adapt DNA, will soon be present in our food without notice. This change has particularly negative consequences for the organic sector, as the technique cannot be traced in food, meaning we can no longer guarantee that organically grown products are free from genetic modification.

GMO-free

All breeding at De Bolster is carried out using ‘classical’ techniques. Our varieties are 100% organic and guaranteed free from genetic modification (GMO). Genetic modification involves artificial intervention in the variety’s DNA; a technique we strongly oppose. We exclusively use the plant’s natural characteristics and do not resort to new gene technologies. In our view, the latest ‘CRISPR-cas9’ technique also does not fit within the organic vision.

With CRISPR-Cas, scientists can make targeted changes to DNA, for example, to make a crop more resistant to a specific disease. However, this also means intervening in the natural genetic balance. This can create risks, such as unforeseen effects on the ecosystem. Ethical questions also arise about how far we should go in modifying living organisms. Additionally, there is a risk that genetically modified crops will mix with wild plants through pollen or seeds, causing the modified traits to spread in the wild. This could affect biodiversity and potentially lead to undesirable ecological consequences.

What would the legislative change mean for consumers?

In the current legislative proposal, the use of gene techniques does not have to be mentioned on labels, making it impossible to trace whether your food has been tampered with. Furthermore, natural traits that occur freely in nature can be replicated using CRISPR-Cas and subsequently patented. This puts control over the entire food system into the hands of a small number of large corporations.

At De Bolster, we do not believe that the solution to the problems with our food lies in snipping a few genes. Instead, we must change the entire system, prioritizing diversity and soil health.

No turning back

Sales Manager Annemarie Kruize explains: “If we allow these new techniques, there will be no going back. Once modified genes end up in nature, it is irreversible. As an organic sector, we show that things can be done differently. One of the examples cited so far as a reason why CRISPR-Cas is needed is to combat the Phytophthora disease in potatoes. However, this resistance has long been available through classical breeding. The organic sector has actually been a pioneer in this breeding process.