Keep our food GMO-free

If the European Commission’s plans go ahead, the rules regarding new breeding techniques will change soon. This means CRISPR-Cas, a form of genetic modification that allows DNA editing, could soon be present in our food without being noticed. 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 use only the natural characteristics of the plant and do not resort to new gene technologies. In our view, the latest ‘CRISPR-Cas9’ technology 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. 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. Furthermore, there is a chance that genetically modified crops could mix with wild plants through pollen or seeds, causing modified traits to spread in nature. This could impact biodiversity and potentially lead to unwanted ecological consequences.

What would the legislative change mean for consumers?

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

At De Bolster, we do not believe that the solution to our food system’s problems 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 engineered genes enter nature, it is irreversible. As the organic sector, we show that things can be done differently. One of the examples often cited as a reason why CRISPR-Cas is necessary is to fight Phytophthora in potatoes. However, this resistance has long been available through classical breeding. The organic sector has been a true pioneer in this field of breeding.