The most important European Non-GMO industry associations will be hosting the “International Non-GMO Summit 2024” in Frankfurt am Main in Germany on 8 October 2024. International experts from politics, business and science will provide information on current important topics and trends in the Non-GMO markets worldwide. The focus will be on the ongoing political debate surrounding new genetic engineering and its potential impact on the Non-GMO and organic sectors.
The Non-GMO industry sees the basis of its existence threatened by the EU Commission’s proposed abolition of labelling, traceability and transparency for the majority of plants produced using new genetic engineering. For a credible and reliable Non-GMO label, all parties along the value chain as well as consumers must know which products and product components have been produced with or with the help of genetic engineering.
The draft presented by the EU Commission in July 2023 for the extensive deregulation of EU genetic engineering legislation for products from new genetic engineering (NGT) processes not only jeopardises the successful Non-GMO and Organic industries across Europe, but also the freedom of choice for European farmers, processors and consumers. Numerous surveys confirm that the absence of GMOs is at the very top of the consumers’ list of expectations for quality products.
Over the past two decades, the Non-GMO industry has established high-quality supply chains for GMO-free products in Europe and around the world, as well as correspondingly flourishing sales markets. In Germany alone, around 17.4 billion euros were generated with products labelled “Ohne Gentechnik” (Non-GMO) in 2023; in Austria, the figure was around 4.5 billion euros.
2023 edition of the International Non-GMO Summit 2023. Picture: Nina Werth
The most important industry meeting of the Non-GMO industry
Following the highly acclaimed Non-GMO Summit in May 2023, this year’s focus is on the highly topical issue of regulating GMOs for EU market entry, as well as possible consequences for the internal EU market and European food exports. The high importance of the “Non-GMO” industry in Europe is emphasised by the opening messages from the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture, István Nagy, representing the Hungarian EU Council Presidency, and from German State Secretary Silvia Bender, representing Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir.
Samson Simon from the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) will provide up-to-date information on the status quo in the development and market authorisation of NGT plants. Dietmar Vybiral from the Austrian Ministry of Consumer Protection will explain the current status of negotiations on a new legal framework for NGTs in the EU. The next item on the agenda will focus on strategies and technologies to exclude NGTs from the value chains. The head of the European DARWIN project, Odd-Gunnar Wikmark from the Norwegian research institute NORCE, will report on pioneering research into reliable detection methods for NGTs.
Erin Auld and Pauline Lauvin from the Non-GMO Project will provide insights into almost two decades of experience with traceability and “Non-GMO” certification in the USA. Eric Gall from the European umbrella organisation IFOAM Organics Europe will explain how the European organic sector intends to effectively keep NGTs out of its value chains. In a panel discussion on the challenges of securing GMO-free supply chains, businesses from the European and global “Non-GMO” industry will have their say.
Current Non-GMO market data and prospects
Bertalan Kruppa (Donau Soja), Maxime Montserrat (Bunge) and Daniele Marcomin (Agribusiness di Covolato srl, Italy) will provide an overview of supply, demand and prospects for GMO-free raw materials in Europe and worldwide. Experts from market research, production and retail will discuss the diversity and prospects of the European Non-GMO markets.
With the heading “Non-GMO as driver of innovation”, speakers from the USA and the UK will look at the future prospects of the Non-GMO industry. Ruud Overbeek (Foodchain ID, USA) will highlight the opportunities for the successful use of Non-GMO crops in regenerative agriculture. Josh Taylor (ISEAL, UK) will explore the question of how certification ensures the environmental, social and legal conformity of “Non-GMO” products.
In the evening before the Non-GMO Summit, 7 October from 6 pm, international players from the Non-GMO industry will be able to discuss current and future challenges of GMO-free production, market potential and future issues over Brazilian delicacies. The reception will be hosted by several Brazilian players from the soy industry.
Helmut Gaugitsch, Head of Biodiversity and International Cooperation at the Austrian Environment Agency and long-standing renowned expert on genetic engineering issues, will lead through the programme of the Non-GMO Summit 2024.
The full conference programme and all the important information can be found at www.nongmosummit.com.
The International Non-GMO Summit is hosted by the key industry associations in the “Non-GMO” market: Verband Lebensmittel ohne Gentechnik (VLOG), ARGE Gentechnik-frei, Donau Soja, ENGA and ProTerra Foundation.
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