The article,” Neither Conventional nor GMO. What’s the Place of ‘New Genomic Techniques’ in Organic Agriculture?” was inserted by error into the Regeneration International newsletter.

We strongly disagree with this article for several reasons.This article is a GMO industry reiteration of many similar articles they have used to lobby industry, governments, and consumers to get the newer methods of modifying genetic material in plants and animals (‘new genomic techniques’ or ‘NGTs’) not classified as GMOs.

The fact is that these NGTs artificially alter the genetics of living organisms in ways that do not occur naturally. This is entirely new and very different from the way farmers and researchers have used natural breeding and other propagation methods for thousands of years. The result of an NGT is a genetically modified organism – they are GMOs and not natural.

The GMO industry often claims that its methods of altering the genetic makeup of organisms are more precise than traditional breeding. However, independent scientists have shown this is not true. All NGT methods can cause unintended mutations. Sometimes, there can be thousands of unintended mutations in the genes and the epigenome. There is no long-term testing to prove these mutations are safe for human or animal consumption or that they won’t lead to environmental disasters.

Lastly, there have been more than 30 years of the promise of higher yields. This has not been fulfilled. This is industry spin. Independent science shows that GMOs do not outperform varieties and breeds developed through traditional breeding methods.