CROP BIOTECH UPDATE
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A weekly summary of world developments in agri-biotech for developing countries, produced by the Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications SEAsiaCenter (ISAAA)
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December 10, 2025

In This Week’s Issue:

News

New Breeding Technologies
• Study Reveals Key Gene Interaction to Strengthen Grapevine’s Resistance Against Powdery Mildew
• Regulatory Authorities and Breeding Sector Call for a Food Safety Culture in Gene Editing
• EU Reaches Landmark Deal on New Genomic Techniques to Boost Agri-Food Sector



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NEWS
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New Breeding Technologies
STUDY REVEALS KEY GENE INTERACTION TO STRENGTHEN GRAPEVINE’S RESISTANCE AGAINST POWDERY MILDEW

Researchers from Kunming University of Science and Technology and Northwest A&F University in China have identified a key gene module in grapevine that boosts resistance to Erysiphe necator, the fungal pathogen responsible for powdery mildew. They found that the interaction between two genes, VqMAPK3 and VqERF1B, plays a crucial role in activating defense-related genes that help the plant fight infection.

The study revealed that VqERF1B, a transcription factor from the Chinese wild grape Vitis quinquangularis ‘Danfeng-2,' becomes highly active during infection. Overexpressing this gene in grape leaves increased resistance by elevating the expression of several pathogenesis-related (PR) genes. When VqERF1B was silenced, plants became more susceptible to the disease.

The researchers also discovered that VqMAPK3 directly interacts with VqERF1B, strengthening its ability to regulate PR genes. The findings show that the VqMAPK3-VqERF1B-VqPRs module confers resistance against E. necator in grapevine. This module offers a promising target for developing grapevine varieties with enhanced resistance to powdery mildew.

For more information, read the study from the Journal of Integrative Agriculture.

Experts from Wageningen University & Research released a review article tackling the advancements in genomic crop techniques, regulatory considerations, and food safety. The article is published in Transgenic Research.

The highlights of the article include the following:

• Advancements in genomic crop techniques include the development of cutting-edge genetic technologies like base- and prime editing, alongside significant improvements in existing methods such as targeted mutagenesis and conventional random mutagenesis.
• Significant regulatory challenges are anticipated due to differences in modern biotechnology legislation across various countries/regions, which must contend with the rapid pace of innovation in genomic crop techniques.
• The nature of mutations induced by new techniques is indistinguishable from those resulting from conventional methods, making the modified crops difficult to differentiate from non-modified counterparts of the same species using only technical analytical methods.
• Although off-target or unintended effects in primary mutants remain underexplored, they are not considered a major safety concern. This is due to the established crop breeding practice of iterative selection cycles that naturally segregate and discard unwanted phenotypes.
• Given the fast-evolving field, there is an advocacy for both regulatory authorities and the breeding sector to proactively implement a food safety culture. This would help developers identify potential food safety issues early in the product development pipeline.

Read more in Transgenic Research.

The European Council and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on a comprehensive regulatory framework for New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), marking a significant modernization of the EU's agrifood rules. The regulation aims to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of European food systems by embracing precision-breeding methods. Proponents view this agreement as a crucial step toward developing climate-resilient crops, reducing the reliance on chemical inputs, and securing food security within the bloc.

The core of the new regulation establishes two categories for NGT plants. Category 1 (NGT-1) plants, which are considered equivalent to conventionally bred plants because they could occur naturally or through traditional breeding, will benefit from a simplified procedure. This means they will be exempt from the strict requirements of existing GMO legislation, including the need for mandatory labeling of food and feed products derived from them. However, all NGT-1 seeds and reproductive material will still require labeling, and traits conferring herbicide tolerance are explicitly excluded from this simplified category.

In contrast, Category 2 (NGT-2) plants—those with more complex modifications—will remain subject to the full set of existing GMO rules, including mandatory risk assessments, authorization procedures, and product labeling. The agreement also addresses intellectual property concerns by requiring companies to disclose existing or pending patents when registering NGT-1 products, which will be logged in a public database. This provisional deal, which still requires formal adoption by both the Council and Parliament, provides much-needed regulatory clarity for researchers and breeders, accelerating the development of innovative crops across Europe.

Jacob Jensen, Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, said, "New genomic techniques can help us do more with less. The regulation will allow us to develop new plant varieties that are more resilient to climate change and require less fertilizer or pesticides. Our farmers and agri-food sector will be better equipped to innovate and continue to produce healthy and safe food for our citizens."

In a separate statement, Europe's seed sector, represented by Euroseeds, welcomed the successful conclusion of trilogue negotiations, saying they are ready to continue to support regulators in the implementation of the basic Regulation to help ensure that the full potential of NGTs can be realized in Europe.

For more details, read the press release from the Council of the EU. The Euroseeds statement is available here.