Cibus Welcomes the European Union's Progress as Legislation for New Genomic Techniques to Boost Innovation and Sustainability Moves Forward

Core Points - The proposed legislation in the EU aims to adapt laws to reflect advancements in scientific and technological progress, particularly focusing on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) like gene editing to enhance sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and food security [1][3] - The legislation introduces a 'conventional-like' category for NGT-1 products, which will be regulated similarly to conventional varieties, aligning EU regulations more closely with those of global trading partners [1][4] - The Council's agreement on the negotiating mandate allows for trilogue discussions with the European Parliament and the European Commission to finalize the legislation [2][5] Industry Impact - The legislation is part of a broader initiative to ensure sustainable resource use and strengthen the resilience of EU food systems, allowing for the development of plants that can be classified as 'conventional-like' and exempt from GMO regulations [3][4] - This regulatory framework is expected to facilitate international trade by aligning EU policies with those of major trading partners, including North and South America, the UK, India, Australia, and Japan [4][5] - The advancements in NGT regulation are anticipated to provide a boost to innovators, particularly in academia and small to mid-sized enterprises, who are developing NGT products for a sustainable agri-food system [5][6] Company Overview - Cibus, Inc. is a leading agricultural technology company that develops and licenses plant traits to seed companies, focusing on gene editing to address productivity and sustainability challenges in agriculture [7] - The company utilizes RTDS® technologies to produce improved crop varieties that fall under the 'conventional-like' category, targeting reduced seed loss, increased disease resistance, and enhanced nutrient use efficiency [6][7] - Cibus is not a seed company but a technology firm that licenses traits to seed companies, with a long-term focus on major global row crops such as canola, rice, and soybean [7]