NGT vote: European Parliament opens the floodgates to a wave of patents

The European Parliament has voted for a wide-reaching deregulation of New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). There was no majority for amendments stopping patents on conventionally classically bred plants or NGT plants. “Today’s vote is a missed opportunity to protect Europe’s farmers, breeders and food system from an expansion of seed patents. With this result, Parliament has failed to draw a clear line against corporate control over genetic resources,” comments Paul Grabenberger, seed policy expert at ARCHE NOAH. 

In original position on the NGT file, adopted in 2024, the European Parliament demanded the labelling of NGT products and no patents on seeds. Today, MEPs approved a regulation that fulfils neither of these demands. Amendments that would have limited seed patents failed to find a majority. “Unfortunately, many MEPs have bowed to the pressure from the agro‑chemical industry. It is deeply concerning that a majority of MEPs rejected an amendment that would have helped secure a patent-free space for GMO-free agriculture,” said Paul Grabenberger.

With its decision, the European Parliament is turning against Europe’s farmers and its own voters. Farmers face massive legal...