Save Our Seeds was founded in 2002 as the Berlin office of the Foundation on Future Farming. Since then, we have been campaigning for responsible regulation of genetic engineering. We work for agroecological and organic innovation in European and global agriculture.
NEWS
GMO design, just a prompt away
Following the publication of our report “When Chatbots Breed New Plant Varieties”, experts used a publicly accessible AI tool to design a genetically modified (GM) plant with novel insecticidal properties. The experiment shows that the EU’s proposed legislation on new genomic techniques (NGT) would fail to protect the environment from serious harm if it does not take emerging technological capabilities into account.
Read more
IUCN prepares decisions on genetic engineering
Should genetic engineering be used to kill off invasive species, or make corals resistant to warmer waters? Should endangered species be genetically modified in the name of nature conservation? The controversy over the role of genetic engineering in nature conservation continues to intensify. Two motions have been submitted for adoption by the World Congress of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) later this year.
Read more
Urgent call for labelling and traceability of new GM products
Civil society organisations from across Europe have issued a joint statement urging EU decision makers to uphold mandatory labelling and traceability for genetically modified plants developed through new genomic techniques (NGTs), such as CRISPR/Cas.
Read more
PUBLICATIONS
Freedom of choice requires labelling and traceability of all GMOs
As stakeholders in the agri-food sector, we call on EU policymakers to ensure the freedom of choice and rights for consumers, supply chain operators, farmers and breeders by upholding mandatory labelling of new GMOs obtained by new genomic techniques (NGTs) as well as traceability across the entire value chain.
Read more
New genomic techniques
The Commission’s proposed Regulation on plants obtained with New Genomic Techniques (NGT) aims to accelerate market access for the latest generation of GM plants and avoid consumer rejection of GM food. The proposal exposes consumers and the environment to unknown risks, jeopardises both organic and conventional GMO-free agricultural production and would lead to a surge of patented GM seeds. Without labelling of final products, consumers would be left in the dark.
Read more
Big Ag prevails as EU ministers surrender to pressure
Brussels, 14 March 2025 – The Council of Ministers today reached an agreement on a position regarding the deregulation of genetically modified (GM) plants. In the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER), the Polish EU Presidency managed to secure a narrow majority for its proposal of 19 February.
Read more