Response to interpellation 2022/23:77 on new, modern plant breeding techniques and their possibilities
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns new modern plant breeding techniques and the need for updated EU legislation. KD welcomes purposeful, scientific, and technology-neutral legislation to shorten the time for developing resistant crops and to meet climate change 1. KD emphasizes that the Commission owns the proposal and that Sweden is ready to drive the process during its presidency 2 3. S argues that the current regulatory framework is outdated and creates legal uncertainty 4 5. S emphasizes environmental benefits, sustainability, and the need to include small companies in intellectual property rights 5. S also asks how ethical aspects and risks should be handled 5 6.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)
Madam President! I have been asked how I view the issue of gene-edited crops, modern plant biotechnology and its possibilities to contribute to food security, as well as how I will prioritize this issue during Sweden's presidency so that the EU can adopt the new legislative proposal for plants developed with certain new genomic techniques as soon as possible.
Today's food production requires a transition in order to be able to produce more food for a growing population and at the same time meet the challenges that climate change entails. This will require new knowledge and new innovations so that we can develop plants that are resistant to diseases, require less fertilizer or, for example, are more resilient to drought.
In the current situation, climate change is occurring faster than the time it takes to develop a new plant variety using classical breeding techniques. The new, modern breeding techniques provide the opportunity to shorten the time until a new seed can be released on the market. The EU Commission has announced that new specific legislation for plants developed with new genomic techniques shall be presented during the second quarter of 2023, that is, late in the Swedish presidency.
The Swedish position has been known previously and welcomes new legislation because the old one is not fit for purpose. Sweden advocated for legislation that is fit for purpose, based on science, and proportionate to the risk. Technology neutrality provides a better opportunity for legislation that stands the test of time. New technical methods and innovations should be utilized to ensure access to local and regional varieties as well as to contribute to the greatest possible utilization of production resources and to the agriculture's adaptation to a changed climate.
Sweden stands ready to move the process forward on both a political and technical level as soon as the EU Commission presents proposals for new legislation.
Malin Larsson (S)
Madam Speaker! Thank you for the answers, Minister for Rural Affairs!
The subject we are debating today is not the most common here in this chamber, but it is very important for both agriculture and food supply as well as the climate.
For approximately 10,000 years, we humans have cultivated plants, primarily to provide both ourselves and our domestic animals with food. During these thousands of years, we have also bred the plants to suit our needs. Now we can see that development within the field of genetic engineering is moving incredibly fast and that many countries, for example Great Britain, have already decided on new legislation.
One of the most debated techniques that is currently in progress is gene editing performed with what is most often called gene scissors. In these Nobel times, it is of course extra interesting to mention the 2020 Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR-Cas9, which is one of the most used gene scissors and probably also the one that most people know about.
Due to, among other things, CRISPR-Cas9 and the attention that the Nobel Prize gave, both the knowledge of and interest in gene-edited plants have increased, but we also see that the development is moving faster in other countries than here in Sweden and in the EU. Within the EU, only one genetically modified plant is approved for cultivation, and it is a fodder maize that was approved in 1998. This is because we have outdated legislation within the EU.
After a judgment, the work on the review of the existing legislation finally began. The previous Social Democratic government gave its support for the GMO legislation to be reviewed and stated that we looked forward to the continued process as well as the constructive proposals that we await from the commission.
Just as the Minister for Rural Affairs mentioned, the proposal for new legislation will be presented at the end of the Swedish presidency during the spring of 2023, and the negotiations on the proposal will begin during the Spanish presidency, that is, during the summer and autumn of 2023. The Swedish presidency will, however, have a very important role in ensuring not only that this proposal comes to the table but also that it becomes a reality. In that case, it is about ensuring that it remains a good negotiation process.
There is a great danger here, because if the proposal for new legislation is delayed further, we will also be getting closer to an election campaign. Then there is the risk that this will be pushed further into the future, and we do not really have time for that. For this reason, I would like to ask the Minister for Rural Affairs what Sweden's role in the continuing process looks like. What concrete measures will the Minister for Rural Affairs take before the presidency so that plant breeding in the EU in the future can also include new techniques - for example, the gene scissors?
Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)
Madam Speaker! As has been said, it is the commission that owns the proposal itself. It is the one that needs to put something on the table for it to actually get moving regarding this. But as soon as the commission does so or requests a discussion in the council, or as soon as there is a position or something to discuss, we will, of course, take it up.
In the area of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, there are a number of different files and dossiers that negotiations will begin on during our presidency. Some negotiations will be completed, and others the Spanish will have to take over after us. But there are also dossiers and proposals regarding, among other things, plant protection products - pesticides, quite simply - where we see that the discussion might also be able to raise the discussion on such a legislative proposal. If we are to reduce chemical use, that is to say the use of plant protection products, it is noted that we also need a crop that better resists, for example, diseases. Hopefully, one can lead to the other, but as it stands now, the Commission owns the issue.
I can, to reassure the interpellor, say that I have raised this in bilateral meetings with the relevant commissioners when I have had the opportunity, as we have seen this as an issue that will come up during our presidency.
Malin Larsson (S)
Madam Speaker! Thank you again to the Minister for Rural Affairs for the answers! I also hope that things will get moving and that we can start a bit faster there.
I really appreciate that the minister is raising these issues now with those he meets, because I still have my concern and think it is very important that we move forward and follow the timeline that actually exists now. It has already been pushed forward and delayed, and we do not have time to let that happen again.
It is an outdated regulatory framework we have, and it must now be modernized. Today's legislation creates a legal uncertainty, I would like to say, because it is based on what one could do 30 years ago. Today we have these modern technologies in place.
The research in the field is also immensely important, and Sweden is one of the countries where much of the successful research takes place. We also saw that with the Nobel Prize. We also have several companies in Sweden and other member countries that see an enormous potential in the technology.
The advantages are many, and we have touched upon that, not least the environmental ones. With the help of these technologies, one can create stronger and more resilient crops that can withstand more challenging environmental conditions with less nutrients or water and that are more resistant to diseases. It would yield better harvests on a smaller area, additionally with fewer inputs. It would also promote the development of a sustainable agriculture and forestry, which we must move towards.
Plant breeding will contribute to sustainable solutions, but with it also comes a number of complex issues that we must take a stand on.
We must remember that this is about large economic values and investments, but also about jobs. Research and investments are required, and they are enabled through intellectual property rights. I see that legal competence in this area will be very significant moving forward. What should belong to patent law, and what should belong to plant variety rights?
With that said, we must have rules that also include small and medium-sized enterprises and not just the big giants within plant breeding. Our common goal in the world is, nevertheless, that we should be able to provide our population with food in a sustainable way. We must be able to cultivate in a changing climate, and what we cultivate must be able to withstand diseases.
We must also remember that there are risks with new technology. Historically, we have seen this when it comes to gene editing. Therefore, there can sometimes be certain apprehensions, and therefore it is important to increase knowledge in the area. It is also always important to include the ethical aspect, promote biodiversity, and have broad cooperation within the EU but also outside the EU so that one looks at the broader picture.
Based on what I have been looking into now, I would like to ask the Minister for Rural Affairs how he views the ethical aspect that is linked to the complex issues regarding new genomic techniques.
I also wonder what the Minister for Rural Affairs' assessment is regarding intellectual property rights and plant breeding rights linked to new genetic technologies, in order to best be able to safeguard what is to come.
Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)
Madam President! It is quite obvious that these discussions are sensitive - perhaps something more in the EU in general than in Sweden. We are more concerned about the chemicals and that part. But there is a concern and a skepticism.
Everything else that the member brings up is also reasons why it has taken time, I believe - the economic interests, the legal interests and, of course, the ethical considerations that exist.
Now, this has been pointed out for quite some time as something we need to do more about. Sweden has communicated that we want to see a change towards more purpose-oriented legislation for plants developed with new techniques. Studies have been presented, and we have talked about it. We have talked about it in the Council, in the court, and in the Commission. We have, as I said, done that even after the change of government. But it is the Commission that has the right and the responsibility to submit the proposal for new legislation. After that, the Council of Ministers and the Parliament put forward their respective proposals for a position. These three shall then reach an agreement and reconcile themselves in exciting processes.
The Swedish presidency leads the countries in the council of ministers, as has been said. Sweden stands ready to ensure that the upcoming proposal can be presented and that the negotiations can begin, but we need to await a proposal from the commission.
Malin Larsson (S)
Madam President! Thanks again to the Minister! I think it is good that we have a forward-looking interpellation debate, because it is important that we are ready when the commission comes with its proposal. I hope that we will have a close dialogue in these important issues moving forward.
I have a couple of remarks to add in my final speech today.
We must focus on the purpose when we highlight the new modern plant breeding technologies and not just on the technology itself. I believe that is incredibly important, because the purpose is the most important thing for us to land correctly on these difficult and complex issues.
Plant breeding will be an even more important piece of our agriculture moving forward. But with it comes a number of difficult questions that we must take a stand on. Here, the precautionary principle is important – that we make wise decisions based on research and science and the crops' characteristics, and not just on which technology is used.
Most often it is with good intentions that one modifies, but it can also be with the opposite and have opposite effects. Parallel to our development, we must also work on eliminating and reducing the risks and threats that exist. Here we also have good research in Sweden. We do not want to see agroterrorism emerge.
Another important issue that I highlighted earlier is the plant breeding right, which must be discussed further.
But everything I have highlighted today is on the condition that we actually get a good bill on the table during our chairmanship and that it becomes a reality.
In conclusion, I would like to wish the Minister for Rural Affairs, the Madam Speaker, and all others in the chamber a very Merry Christmas.
Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)
Madam President! I would like to extend a thank you to the interpellator for the discussion. It bodes well for the future that there is a great consensus between us regarding the importance of new innovations to achieve a competitive and sustainable agriculture that will provide us with good food on the table even in the future.
I can reply with Merry Christmas to you as well.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.