Final Symposium

GeneBEcon is a Horizon Europe-funded project under the Clean Environment and Zero Pollution domain, dedicated to shaping the future of circular, bio-based agrifood systems. By harnessing the power of New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), the project delivers climate-smart innovations for agriculture and aquaculture, supporting the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan. 

As GeneBEcon reaches its conclusion, the project’s final symposium serves as a key moment to share its scientific and policy-relevant achievements. The event presents the project’s main results, demonstrating how NGTs can contribute to more resilient, sustainable, and competitive sources of raw materials and high-value compounds in the bioeconomy. 

In addition to showcasing technical advances, the symposium explores how different regulatory frameworks shape the development and adoption of NGTs, affecting biosafety requirements, business potential, and broader socio-economic impacts. 

Bringing together a wide array of stakeholders, including researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and civil society, the event provides a vital platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange. Topics span from legislation and market models to public perception and innovation policy, all within the evolving context of the European and global bioeconomy landscape. 

Event Agenda

From 9:30 - Registration and coffee/tea and pastries
  • 10:00 – Setting the scene
    • Welcome from the organizing team – German Vighi, Executive Manager, and Bàrbara Levering Serrahima, Communications and Research Officer, from Plants for the Future 
    • Opening remarks – Tomasz Calikowski, Policy Officer at the European Commission’s DG for Research and Innovation and then Christina Lunner Kolstrup, Associate Professor and Dean at the Faculty of Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Crop Production Sciences, at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) 
    • Introduction to GeneBEcon – Dennis Eriksson, Associate Professor of Genetics and Plant Breeding at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) 
  • 10:30 – Session 1: The NGTs legislation – Are we there yet?
    • Keynote speech – EU Council representative – Ana Judith Martín de la Fuente, Area Coordinator at the Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación  
    • Views from the EU Parliament – EU Parliament representative – Dr. Jaroslava (Jarka) Chloupková, Policy Advisor 
    • From legislation to implementation – Irene Sacristán Sánchez, Head of Unit Biotechnology, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, EU Commission 
    • To invest or not to invest? – A GeneBEcon model on how legislation affects the business case for NGTs in the EU – Justus Wesseler, Professor of Agricultural Economics and Rural Policy at Wageningen University 
    • Panel discussion – All session speakers
12:30 -13:30 - Lunch
  • 13:30 – Session 2: GeneBEcon outcomes – From research to society
    • Enhancing Potato Quality and Disease Resistance: Advancements in Gene Editing for Starch and PVY Resistance – Per Hofvander, SLU & Jean-Eric Chauvin, INRAE 
    • Harnessing Gene-edited Microalgae for High-Value Compounds and Sustainable Feed 
      Additives – Katrijn Van Laere & Evelyne Delezie, ILVO 
    • Promoting Consumer Acceptance of New Genomic Techniques – Highlights from European Consumer Surveys – Ján Pokrivčák, Slovak University of Agriculture 
    • Navigating towards NGT Transition: Strategies to Tackle Misinformation and Disinformation – Xenia Theodotou Schneider, XPRO Consulting Limited 
    • 15:00 – Meet and greet our researchers – Interactive coffee/tea break poster & product session
    • 16:00 – Session 3: EU competitiveness in the global context – The urgency of retaining talent (short
      presentations followed by panel discussion)The session will address how EU legislation is affecting innovation and start-ups in the EU, with perspectives from those directly affected and other experts in the field.
  • 17:00 – Closing remarks – Dennis Eriksson, Associate Professor of Genetics and Plant Breeding at
    the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
17:15 – End of Symposium

To access the symposium presentations, posters, and event materials, download them here: 

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GeneBEcon Final Symposium and Consortium Meeting: A Celebration of Impact and Innovation

On July 2nd, 2025, the final symposium of the GeneBEcon project took place in Brussels, graciously hosted by Plant ETP. This high-level event marked a major milestone in the project’s journey, gathering key stakeholders to reflect on achievements, exchange insights, and explore the transformative potential of New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) in building a more circular, sustainable, and competitive bioeconomy.

Throughout the day, participants explored how NGTs can help develop resilient and resource-efficient raw materials and high-value compounds, contributing directly to the goals of the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan. The symposium also examined how different regulatory scenarios impact biosafety data requirements, adoption potential, and broader socio-economic implications.

The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, and civil society representatives, for a series of compelling sessions and discussions. Key themes included:

  • The current landscape and future direction of NGT legislation in the EU
  • Economic models and investment dynamics shaping NGT development
  • Scientific advancements in gene-edited crops and microalgae
  • Addressing public perception, misinformation, and citizen engagement
  • Fostering innovation, start-ups, and talent retention within Europe

Through expert panels, keynote presentations, and interactive dialogue, the symposium emphasized the importance of aligning science, regulation, and society to unlock the full potential of NGTs in Europe’s evolving bioeconomy.

Read more about the symposium and access event materials here: 

Click here to read

Final Consortium Meeting in Ghent

Following the symposium, the GeneBEcon consortium held its final project meeting in Ghent, kindly hosted by ILVO. This gathering provided a valuable moment for project partners to review progress, share final outcomes, and discuss strategies for maximising impact and fostering future collaboration.

As part of the meeting, partners had the opportunity to visit ILVO’s cutting-edge research facilities, gaining first-hand insight into the innovative work driving advancements in sustainable agriculture and biotechnology.

A heartfelt thank you to Plant ETP for organizing and hosting the symposium, and to ILVO for the warm hospitality and an inspiring visit that perfectly concluded the GeneBEcon journey.

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Transition Action Plans (TAPs) Launched to Drive Sustainable Innovation in Food and Biotechnology

In a bold move toward a more sustainable and resilient agri-food future, the Transition Action Plans (TAPs) for New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) have been officially launched. These plans serve as practical roadmaps to accelerate the adoption of innovative biotechnologies across the EU and beyond.

TAPs are at the heart of an inclusive transition strategy designed to unlock the potential of NGTs, a new generation of genetic techniques that promise to make agriculture more climate-resilient, resource-efficient, and productive.

Each of the six TAPs is tailored to a key stakeholder group: policymakers, researchers, farmers, industry representatives, civil society, and the general public. The roadmaps lay out concrete, measurable actions to build awareness, foster education, encourage collaboration, and strengthen communication around NGTs.

The initiative encourages collective engagement and aims to create a more informed, connected, and empowered community around genomic innovation in food and biotechnology. Whether it’s guiding regulatory dialogue, training scientists, or informing the public, the TAPs are designed to ensure no stakeholder is left behind in the NGT transition.

Stakeholders across sectors are now invited to explore the TAPs and join the journey toward a smarter, more sustainable future.

GeneBEcon Webinar Series

Webinar Series

Webinar timeline

ABOUT

The GeneBEcon’s webinar series features four sessions dedicated to key topics explored in the project. Each webinar will not only present the latest findings but also offer valuable insights from key stakeholders, fostering a deeper understanding of the discussions shaping the future of gene editing.

This series is an integral part of our broader initiative to share the project’s key outcomes with all relevant stakeholder groups. It will explore various aspects of gene editing and its role in shaping Europe’s bioeconomy, aiming to support informed policymaking, promote the integration of new genomic techniques (NGTs) into scientific practice, and enhance public awareness of their potential environmental benefits.

Webinars

Public and Business Stakeholder Perceptions on NGT-Derived Food Products

Date and time: Tues 29 April, 14:00-15:30 CEST

About the Webinar

This online session will share the results of a consumer study conducted across five European countries (Germany, France, Denmark, Slovakia, and the UK), highlighting public awareness, perceptions, and acceptance of NGT-derived food products. The webinar will feature key speakers from the GeneBEcon project, including experts from consumer research and business stakeholders.

Executive Summary of the Consumer study

The consumer study conducted in the frame of the GeneBEcon project investigated the acceptance of NGT-derived biobased products among consumers and business stakeholders across Europe. It found that consumers were less familiar with NGTs than with GMOs, indicating a need for distinct communication. When consumers were well-informed, they tended to show more favorable attitudes toward NGTs, while acceptance varied by product type, demographics, and country. Increased sustainability of food production, enhanced food security and improvement of long-term competitiveness of food production were important advantages of NGT-derived products according to the focus group participants.

The project highlights the importance of working together on clear and consistent communication to build trust and ensure that NGTs are successfully adopted in food production systems.

Who should attend the webinar?

This webinar is aimed at policymakers, industry stakeholders, academic researchers, plant breeders, farmers, value chain representatives, and the general public interested in food innovation, sustainability, and the future of food systems. It offers valuable insights for anyone involved in or curious about sustainable agricultural practices and emerging trends in the food sector.

Indicative time
Title
Presenter
14:00-14:05
Welcome and webinar ground rules
Moderator, Amelie Detterbeck, Euroseeds
14:05-14:10
This is GeneBEcon
Dennis Eriksson, SLU
14:10-14:40
Consumer and stakeholder acceptance of New Genomic Techniques (NGTs)
Jan Pokrivcak, Ema Lazorcakova, Miroslava Rajcaniova, Slovak University of Agriculture
14:40-14:55
Retailers perspective: market challenges and opportunities for NGT-derived products
Gabi Buchwalder, Sorten für morgen
14:55-15:10
Literature Review: A summary of international trends and consumer research related to NGTs
Emma Vanden Auweele, Euroseeds
15:10-15:30
Q&A
All speakers

Watch the Series

Webinar 1

Public and Business Stakeholder Perceptions on NGT-Derived Food Products

Download presentation

Webinar 2

Virus-Resistant Starch Potato for an Environmentally Friendly Agro-Industry system

Download presentation

Webinar 3

Microalgae for a High-Value and Zero-Waste Production System

Download presentation

Webinar 4

A Comprehensive and Versatile Gene Editing Toolbox

Download presentation

Join GeneBEcon’s Four Webinars on Consumer Perceptions, Crop Innovations and the GeneBeWise

GeneBEcon has launched a webinar series that explores the role of gene editing in Europe’s bioeconomy by sharing project findings, stakeholder insights and discussions on regulatory, environmental and socioeconomic dimensions of new genomic techniques

Public and Business Stakeholder Perceptions on NGT Derived Food Products
This session will present results from a consumer study across five European countries on awareness, perceptions and acceptance of NGT derived food products, highlighting differences in familiarity with NGTs versus GMOs and factors influencing consumer attitudes
• Date and time: Tues 29 April, 14:00 15:30 CEST

Virus Resistant Starch Potato for an Environmentally Friendly Agro Industry System
Experts will discuss research on gene editing to improve virus resistance and starch quality in potatoes, alongside analyses of biosafety requirements, public perceptions and economic impacts for gene edited crops
• Date and time: Tues 13 May, 14:00 15:30 CEST

Microalgae for a High Value and Zero Waste Production System
This webinar will cover gene editing approaches to boost production of high value compounds in microalgae and repurpose residual biomass as poultry feed, addressing biosafety data requirements and market drivers for a zero waste bioeconomy
• Date and time: Tues 27 May, 14:00 15:30 CEST

A Comprehensive and Versatile Gene Editing Toolbox
Researchers will share progress on a gene editing toolbox—including vectors, protocols, and advances in base editing, prime editing and homology directed repair—to support innovation in plant and microbial systems
• Date and time: Tues 10 June, 14:00 15:15 CEST

Registration is open to policymakers, researchers, industry stakeholders and anyone interested in sustainable agriculture and food innovation. Visit GeneBEcon’s website to register and join these discussions on shaping the future of responsible gene editing.

Promoting Consumer Acceptance of New Genomic Techniques (NGTs)

The GeneBEcon project has unveiled an engaging policy brief focused on boosting consumer acceptance of New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) across Europe. Developed by an EU-funded consortium, the brief explores how NGTs can drive more sustainable agri-food systems and a circular bioeconomy, while addressing challenges like low consumer awareness and trust gaps.

A comprehensive survey was conducted in five European countries—Germany, France, Denmark, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom—with 1,000 participants per nation. This study not only gauged consumer familiarity and perceptions of NGTs but also gathered rich insights from an online focus group comprising key representatives from sectors such as farmers’ cooperatives, breeding organizations, processing industries, retail, and research.

Results show that awareness of NGTs ranges from 45.7% in Slovakia to 59.9% in Germany. When provided with clear, unbiased information, many consumers shifted to a neutral or positive stance towards these techniques. Trust levels in institutions like public health and food agencies also varied significantly, with the UK and France demonstrating higher trust compared to Slovakia. Additionally, acceptance of NGT-derived products differed by demographics, with the UK leading in willingness to purchase these innovative products. Stakeholder insights underline the need for transparent communication and a focus on consumer benefits to drive wider market uptake.

Discover the Full Story!
Dive deeper into these compelling insights and uncover how strategic communication can unlock the potential of NGTs for a sustainable future. Read the complete policy brief here.

2nd RRI Workshop is coming soon in February 2024!

Image about the promotion of the 2nd Responsible Research & Innovation Workshop

GeneBEcon is hosting its second Responsible Research & Innovation (RRI) Workshop on February 21st, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. The aim of this workshop is to actively engage the GeneBEcon Stakeholder Advisory Board, Ethics Board, EC, and GeneBEcon partners in a Co-Creation process to define a long-term NGT Transition Vision and Action Plan for increasing NGT-desirability and value in the agricultural and industrial sectors. The workshop is designed to co-create I-SMART actions for a New Genomic Techniques Transition Plan towards sustainable agriculture, food, and biotechnology.

 

Goals of the 2nd RRI Co-Creation Workshop:

 

1) Set the scene for Actions co-creation based on the results of the 1st RRI workshop considering how to best handle misinformation and disinformation.

2) Continue the co-creation process by co-defining actions for turning NGTs Weaknesses to Strengths and Threats to Opportunities with I-SMART* Actions for achieving sustainable agriculture and aquaculture and the industrial use of their products, which is our social objective.

*I-SMART: I = Impact on social objective, Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic, Time-bound.

 

The 2nd RRI workshop is being organized and facilitated by GeneBEcon partner, XPRO Consulting Limited, in close collaboration with GeneBEcon partner, EV ILVO.

 

 

Midterm Symposium in Brussels, Belgium on February 20th, 2024

GeneBEcon project funded by the European Union focuses on circular bio-based systems through New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) and innovates climate-friendly solutions for agriculture and aquaculture, aligning with the European Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan.

As part of the project’s agenda and the continuous effort to bring solutions, GeneBEcon will organize its midterm symposium on February 20th 2024 at 09:30 – 15:00 CET located in BLUEPOINT, Blvd Auguste Reyers 80, 1030 Brussels, Belgium.

The symposium will offer the opportunity for a wide range of stakeholders and policymakers to exchange on the potential and desirability of using NGTs to develop more sustainable raw materials for the bio-based industry. The objective is to involve participants in conversations about project outcomes, regulatory context, and the dynamic interaction between innovation and consumer engagement, all within the expansive scope of the ever-changing bioeconomy landscape.

RRI Workshop Online on November 9th, 2023

GeneBEcon will conduct its 1st RRI Workshop online on November 9th 2023. The primary objectives of the RRI workshop series are to openly deliberate on the “Motivational Factors for NGTs and Framing an NGT Future” with the overarching goal of formulating an NGTs Transition Vision and Action Plan. The workshop aimed to initiate the co-creation process, working towards establishing this goal. The GeneBEcon RRI workshops are organised and facilitated by the GeneBEcon partner, XPRO Consulting Limited following its method of the RRI Roadmap ãä and in close collaboration with the GeneBEcon partner, EV ILVO.

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Events – Midterm Symposium – News&Events

The first peer-reviewed scientific article prepared by partners of the GeneBEcon consortium is published in Nature Plants. The article, “Options for regulating new genomic techniques for plants in the European Union” describes a range of options for regulating plants derived from New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) in the European Union (EU) and assesses their respective impacts on biosafety data requirements, the likelihood of uptake and overall socio-economic implications.

 

Peer-reviewed scientific article by GeneBEcon Consortium: “Options for Regulating NGTs for Plants in the EU”

The first peer-reviewed scientific article prepared by partners of the GeneBEcon consortium is published in Nature Plants. The article, “Options for regulating new genomic techniques for plants in the European Union” describes a range of options for regulating plants derived from New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) in the European Union (EU) and assesses their respective impacts on biosafety data requirements, the likelihood of uptake and overall socio-economic implications.

More information on the article can be found here.

GeneBEcon’s press release on the article can be found here.