Scientists from more than 70 European research institutes have warned the European Court of Justice's ruling to restrict the use of CRISPR gene-editing technology could see European farmers lose out on the chance to grow "hardier and more nutritious crop varieties". The court ruled that scientists had not shown there was a risk to human health or the environment if they used gene drives in crops such as wheat, maize and cotton.
Scientists from more than 70 European research institutes have warned the European Court of Justice's ruling to restrict the use of CRISPR gene-editing technology could see European farmers lose out on the chance to grow "hardier and more nutritious crop varieties". While anti-GM campaigners supported the decision that gene-edited crops must comply with strict EU legislation, experts said new methods, such as CRISPR, follow traditional plant breeding techniques with better results, and argued the cost of fulfilling the regulatory requirements would block innovation.