Gene-edited crop safety reviews find no new risks so far
Ardizzone M, Barizzone F, Bonatti M, Branchi A
Crispr
If you buy seeds or produce from gene-edited crops down the line, this ongoing safety scan is the paperwork trail making sure nothing risky slips through before it reaches your garden or plate.
Europe's food safety agency keeps a regular watch on new research about plants and other organisms modified with newer gene-editing tools, comparing them to older breeding methods. In this latest check covering studies published up to March 2026, they didn't find any new safety concerns that weren't already accounted for in their previous reports.
Key Findings
EFSA conducted a biannual literature horizon scan on new genomic techniques (NGTs) in plants, microorganisms, and animals, covering studies published up to March 2026.
The search protocol was made available for public consultation in May-June 2025 and includes defined inclusion/exclusion criteria.
None of the retrieved studies revealed new hazards or risks beyond those already addressed in EFSA's existing scientific opinions on NGTs.
chevron_right Technical Summary
European food safety regulators reviewed new scientific studies published through March 2026 on gene-edited plants, microbes, and animals, and found nothing that changes their existing safety assessments.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Literature horizon scan for new scientific data on plants, microorganisms and animals, and their products obtained by new genomic techniques (March 2026).
The European Food Safety Authority has issued several scientific opinions on plants, microorganisms and animals obtained through certain new genomic techniques (NGTs), following requests received b...
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Crop-improvement refers to the systematic enhancement of plant varieties through selective breeding, genetic modification, and biotechnological approaches to develop cultivars with superior agronomic, nutritional, or environmental traits. This field is essential for addressing global food security,
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