In Austria, the fifth “GMO-free weeks” have just come to an end; these two weeks with a special focus on Non-GMO food products in shops is supported by nearly all Austrian retailers. We have taken the opportunity to interview Florian Faber, Managing Director of ARGE Gentechnik-frei, the platform behind Austria's “produced without GMOs” label to explain to us what makes Austria so special in terms of Non-GMO production and demand. Read the success story here.
Good news also regarding transparency for consumers and the food sector. The DARWIN project, an EU-founded consortium, released first results which represent a significant step forward in the development of reliable NGT detection methods. Scientists from the Belgian government research institute Sciensano developed a ‘genetic fingerprint’, that allows a specific NGT to be unambiguously identified. Read how they did this and what is needed to apply their approach for all New GMOs.
As far as the trilogue is concerned, the next round of negotiations between the EU Commission, the Council and Parliament is scheduled for 14 October. The Danes are aiming to reach an agreement by the end of their Presidency. We will keep you posted.
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Austria’s “GMO-Free Weeks” this September were more than a campaign — they highlighted a decades-long commitment to consumer trust, full supply chain alignment, and rigorous certification. With over 6,800 products bearing the Non-GMO label and strong consumer support, Austria shows what’s possible when policy, retailers, and public demand align.
Researchers from the EU-funded DARWIN project have developed a promising ‘genetic fingerprint’ method to detect New GMOs using AI and whole-genome sequencing. But without legal obligations for developers to share data, enforcement will remain difficult — despite the science now proving it’s possible. Read on to find out more about this signficant step forward for NGT detection methods.
European Non-GMO Industry Association
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