New provisions could leave gene-edited Pinot Noir and Riesling in limbo
The EU may soon open the door to gene-edited grapevines, but wine producers and legal experts warn that patent disputes and outdated wine rules could prevent them from ever reaching the market.
The legislation, under negotiation since 2023, would ease restrictions on crops developed with new genomic techniques (NGTs), which are currently regulated under the EU’s strict GMO framework. A final vote is scheduled in the European Parliament on 17 June.
For years, NGTs have been touted as a potential game changer for winemakers, allowing breeders to develop vines that are more resistant to disease, pests and climate stress while reducing reliance on pesticides.
But as lawmakers prepare to sign off on the reform, parts of the wine industry fear an incomplete legal framework.
