In June, the European Parliament approved the new European regulation on New Genomic Techniques. This finally opens the door to using CRISPR-Cas to make targeted improvements to crop traits, writes John van der Oost.
Around 2005, it became known that many bacteria also possess a unique immune system. The CRISPR-Cas system can incorporate pieces of viral DNA into the CRISPR memory of the immune system on the bacterial chromosome. After infection by the same virus, recognition occurs via a Cas enzyme with a small piece of RNA (transcribed from the CRISPR memory), after which the viral DNA is very specifically cut and destroyed.
It soon became clear that the CRISPR-Cas system could be very effectively used in biotechnology, and in the following years, many examples of successful changes in the DNA of both plants and human cells have indeed been reported. A wonderful example from colleagues in Wageningen is the use of CRISPR-Cas to develop potatoes that are resistant to the notorious pathogen Phytophthora, with minimal changes to the DNA.
However, to bring CRISPR crops to market and CRISPR gene therapy to the clinic, authorization is required. In 2024, the European Union approved a first form of gene therapy based on CRISPR-Cas for curing people with the blood disorder sickle cell anemia. Hopefully, many more therapies will follow in the coming years.
Discussions
Unlike many other countries, until recently it was not permitted in Europe to use CRISPR-Cas to introduce specific, small changes in food crops. But in June 2026, after years of discussion, the European Parliament finally approved the use of New Genomic Techniques (such as CRISPR-Cas) to improve crop traits.
Until recently, it was only permitted in Europe to genetically modify plants using ‘classical mutagenesis’. This is a method in which plant cells are exposed to radiation or chemicals, resulting in large numbers of changes in the DNA. This mutagenesis method has been used since 1960 to generate variants of many agricultural crops. A fine example is the spectacular increase in grain yields, which has led to a significant improvement in food security. Fifty years ago, there was no regulation for this type of genetic technique. Since there have never been indications that eating these types of crops would be harmful to health, that has remained the case.
Since it became clear that the CRISPR-Cas system could be a very efficient alternative for crop improvement, heated discussions have been held in Europe for many years between proponents and opponents. A common argument against CRISPR editing of plants concerns risks to food safety. However, compared to random mutagenesis methods, there is no reason to assume that the targeted introduction of a single small change with CRISPR would carry a greater risk.
Another concern of opponents involves the monopoly position of large European multinationals. The fear is that these companies focus primarily on shareholder interests, for example, by promoting increased profits through the use of lucrative herbicides and the associated herbicide-resistant crops. However, this is a general problem that is a consequence of the capitalist system we are dealing with.
Licensing
One way to adjust the business practices of biotech companies is a regulatory model proposed in Norway, where permission is only granted for genetic modifications if they are beneficial to society and the environment, and preferably both. Finally, CRISPR patents and the associated licenses are often very expensive and therefore primarily affordable for large companies.
Wageningen is currently working on an alternative CRISPR-Cas system, for which licenses will be available in the short term for a reasonable fee for the optimization of food crops and the repair of genetic diseases. Another example of making this technology accessible is an initiative by Wageningen University to share certain CRISPR patents for free with non-profit organizations, particularly in developing countries. I have now been retired for a year, and therefore I express the wish that the new generation of scientists, such as the students who attended my lectures, will actively commit to using CRISPR-Cas to make the world a little better!
John van der Oost (1958) is a molecular biologist and until recently was a professor of microbiology at Wageningen University. He is considered one of the founders of CRISPR-Cas technology.