The governance of genome editing techniques for the European bio-based industry

ABSTRACT

Genome editing techniques (GETs) could support the transition towards a circular bio-based economy. This would require a regulatory framework that enables technical and scientific progress while ensuring safety for humans and environment. In this context, there is a debate among stakeholders in Europe whether products resulting from GETs should be subject to the GMO legislation. This paper analyses different stakeholder positions and underlying arguments on this question based on the Politically Inherent Dynamics Approach (PIDA). This takes into consideration the role of actor interests, the problem structure, institutions and alternative instruments. The analysis, based on a series of expert interviews and a Delphi survey, reveals that differing stakeholder positions are strongly shaped by differing beliefs and interests. This leads to a divergence in the definition of the problem structure, and the related solutions, in terms of the institutional set-up and alternative instruments considered. It highlights the need to reach a shared vision among actors of the problems that need to be solved, in order to understand if GETs can be considered as one potential ‘solution’, embracing the precautionary and innovation principles. Alternative instruments are proposed, including a call for higher stakeholder engagement and diverse regulatory instruments.

KEYWORDS:

• Bio-based economy
• genome editing techniques
• regulatory framework
• GMO regulation

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Figure 3 is based on the results of the 30 Interviews.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Luana Ladu

Ms. Luana Ladu holds a MSc in Economics from UFBA (Brazil) and a Degree in Law and Business Administration (Master equivalent) from Bocconi University (Italy). She has fifteen years of professional experience in research and in international development cooperation in the fields of bioeconomy, sustainability, education, labour market policy and ICT for development. She is currently working as a Research Fellow at the Chair of Innovation Economics at the Technische Universität Berlin in the implementation of different European and National research projects. She is finalizing her Phd in economics in the field of regulatory foresight for an effective transition toward a sustainable bio-based circular economy.