World News for Students of English

07-04-2025 07:00

The European Union is moving towards changing the rules for New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) in agriculture. These techniques modify a plant’s genes rather than adding genes from other species, like traditional GMOs.

Supporters argue that these techniques can make plants more resistant to drought and pests while reducing the need for fertilizers. However, some scientists and environmentalists worry that these changes could have unforeseen effects on the environment and human health. There is also disagreement about how to control these new plants. The European Parliament and the European Council have different views on issues such as labeling and patents. The Council has allowed patents under specific conditions, but the Parliament wants a complete ban. They fear monopolies by large agricultural companies will limit farmers’ choices.

In many European countries, there has been strong resistance to GM crops, but new laws might remove the right of governments to ban them. Some experts warn that altering plant genetics could have unpredictable effects on biodiversity. Meanwhile, researchers are already exploring the role of artificial intelligence in advancing these technologies, raising even more ethical and scientific concerns.

Difficult words: fertilizer (a chemical or natural substance added to soil or land to increase its fertility), unforeseen (not expected or predicted), alter (to change), biodiversity (the variety of plant and animal life in an area).

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