Towards sustainable food systems with in-house biotechnology
Safeguarding human health, allowing sustainable use of natural resources, and securing the food supply for a growing population are just a few of today’s global challenges. Flanders, with its rich knowledge and advanced R&D infrastructure, is globally renowned not only for its medical biotechnology, but also for its plant and industrial biotech ecosystems, including biomanufacturing for food applications. Pioneers Marc Van Montagu and Jeff Schell laid the foundation for the genetic modification of plants in the 1970s and 1980s. To this day, Flemish innovators continue to make significant advancements in agriculture, food technology, and biomanufacturing. With renowned research institutes, such as VIB and ILVO, top class universities, and numerous companies active in crop breeding, genome editing, precision farming, biomass production, and biocatalysis, Flanders brings extensive agrifood biotechnology know-how to the table. Tools that have the potential to address some of today’s pressing global challenges are already available or being developed as we speak.
Legislators agree that biotechnological tools and applications catalyze the much needed progress in these areas. This is evidenced in the European Commission’s recent Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative and more recently in their Competitiveness Compass, where biotech was identified as a crucial technological sector for EU competitiveness.
Regulation that enables rather than obstructs
The European Commission recognizes that in biotech innovation, as is the case in other sectors such as AI and data science, innovative tools and products encounter regulatory obstacles while navigating to the market. Program Manager – Agrifood at flanders.bio, Kim Hertegonne, agrees that the legal framework in the EU does not enable optimal adoption of the available expertise. “In Europe, we are front runners in the development of novel biotech tools, but too many of our innovations move abroad”, she says. Countries such as the US, China, and Brazil, take advantage of European innovation as their legislation is more accommodating. “For Europe to benefit from its own innovation and remain competitive, the restrictive and lagging regulations need to modernize.” In addition, securing funding in Europe is becoming increasingly difficult. This is contributing to the concerning trend of innovation and its associated return moving abroad, where potential is met with greater investment.
“Europe is a ‘golden ticket’ for agrifood companies, who often launch products elsewhere first due to our lengthy approval processes.” – Kim Hertegonne, flanders.bio
However, significant progress is being made in the right direction. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently confirmed that an EU Biotech Act – aiming to simplify regulatory processes and support biotech as a strategic priority – is in the pipeline and expected to be established in 2025. In their vision paper, EuropaBio, the European association for bioindustries, is advocating for an ambitious and inclusive Biotech Act that encompasses all biotech sectors. “The Biotech Act will be an indispensable tool for Europe to secure its future competitiveness,” agrees Hertegonne. “As major biotech hub, Belgium and Flanders must play a leading role in its shaping and ensuring its implementation.”
As cluster organization representing the agrifood sector, flanders.bio is committed to advocating for the sector’s needs. “Through multiple discussions with members active in the field, we learned that there are a number of bottlenecks on their path to implementation,” says Hertegonne. “By compiling clear recommendations on specific legislative and regulatory areas, we aim to ignite change.”

From new genomic techniques to biostimulants – a concrete call-to-action
In their policy paper, flanders.bio lists four domains where change is urgently needed. First, the cluster organization calls for an overall modernization of the EU GMO framework. New genomic techniques (NGTs) – capable of more precisely changing an organism’s genetic material compared to established genomic techniques – enable the development of climate-resilient crops and specialized plants for production of, for example, therapeutic proteins. These innovations also reduce the environmental impact of farming practices, thereby contributing to the European climate objectives. Amendments made to the original NGTs proposal by the European Commission, particularly regarding patentability, remain a topic of debate among member states, complicating the establishment of clear NGTs legislation. flanders.bio calls to streamline regulations for NGTs and treat NGTs patent law separately. The modernization of the GMO framework needs to extend beyond plants to be in line with existing scientific advancements in all relevant sectors. As the current framework focusses on plants, progress in other areas, e.g. microorganisms, is stalled.
Various products are available to protect crops from pests. However, the widespread use of chemical plant protection products has led to soil degradation, biodiversity loss, antibiotic resistance development, and growing concerns about their residues in our food. More sustainable – or biocontrol – products are urgently needed, yet regulatory barriers impede investment, development, and commercialization in the EU. “At the moment, biocontrol products fall under the general regulation of plant protection products, resulting in extremely long registration timelines,” says Hertegonne. In fact, the EU has the longest registration process globally, taking roughly three times longer than in other countries. “We recommend streamlining the registration process by introducing new legislation specific for biocontrol products, allowing fast-track procedures, and reducing administrative burdens.”
Another area that can help reduce the amount of chemicals used for plant health is live microorganisms. These microbial biostimulants can improve nutrient use, stress tolerance, and quality traits. However, currently only four types of microorganisms are allowed in the EU, constraining the innovation potential in this area and preserving national-level differences in regulation. “In our policy statement, we recommend adopting a criteria-based approach instead of a restrictive list of microorganisms,” says Hertegonne. “This would allow standardizing regulations and broadening market access across the EU.”
Cultured meats, insect-derived proteins, and fermentation products are innovative – or novel – foods with the potential to address global challenges in food security and resource scarcity. However, current EU legislation hinders efficient commercialization of novel foods. “Our members voiced that one of the bottlenecks is the restriction on taste sessions in early stages of development,” explains Hertegonne. “Allowing controlled experimental tasting sessions before seeking approval from the European Food Safety Authority would enable producers to refine their products based on consumer feedback early in the process.”
Find out how flanders.bio member Paleo produces animal proteins through precision fermentation
Europe rightfully takes pride in its food safety and quality, yet at the moment regulatory barriers hinder innovation from thriving and creating value. To drive progress, the sector requires streamlined and supportive regulatory frameworks. flanders.bio is fully committed to advocating for the needs of its members, driving constructive dialogue, and fostering positive change within the agrifood sector. By promoting a regulatory environment that supports innovation, sustainability, and growth, flanders.bio aims to strengthen the entire sector, helping it thrive in a competitive global market.