b"constructively together with all the delegations on the proposal presented by the European Commission on July 5, and to obtainingTHE SPANISH PRESIDENCY a good result for our sector as a whole and for our citizens.This isnt the first time he has promoted NGT. Before begin- IS COMMITTED TO WORKING ning the period of the Spanish Presidency, Minister Planas alreadyCONSTRUCTIVELY TOGETHER WITH made statements favourable to the use of genetic editing.In May, at the international Agriculture Innovation MissionALL THE DELEGATIONS ON THE (AIM) for Climate conference held in Washington, he announced the application of new genetic editing techniques would be one ofNGT PROPOSAL PRESENTED BY THE Spain's priorities during his current presidency. EUROPEAN COMMISSION ON JULY 5.Likewise, at the Informal Council in Sweden on June 13, he made statements where he expressly stated that new genetic improvement technologies are strategic allies that can improve productivity and profitability in agriculture.There is no doubt that this issue is at the top of the political agenda of the Spanish Presidency and that work is being done to meet the challenge. It will not be a simple negotiation, but they hope to be able to reach an agreement or a common declaration in the last Council under its presidency on Dec. 11 and 12.The electoral calendars in the EU will not allow the legislative process to be completed, although it is expected to have a first debate in the European Parliament in February 2024, before its dissolution.This support from our authorities is the result of the consensus that exists on the benefits that these genetic editing techniques can provide. In the case of farmers, the agricultural unions and the main producer organizations gathered in ALAS (Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture), included this point in the Manifesto for Agroscience:5. Establish, as also requested by the scientific community, by the European authorities a regulatory framework based on scientific, propor-tionate and reasonable criteria that allows farmers to use the varieties best adapted to phytosanitary challenges, compete on equal terms and put in value the recent advances in genetic editing techniques, such as those worthy of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020, which give rise to new and precise tools to improve cultivated plants, recover traditional varie-ties and generate new ones that enable food production systems abundant and healthy, more sustainable and resilient. Editors Note: Elena Senz Garca-Baquero is Director at the Spanish Seed Association ANOVE.Elena Senz Garca-BaqueroEUROPEAN-SEED.COMISEED WORLD EUROPE I 37"