The Logic of Exempting CRISPR/Cas9-Plants from Strict GM Approval under European Union GM Regulation: A Case Study of Genome Editing in Camelina

New plant breeding techniques such as CRISPR/Cas have the potential to improve sustainability in agriculture. Genome editing techniques can increase yields while reducing the use of pesticides. Researchers around the world are working on improving the nutritional value of plants. However, whether the new technologies will be used in Europe is uncertain at present. Should genome editing be regulated like the ‘old’ genetic engineering techniques used on plants? What might a responsible interpretation of the precautionary principle look like? The political discussion on the evaluation of new plant breeding technologies is in full swing. The contributions in this anthology present the legal, social and ethical aspects of the topic that were discussed at a summer school of the Institute of Technology-Theology-Natural Sciences (TTN) at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich.