This was the
7-8 October 2024
Frankfurt/Main, Germany
Navigating The Future of Non-GMO Production: Challenges, Regulatory Outlook, and Market Potential
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The second International Non-GMO Summit provided a comprehensive insight into Non-GMO production, from regulatory updates to market trends and consumer expectations. We thank all experts on the podium for their valuable insights and all participants for bringing this year's Summit to life.
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A photo gallery as well as the latest press releases will be uploaded soon. Stay tuned!
​Read a full summary of the Summit here.
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The International Non-GMO Summit 2024 was hosted and coordinated by the key business associations in the Non-GMO market.
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Programme
Monday 7 October
18:00 Welcome Dinner
Tuesday 8 October
8:00 Start of Registration
Moderator: Helmut Gaugitsch, Head of Programme Biodiversity & International Cooperation, Environment Agency Austria
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09:00 - 10:00 Intro / Welcome and formal opening
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• Welcome by moderator: Introductions and setting the scene for the conference
• Opening speech: Alexander Hissting, Managing Director, VLOG e.V., Germany
• Words of welcome from political representatives (video messages):
István Nagy, Minister of Agriculture, Hungary
Silvia Bender, State Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Germany
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10:00 – 11:00 New genomic techniques and their impact on Non-GMO production
10:00 - 10:20 New GMOs/NGTs: What is on markets and in development pipelines? 
Samson Simon, Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), Germany
10:20 - 10:40 NGT legal framework in the EU: What can we expect?
Dietmar Vybiral, Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Austria
10:40 - 11:00 Exploration of audit strategies for NGT in the feed and food supply chain: An outline
Betina Jahn, SGS Germany GmbH
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11:00 – 11:30 Coffee break
11:30 - 13:00 How to exclude New GMOs in Non-GMO value chains?
11:30 - 11:50 Analytical detection methods: Mission possible for New GMOs?
Odd-Gunnar Wikmark, DARWIN project, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Norway
11:50 – 12:10 The Non-GMO Project: 17 years of experience with Non-GMO certification in the USA
Erin Auld + Pauline Lauvin, The Non-GMO Project, USA
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12:10 – 12:30 The organic perspective on ensuring GM-free value chains: current experiences and future prospects 
Eric Gall, IFOAM Organics Europe
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12:30 – 13:00 Deregulation of New GMOs: What do practitioners need to exclude NGTs from their supply chains? Discussion Round:
Hans-Peter Dejakum, Loacker AG/S.p.A, Italy
Christoph Rathmann, Bunge
Johann Költringer, Austrian Dairy Association, Austria
13:00 – 14:15 Lunch break
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14:15 – 17:00 Non-GMO market perspectives
14:15 – 15:05 Market update: Worldwide supply and demand of Non-GMO crops
14:15 – 14:30 Worldwide supply and demand of Non-GMO crops
Maxime Montserret, Bunge
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14:30 – 14:45 European supply of Non-GMO crops
Bertalan Kruppa, Donau Soja Association, Hungary
14:45 – 15:00 European demand and trends for Non-GMO crops
Daniele Marcomin, Agribusiness di Covolato srl, Italy
15:00 – 15:05 Q&A
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15:05 – 15:55: Products, players, perspectives: The diversity of Non-GMO markets.
Panel Discussion:
Holger Buxel, University of Münster, Germany
Hans Eisenbeis, The Non-GMO Project, USA
Renato Inocêncio Barbosa, Caramuru Alimentos S.A., Brazil
Sybille Merkle, Lecico GmbH, Germany
15:55 – 16:15 Coffee break
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16:15 – 17:00 Non-GMO as a driver of innovation
Regenerative agriculture: How does Non-GMO fit in and what is needed to scale up?
Ruud Overbeek, Foodchain ID, USA
Achieving environmental, social, and legal compliance: the benefits of certification schemes
Kristin Komives, ISEAL Alliance, UK
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17:00 – 17:20 Closing
Conclusion and Call to Action
Moderation
Helmut Gaugitsch
Head of Programme Biodiversity & International Cooperation
Umweltbundesamt- Environment Agency Austria
Dr. Helmut Gaugitsch studied technical and food chemistry in Vienna. He manages the work on biodiversity related topics, such as land use, agriculture, food and biosafety at Umweltbundesamt – Environment Agency Austria. ​
Speakers & Panelists
(In alphabetical order)
Gold Partners
Gold Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
About Us
ARGE Gentechnik-frei (Platform for GMO-free Food Products) has been a pioneer in the Non-GMO sector for 25 years. Founded in Austria in 1997, ARGE Gentechnik-frei is Europe’s most widespread Non-GMO labelling system, with several complete production segments (dairy, poultry, eggs) labelled “Ohne Gentechnik hergestellt”.
Donau Soja is a European, multi-stakeholder and non-profit organisation supporting the European Protein Transition with a particular emphasis on sustainable, deforestation-free, Non-GM soya production. The organisation is based in Vienna, with regional offices in Serbia, Ukraine and Moldova, supported by more than 330 active members in 32 countries and 24 European governments.
The European Non-GMO Industry Association (ENGA) is the voice of the Non-GMO food and feed sector at the EU level. It secures and supports the expansion of Non-GMO production and advocates for the strict regulation of old and new GMOs in order to keep untested GMOs from entering the EU food and feed chains.
The ProTerra Foundation is a Dutch nonprofit organization, founded in 2012, that creates a global network of companies that support more sustainable agricultural practices in the food and feed supply chains. The ProTerra Foundation holds the non-GMO ProTerra certification standard and related audit methodology.
The German Association for Food without Genetic Engineering (VLOG) provides a platform for the exchange of information in the production and marketing of "Ohne Gentechnik" (Non-GMO) food and animal feed. VLOG assigns the "Ohne GenTechnik" seal for food and the "VLOG geprüft" (VLOG verified) seal for feed.