13 May 2026
Frankfurt/Main, Germany
How to deal with New GMOs in Non-GMO feed and food chains
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​Summit Aims of the International Non-GMO Summit 2026
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Provide answers: How can Non-GMO labelling continue to prosper after a deregulation of New GMOs? (with a particular focus on cost-efficiency)
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Secure/support stability of existing Non-GMO markets (= keeping Non-GMO producers in business)
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Explore potential of Non-GMO markets in a landscape of coexistence with New GMOs
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Explore possible segment extensions – from Non-GMO products derived from animals to plant-based products
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Establish supplier agreements as a key tool to maintain traceability in a market where New GMOs could be present
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Spread the message: Non-GMO and organic business sectors as strategic allies in establishing traceability of New GMOs and preserving Non-GMO quality
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Involvement of the entire chain, from agriculture onwards
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The International Non-GMO Summit 2026 will be hosted and coordinated by the key business associations in the Non-GMO market.
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Preliminary Programme
Moderation: Dr Tanja Busse
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08:00 Start of Registration
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09:00 - 09:15 Welcome and formal opening
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09:15 - 09:30 Keynote speech
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Speaker: Tina Andres
Chairwoman of the Executive Board, BÖLW (German umbrella organisation of organic farmers, food processors, and retailers)
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​09:30 - 10:30 Legal framework conditions and New GMOs on the market: Challenges for the European food and feed sector
09:30 - 09:50 New GMOs legal framework in the EU: State of play
Speaker: Dr Andreas Heissenberger
Unit Head, Team Landuse & Biosafety, Environment Agency Austria
09:50 - 10:05 Why New GMOs are not equivalent to conventional breeding
Speaker: Dr Margret Engelhard
Head of Department GMO Regulation, Federal Agency for Nature conservation, Germany
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10:05 - 10:30 New GMOs Market Report 2026: Which crops are present in different markets and in development pipelines? 
Speaker: Dr Eva Gelinsky
Freelance scientist, semnar, Switzerland
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10:30 - 11:00 Coffee break​​
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11:00 - 12:30 How to exclude New GMOs in Non-GMO value chains?
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11:00 - 11:45 Adapting existing Non-GMO standards to exclude New GMOs and their derivates Speaker:
Kerstin Geißler
Head Quality Assurance, Association Food without Genetic Engineering (VLOG), Germany
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N.N.
Arge Gentechnik-frei, Austria
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​N.N.
Organic Farming Association
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11:45 - 12:30 Detecting New GMOs in value chains: State of play in the development of detection methods
Speaker:
Dr Marie-Alice Fraiture
Senior scientist, Sciensano, Belgium (DARWIN Project)
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12:30 - 13:45 Lunch break
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13:45 - 14:45 Panel discussion: How will practitioners deal with a new EU legislation?​
Panelists:
Barbara Endraß
Organic farmer, Co-owner Biohof Endraß, Germany
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Martine Boon
Managing Director, GMP+ International, The Netherlands
Yvonne Profanter
Head of Global Communication, Loacker AG, S.p.A., Italy
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N.N.
Feed Processor or Dairy Industry
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Retailer
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14:45 - 15:15 Market update: Worldwide supply and demand of Non-GMO crops
Speaker:
Susanne Fromwald
Director Strategic Partnership, Donau Soja, Austria
Emese van Maanen
​Managing Director, ProTerra Foundation, The Netherlands
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15:15 - 15:45 Under new legislation: Exploring future potential for Non-GMO labelling
Speaker: Prof Dr Holger Buxel
​Professor, FH Münster University of Applied Sciences, Germany
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15:45 - 16:00 Conclusion and Call to Action
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16:00 Finish with Coffee and Cake
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Moderation
Tanja Busse
Author and Moderator
Dr Tanja Busse writes books on agriculture, nutrition and biodiversity and she moderates conferences. She studied journalism and philosophy in Dortmund, Bochum and Pisa. Her latest book, published with Christiane Grefe ("Der Grund") is about protecting our soils.
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Web: www.tanjabusse.de
Speakers & Panelists
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 soy 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 non-profit 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.