7-8 October 2024
Frankfurt/Main, Germany
Navigating The Future of Non-GMO Production: Challenges, Regulatory Outlook, and Market Potential
The second International Non-GMO Summit will provide a comprehensive insight into Non-GMO production, from regulatory updates to market trends and consumer expectations. It will provide valuable information about what’s happening in the European and international Non-GMO markets.
The impact of New GMOs or New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) on Non-GMO production will be one of the key topics, including legal frameworks in the EU as well as strategies and technologies to exclude New GMOs from Non-GMO value chains. Also under the spotlight: Non-GMO as a driver of innovation.
Our International Summit offers the opportunity to engage in the debate and to exchange with experts and fellow participants within the Non-GMO value chain.
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The International Non-GMO Summit 2024 is hosted and coordinated by the key business associations in the Non-GMO market.
Programme
Monday 7 October
18:00 Welcome Dinner
Tuesday 8 October
8:00 Start of Registration
Moderator: Helmut Gaugitsch, Head of Scientific Management Biodiversity at Environment Agency Austria
09:00 - 10:00 Intro / Welcome and formal opening
• 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:
István Nagy, Minister of Agriculture, Hungary
Silvia Bender, State Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Germany
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 What do international certifiers do to exclude NGTs? Certification in the EU
Certifier (tbc)
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
12:10 – 12:30 The organic perspective on ensuring GM-free value chains: current experiences and future prospects
Eric Gall, IFOAM Organics Europe
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 Ltd
Johann Költringer, Association of Austrian Dairy Processors, Austria
13:00 – 14:15 Lunch Break
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 Ltd.
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
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
N.N., Caramuru, Brazil
Retailer (tbc)
Food processor (tbc)
15:55 – 16:15 Coffee break
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
Josh Taylor, ISEAL Alliance, UK
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)
 Erin AuldIn-House Counsel The Non-GMO Project Erin Auld has worked for the Non-GMO Project for nearly 8 years. She handles legal matters such as negotiating domestic and international agreements, managing intellectual property, and overseeing regulatory initiatives. Erin has traveled to countries like Canada and Mexico and often represents the Project at industry events nationwide. |  Holger BuxelProfessor FH Münster University of Applied Sciences Dr. Holger Buxel is a professor for marketing in the food and packaging business at FH Münster University of Applied Sciences. He has over 25 years of market research and product management experience in the food and packaging sector and conducted several studies on customer and market trends in the business. |  Hans-Peter DejakumSenior Project Manager (Project 100 Years of Loacker) Former Board member and Managing Director of Global Marketing - A. Loacker AG Hans-Peter Dejakum is an experienced marketer with 30+ years in FMCG business, establishing and steering brands. He was responsible for Global Marketing at the world leading wafer & chocolate specialist Loacker, where he established the brand in 100+ countries whilst directing global product & communication management. |
|---|---|---|
 Hans EisenbeisDirector of Mission & Messaging The Non-GMO Project Hans Eisenbeis grew up on a 5th generation homestead farm in Wisconsin, USA. After 25 years working as a journalist, editor, researcher, and broadcaster, he returned to farming when he became the Director of Media Relations at Organic Valley, the largest organic farmers’ cooperative in North America. In 2019, he joined the Non-GMO Project where he is now the Director of Mission and Messaging. |  Eric GallDeputy Director and Policy Manager IFOAM Organics Europe Eric Gall joined IFOAM Organics Europe in 2014, after five years working in the European Parliament. Previously he worked for Greenpeace, in France then in Brussels, where he coordinated the European work of the organisation on agriculture issues. At IFOAM he coordinates the involvement of the organic food and farming movement on a broad range of environmental and agricultural issues. |  Alexander HisstingManaging Director VLOG – Association Food without Genetic Engineering Farmer and agricultural engineer by profession. Has been promoting GMO-free agriculture, feed and food processing for 30 years in various positions. Committed to preserving transparency at the supermarket shelf and freedom of choice for consumers and businesses. |
 Johann KöltringerAssociation of Austrian Dairy Processors |  Bertalan KruppaMarket Analyst Donau Soja Organisation Working for Donau Soja for 10 years, Bertalan Kruppa is the editor and co-author of the Donau Soja Market Report, a unique monthly market report with a focus on the Non-GM soya market. Before, Bertalan broadened his professional experience at the European Commission and WUR Wageningen as well as working for the Hungarian agricultural ministry under the EU presidency. He studied agricultural economics at universities in the Netherlands and Hungary. |  Pauline LauvinSenior QA Manager The Non-GMO Project In 7 years as Quality Assurance Manager at the Non-GMO Project, Pauline Lauvin has developed testing and auditing programs and a strict laboratory approval initiative to ensure the integrity of the Product Verification Program. Originally from France, she holds a Master's in Agriculture and Food Sciences and has extensive experience in the food industry. |
 Daniele MarcominConsultant Agribusiness di Covolato srl With over two decades of experience in the Agri-food Industry, Dr Daniele Marcomin has specialized expertise in edible beans, NON-GM soybean crushing, trading, brokering, hedging, non-GM, organic, and market analyses. | Sybille MerkleQM Manager Lecico | Maxime MontserretBunge Ltd |
 Ruud OverbeekSenior Vice President Foodchain ID Dr Ruud (Rudolf) Overbeek is the SVP of Corporate Development and Strategic Relationships at FoodChain ID, overseeing strategic growth and expanding ESG offerings. He joined through the acquisition of Decernis, where he was Chief Strategy Officer and a Board member. He is a Non-Executive Director at Edloomio BV, an Advisor at Reseed PBC, and has held management roles at Intertek, Avantium, and ABB. Ruud holds a BSc, MSc, and Doctorate from Utrecht University. |  Christoph RathmannGovernmental Affairs & Sustainability Manager Bunge Ltd Dr Christoph Rathmann has been working for Bunge in various positions since 2007. He is member of the board and chair of the sustainability committee at OVID (Verband der ölsaatenverarbeitenden Industrie in Deutschland e.V.). He grew up at a farm in Schleswig-Holstein/Germany, and holds a PhD in agricultural studies with a specialization in agricultural economics. |  Samson SimonDeputy head of Division “Assessment Synthetic Biology, Enforcement Genetic Engineering Act” at the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) Dr. Samson Simon is a scientific advisor at the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), which is involved in the risk assessment of GMO applications on the national and European levels.His background is in biology with a focus on plant genetics and biochemistry, he did his doctoral thesis on plantevolution using GM-plants. |
 Josh TaylorTraceability Manager ISEAL Alliance ISEAL is a global organisation for credible sustainability systems. Joyh Taylor supports sustainability systems in developing traceable, transparent, and inclusive supply chains. Josh previously worked on traceability in apparel and textiles and revised Better Cotton's Chain of Custody system. He holds MAs in Anthropology of Development from SOAS, University of London, and Cultural Anthropology from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. |  Dietmar VybiralDeputy Head Food Safety and Consumer Protection, Ministry of Health, Austria Dr Dietmar Vybiral has been working at the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection since 2002, where he is responsible for gene technology and GM-free production. Furthermore, he is Head of the Austrian delegation in the Council Working Group on “New Genomic Techniques”. He holds a PhD in Microbiology and Genetics from the University of Vienna. |  Odd-Gunnar WikmarkResearch Director Gene Technology, Environment and Society NORCE Odd Gunnar Wikmark is the research director of the research group Gene technology, environment and society in NORCE, which also encompass NORCE - Center for Biosafety. He holds a PhD in RNA Biology and is now coordinating the EU-funded project DARWIN. The project tackles the challenges with NGT detection and The aim is to ensure better traceability and authenticity, in line with the EU’s Farm-to-Fork strategy. |
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 300 active members in 25 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.