Over the last 20 years, modern biotechnology has made enormous advances. In recent years ,researchers have developed new techniques that enable a faster, more specific and more efficient breeding process than via conventional breeding or genetic modification. Often referred to as “New Genomic Techniques” (“NGTs”), these new techniques have been defined as “techniques that are capable of altering the genetic material of an organism and that have emerged or have been mainly developed since 2001” (Joint Research Centre). Examples of these techniques include Site-directed Nuclease Technology (SDN),Oligonucleotide-directed Mutagenesis (ODM), RNA-dependent DNA methylation (RdDm), cisgenesis, intragenesis, grafting on GM rootstock and reverse breeding.
