This report analyses the need and feasibility of changes in agricultural practices to ensure coexistence between GM and non-GM crop production in the EU. It presents new case studies on the coexistence of GM and non-GM crops in European agriculture.

The Environment Agency Austria is the expert authority of the FederalGovernment for environmental protection and environmental monitoring inAustria. Dealing with the full range of environmental protectionissues, the main tasks of the Agency are:Assessment of the state of the environment and of its changes andpressures, incl. national state of the environment reporting to theAustrian ParliamentDevelopment of measures to avoid/reduce environmental pressuresProviding expert knowledge in the process of planning andimplementing environmental policy decisionsContributing to the implementation and enforcement ofenvironmental laws (among others, in the area of geneticallymodified organisms)Specialised environmental analyses in the agency’s laboratoriesThe EAA is part of the EPA network (a network of environmental protectionagencies) and part of the Interest Group on GMO risk assessment andmonitoring.On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management EAA is conducting and reviewing risk assessments for notifications for deliberate release and placing on the market of GMOs (in the context of EU Directive 90/220/EEC and 2001/18/EC respectively and the Austrian Law on Genetic Engineering). For more than 10 years the Environment Agency Austria has carried out scientific studies in order to evaluate and develop the criteria and scientific basis for risk assessment and the monitoring of GMOs.

This paper presents a participatory method for conducing a collaborative and culturally appropriate dialogue process between gene drive researchers and Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Coordinated by the Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research and representatives of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB), this dialogue aimed to build trust and facilitate mutual understanding and create a safe space for sharing traditional knowledge, rather than to reach decisions on the research or implementation of gene drive technology. Over a three-year period, the dialogue evolved through multiple formats, recognising the specific needs to establish a meaningful and culturally appropriate dialogue between these two groups, while ensuring that Indigenous Peoples and local communities could share their traditional knowledge, traditions and innovations in a safe and trusted environment. The method integrates key engagement principles – such as good faith, reciprocity, inclusivity, and respect for Indigenous Peoples and local communities’ knowledge systems – and describes how they were operationalised in practice. It provides a concrete example of applied engagement methodology in the context of gene drive and explores how these principles have influenced the dialogue’s format and the journey of both groups throughout this process, while also sharing some of the challenges they encountered. This is not a theoretical review, but a joint account from practitioners from diverse backgrounds and interests, on how engagement methods can be implemented in real-world settings. The approach offers practical insights for designing sustained and scalable engagement strategies between scientists and Indigenous Peoples on complex and emerging science topics.

Crops