Development of versatile tobacco plants for molecular agriculture using new plant breeding techniques

New Plant Breeding Techniques (NPBTs) are opening up unprecedented opportunities for agriculture. These NPBTs are at least as efficient and often more precise than conventional traditional or genetically modified techniques, while avoiding the introduction of heritable transgenes from distant species into the plant genome. With appropriate communication, NPBTs are expected to gain broad public acceptance, especially when applied to socially beneficial breeding goals.

A widely recognized goal in this context is Molecular Farming, which refers to the use of plants for the production of valuable biomolecules (e.g., biopharmaceuticals). Cultivated tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and its close Australian relative Nicotiana benthamiana are preferred species in molecular farming due to their advantageous properties: they are unsuitable for human consumption, easy to regenerate, highly productive, possess a rich secondary metabolism, and are well-equipped with genetic tools.

In contrast, traditional tobacco cultivation in the EU has been in sharp decline, leading to serious social challenges in many rural areas. The NEWCOTIANA project aims to revitalize these regions by breeding efficient Nicotiana biofactories for the production of high-value, non-smoking-related products, offering an alternative to traditional tobacco farming.

NEWCOTIANA aims to utilize Nicotiana plants as biofactories for the production of valuable biomolecules, including biopharmaceuticals and other industrial products. Through innovative new plant breeding techniques (NPBTs), the project seeks to develop new, non-transgenic plant varieties that deliver high yields and quality, while at the same time enhancing public acceptance. This is achieved through close collaboration with industry and the integration of social science perspectives to address public concerns regarding biotechnological innovations. The project’s rationale therefore encompasses both ecological and social dimensions, promoting a sustainable and future-oriented agriculture.

NEWCOTIANA is a four-year research and innovation project dedicated to developing a new crop species specifically designed for molecular farming through the application of NPBTs. The project will generate new Nicotiana varieties (“Newcotiana varieties”) enriched with valuable chemicals such as proteins and metabolites.

NEWCOTIANA serves as an excellent testbed for NPBTs and their application in sustainable agriculture within the EU. The project will provide reliable data on the benefits, robustness, efficiency, and safety of a selected group of four NPBTs when applied to the breeding of both conventional and unconventional plant traits. The ultimate goal of NEWCOTIANA is to equip industry, policymakers, and consumers with experimental evidence and social communication tools that will facilitate informed decision-making regarding the adoption of NPBTs.