The purpose of this paper is to inform the committees of the European Parliament about the challenges of genome editing in the 21st century, and the societal hopes and concerns surrounding its possible implementation to support European food production. The higher precision of new genetic techniques (NGTs) raises the question of whether they should be treated differently or even exempt from the current GMO Directive. NGTs (mainly CRISPR-cas9) are the subject of controversy, as some believe they will bring improvements to crop production, while others worry about potential problems associated with their use. These concerns were identified through a STOA foresight study, including an online survey and workshop with stakeholders from diverse fields affected by NGTs. The online survey used hypothetical policy options to guide stakeholders to identify arguments for and against several potential regulation scenarios, ranging from full regulation to full exemption.