On the night of February 12-13, unknown vandals broke into a small experimental vineyard at the University of Verona in northern Italy to uproot Chardonnay vines that had been gene-edited to resist a fungal infection. Last September, the launch of this field trial was celebrated by researchers, producers, and prominent politicians—including Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida—because it was a point of pride for the country (the first field with gene-edited vines in Europe) and a step toward healthier, more sustainable viticulture, less reliant on fungicides. Anti-science belligerence strikes again: two experimental fields have been launched in Italy, and both have been attacked.

Before the vines, CRISPR rice from the University of Milan suffered a similar fate: after being planted, it was vandalized and only partially recovered by researchers. As we wait to see how the Verona experiment will proceed, how much this brutal and senseless act will impact other trials already authorized or awaiting approval, and whether there will be political will to seriously combat these crimes—perhaps even classifying them under the “anti-ecovandalism law,” originally designed to target the demonstrative actions of climate activists—I’m sharing some of the articles published in the Italian press.

“I danni e l’ipocrisia degli ecoterroristi che distruggono piante di vite in Valpolicella”, di Enrico Bucci sul Foglio

“Il primo vigneto sperimentale di vite Tea in Italia è stato distrutto”, di Giovanni Seu su Wired

“Dopo il riso la vite: altro attacco contro le sperimentazioni Tea”, di Paolo Viana su Avvenire

“Vandali nel vigneto dell’ateneo, ricerca a rischio. Lollobrigida: «L’innovazione non si ferma». Coldiretti: «Non sono Ogm»”, di Camilla Madinelli su L’Arena

“Tecniche di evoluzione assistita sotto attacco: distrutto un vigneto sperimentale a Verona”, di Giorgio dell’Orefice sul Sole 24 Ore