TWN Info Service on Biosafety
15 November 2022
Third World Network
www.twn.my
Dear Friends and Colleagues
Growing Threat of GE Trees to Forest Ecosystems and Communities
The global release of genetically engineered (GE or genetically modified) trees is closer than it has ever been. A recent report examines the current global reality of GE trees. It documents the status of GE tree development around the world, in order to identify where the risk of GE tree release is most immediate.
China planted the first GE tree, an insect-resistant poplar, in 2002. GE tree research is currently concentrated in the US and Brazil, which may be the next to plant GE trees commercially. There are also two GE trees – a loblolly pine and eucalyptus – that were approved for planting in the US and Brazil, but have not yet been planted. Most current GE tree research is focused on eucalyptus, along with pine and poplar, and is driven by the pursuit of more profitable plantations for industrial purposes such as pulp and paper production, timber and biofuel production. The most common traits being genetically engineered into forest trees are herbicide tolerance; cold and drought tolerance; pest and disease resistance; faster growth; and altered wood quality.
The release of GE trees would be a profound threat to forests and forest ecosystems, as well as to many local communities and Indigenous peoples. The enormous ability of trees to spread pollen and seeds increases the reach of potential environmental and social impacts across national borders and in violation of Indigenous sovereignty. GE trees would also perpetuate environmentally and socially destructive industrial plantation production that contributes to the climate crisis. Instead of moving towards a climate solution, GE trees would add unnecessary risks to forests, with possible irreversible impacts.
In addition, many governments are removing their oversight over some plants developed with the new GE techniques of gene editing. These political developments could result in many unrecorded and unregulated field tests, as well as the release of some GE trees without risk assessments or even notification.
With best wishes,
Third World Network
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THE GLOBAL STATUS OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED TREE DEVELOPMENT
A GROWING THREAT
Lead writer: Lucy Sharratt
Canadian Biotechnology Action Network
https://stopgetrees.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/The-Global-Status-of-Genetically-Engineered-Tree-Development-EN.pdf
September 2022
Executive Summary
The global release of genetically engineered (GE or genetically modified) trees is closer than it has ever been.
Risks
Using genetically engineered trees in plantations, and even releasing GE trees into the wild, is being proposed despite the serious risks and vast uncertainties.
The processes of genetic engineering often result in unanticipated changes. The potential for unexpected genetic outcomes and environmental effects would increase and multiply over the long life of trees, because of the environmental extremes trees face, and because so many species interact with trees. The ability of trees to spread pollen and seeds over long distances increases the range of potential environmental and social impacts, across borders and in violation of Indigenous sovereignty.
The release of genetically engineered trees would be a threat to forests and forest ecosystems, with impacts on many local communities and Indigenous peoples. The potential negative impacts could be profound and irreversible.
Current status
China planted the first GE tree, an insect-resistant poplar, in 2002, but there is little information about this release. These GE poplars are the only commercially planted GE forest trees in the world. GE tree research is currently concentrated in the US and Brazil, and these countries may be the next to plant GE trees commercially. There are also two other GE trees – a loblolly pine and eucalyptus – that are legal to be planted, in the US and Brazil, as of 2015, but have not been planted.
A few key companies and university research teams are now leading the development and promotion of GE trees: Principally, pulp and paper company Suzano and its subsidiary FuturaGene; tree biotechnology company ArborGen; and research centres at the Oregon State University and State University of New York.
Most current GE tree research is focused on eucalyptus, along with pine and poplar, and is driven by the pursuit of more profitable plantations for industrial purposes such as pulp and paper production, timber and biofuel production. The most common traits being genetically engineered into forest trees are herbicide tolerance; cold and drought tolerance; pest and disease resistance; faster growth; and altered wood quality.
Regional summaries
Locations of field tests are one main indication of regions at most immediate threat of GE tree introduction, although very few GE field tests will lead to commercialized products.
LATIN AMERICA
In November 2021, Brazilian company Suzano, through its biotechnology subsidiary company FuturaGene, obtained approval in Brazil to plant GE eucalyptus trees that are genetically engineered to be tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate. This follows the earlier 2015 approval of FuturaGene’s GE faster-growing eucalyptus tree, which has not been planted commercially. Brazil is the only country in Latin America where field tests of GE plantation trees appear to be currently taking place. However, there is ongoing GE tree research taking place in Chile, particularly at the University of Concepción.
AFRICA
There are no field trials of GE forest trees in Africa, and South Africa is the only African country where research into GE trees is taking place. Research is taking place at the University of Pretoria, funded by the pulp and paper companies Sappi and Mondi, as well as other timer companies and public institutions.
NORTH AMERICA
The United States is home to the most research and field testing of GE trees globally, as well as to two of the most prominent GE tree researchers globally. In 2020, university researchers asked the US to allow the release of a genetically engineered blight-tolerant American chestnut tree into the wild. This decision is pending.
NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA
There are current, long-term field tests of GE radiata pine in New Zealand, run by the government-owned forest research institute called Scion. These tests were approved in 2010 and will run for 25 years. There have been several past GE tree field trials in New Zealand, accompanied by protests. There are no field trials of GE plantation trees in Australia.
ASIA
Two varieties of GE insect-resistant poplar trees were widely planted in China in the early 2000s, but the planting was not closely monitored. There is a huge amount of laboratory research on various species in China and field tests are likely being conducted, but there is no public information available. India and Malaysia are both home to current field tests of GE rubber trees. There have been field tests of GE eucalyptus and poplar in Japan.
EUROPE
There are current field tests of GE trees – mostly poplar – in Sweden, Finland and Belgium. These field tests are conducted by universities and by the Swedish forest biotechnology company SweTree.
While research into GE trees has been accompanied by protest around the world, a few companies and a coalition of GE tree researchers have been actively campaigning for weaker regulation at the national and international levels, and for forest certification programs to allow the use of GE trees. In response, the Forest Stewardship Council has begun a process that could see them directly oversee some GE tree field tests and move them towards allowing certified companies to profit from GE trees. Such decisions by certification schemes could pave the way for the use of GE trees globally.
At the same time, national regulations are changing rapidly around the world. Many governments are removing their oversight over some plants developed with the new genetically engineering techniques of gene editing. These political developments could result in many unrecorded and unregulated field tests, as well as the release of some GE trees without government risk assessments or even notification to governments. This expansion of corporate self-regulation could speed up the introduction of some of the riskiest applications of genetic engineering, such as GE trees.