TWN Info Service on Biosafety
30 April 2024
Third World Network
www.twn.my
Dear Friends and Colleagues
Environmental Risks from Oilseed Crops Produced Using New Genomic Techniques
Oilseed plants of the Brassicaceae plant family are cultivated for food, feed and industrial purposes on large-scale in Europe. A new study (Item 1) highlights the environmental risks associated with the use of new genomic techniques (NGTs) on Brassicaceae oilseed crops, such as rapeseed and camelina.
In case of changed oil composition, the study finds that an increase or decrease of polyunsaturated fatty acids demonstrates negative effects for the health and survival of pollinators feeding on the pollen of the NGT plants. In case of fitness-related traits, an increased risk of spread and persistence of NGT plants was identified. If NGT plants are introduced into agriculture, it is not unlikely that many different genetically engineered plants could be simultaneously released into the environment. Once released, the plants may interbreed with each other or with wildlife species, and thus spread in the environment (Item 2).
As the study also shows, it is almost impossible to predict the risks to humans and the environment resulting from further developments of the technology. Against this background, the study recommends not only the risk assessment of individual plants, but also the establishment of processes and methods of monitoring possible interactions between different NGT plants sharing the same receiving environment. Additional legislation will be needed to strictly limit possible releases in space and time if necessary.
With best wishes,
Third World Network
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Item 1
ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT SCENARIOS OF SPECIFIC NGT APPLICATIONS IN BRASSICACEAE OILSEED PLANTS
Koller, F.; Cieslak, M.; Bauer-Panskus, A.
Preprints 2024, 2024020255
https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202402.0255.v2
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202402.0255/v2
6 February 2024
Abstract
Oilseed plants of the Brassicaceae plant family are cultivated for food, feed and industrial purposes on large-scale in Europe. This review gives an overview of current market-oriented applications of new genomic techniques (NGTs) in relevant Brassicaceae oilseed crops based on a literature survey. In this respect, changes in oil quality, yield, growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stress are goals in oilseed rape (B. napus) and camelina (C. sativa). Environmental risk assessment scenarios are developed for specific NGT applications in Brassicaceae oilseed crops with either a changed oil composition or with fitness related traits. In case of a changed oil composition an increase or decrease of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) demonstrates risks for health and survival of pollinators. In case of fitness related traits other risks were identified, i. e. an increased risk of spread and persistence of NGT plants. Furthermore, there are indications for potential disturbance of interactions with the environment, involving signalling pathways and reaction to stress conditions. It is shown that for a comprehensive risk assessment the technological potential of NGTs, the plants’ biology and the scale of releases have to be considered in combination. Therefore, the release of NGT plants into the environment for agricultural purposes will require risk assessment and monitoring of single traits as well as of combinatorial and long-term cumulative effects. In addition, risk management should develop concepts and measures to control and potentially restrict the scale of releases. This is especially relevant for NGT Brassicaceae in Europe which is a centre of diversity of this plant family.
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Item 2
NEW PUBLICATION HIGHLIGHTS THE RISKS OF NGT OILSEED RAPE
Testbiotech
https://www.testbiotech.org/en/news/new-publication-highlights-risks-ngt-oilseed-rape
6 February 2024
Crucial questions on future regulation of NGT plants still unresolved
A new study, which has appeared as a ‘preprint’, highlights the environmental risks associated with the use of new genetic engineering (NGTs) in oilseed crops, such as rapeseed and camelina. These plants are by no means harmless in the environment: a frequently pursued goal is a change in the composition of the oil. However, both increasing and decreasing the polyunsaturated fatty acid content can have negative effects on pollinators feeding on the pollen of the NGT plants.
Furthermore, if NGT plants are introduced into agriculture, it is not unlikely that many different genetically engineered plants could be simultaneously released into the environment. Once released, the plants may interbreed with each other or with wildlife species, and thus spread in the environment.
As the study also shows, it is almost impossible to predict the risks to humans and the environment resulting from further developments of the technology. These will depend on various factors, such as the speed at which new plants are developed, their characteristics and the number of plants released. A particular problem here is the dynamic of the developments. For example, the options for genetic engineering interventions continue to grow, in part due to digital platforms and databases for selecting new gene combinations.
Against this background, the study recommends not only the risk assessment of individual plants, but also to establish processes and methods of monitoring possible interactions between different NGT plants sharing the same receiving environment. Additional legislation will be needed to strictly limit possible releases in space and time if necessary.
MEPs at the EU Parliament and representatives of the EU member states plan to vote tomorrow on the future regulation of NGT plants. According to the current proposals, this could result in far-reaching deregulation, so that neither risk assessment nor monitoring of genetically modified plants would be required in future.
A letter from the chair of the Environmental Commitee, Pasal Canfin, to President of the EU Parliament, Roberta Metsola, shows how ill-considered the current proposals are. The letter asks for an answer in response to the opinion of the competent French authority, ANSES. This authority comes to different conclusions on key points of the future regulation of NGT plants than the EU Commission and EFSA. The deadline given to EFSA would be July 2024. Against this background, Testbiotech is calling for the planned votes to be postponed until the EFSA response is available or to reject the proposal.
Contact:
Christoph Then, info@testbiotech.org, Tel + 49 151 54638040