New biotechnological findings in non-human gene technology

Bern, 17.06.2008 - A FOEN research programme brings new findings on the monitoring of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in the environment.

Between 2004 and 2007 the Federal Office of the Environment carried out a programme of research on biosafety in non-human gene technology. The aim was to acquire a scientific basis for implementing the safety requirement laid down in the Gene Technology Act. Backed by independent research, this basis will ensure that the FOEN has suitable methodology for the monitoring of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in the environment, and that unexpected or long-term impacts of GMO can be recognised in good time.

The FOEN also supported a programme of studies into the impact of gene technology on living organisms, which had previously been under- or not at all researched. One study, for example, examined whether so-called non-target organisms such as wild bees could be harmed by genetically modified pest-resistant plants - previous research here had primarily concentrated on honey bees. The programme also included an analysis of the ethical issues of risk assessment in biotechnology, and research on risks to the soil ecosystem.

The results of the research programme, totalling eight scientific projects, were presented at a conference in Bern on 17 June 2008 (for details see box).

The FOEN programme was the first federal research priority programme in biosafety since the conclusion of the biotechnology priority programme in the 1990s. In addition to the FOEN programme, in late 2005 the Federal Council established a much more wide-ranging National Research Programme 59 (NRP 59) on "Benefits and risks of genetically modified plants". The NRP 59 is planned to conclude in summer 2011.

 

BOX RESULTATS

Ethics

A survey of the current discussion of the ethics of risk showed that neither a strong precautionary principle nor a pure cost/benefit analysis is adequate for assessing the release of GMOs. For an ethical evaluation, the duty of care was included. According to this principle, it is morally permissible to expose other organisms to a risk if all precautionary measures that are necessary to prevent possible harm are taken. It is possible to put this criterion into terms concrete enough that a reliable, ethical and directly applicable limit can be set. According to this, releases of GMOs are ethically permitted only if - independently of probabilities - the security measures required are such that one can claim the chance of harm occurring is extremely low.

Information:

  • Klaus Peter Rippe, ethik im diskurs ("Development of criteria and instruments for an ethical risk assessment of implementation, in particular the release of GMO"), Tel.: 044-252 89 22, rippe@ethikdiskurs.ch
  • Valentin Küng, Küng - Biotech + Umwelt ("Significance of the damage definition for the risk assessment of GMO - six case examples"), Tel.: 31 357 53 73, valentin.kueng@kueng-biotech.ch

 

Impacts on non-target organisms (three research projects):

Research on wild bees showed that it is highly improbable that the genetically modified crops currently being cultivated will adverse affect solitary bees. The sensitive test methods developed as part of the studies can also be used to assess pest-resistant plants developed in the future.

The effect on the development of harmful insects was investigated in genetically modified, scab-resistant apples. Although impacts were observed, they reflected natural differences between different varieties of apples, and cannot in this case be considered an adverse effect. The methods developed make it possible to detect even small impacts of a genetic modification on the biological equilibrium in the apple tree.

Finally, it could be shown that transgenic plants resistant to harmful fungi retain their symbiosis with useful soil fungi, as the interactions of the plant with useful and harmful fungi are different.

Information

  • Dirk Babendreier, Research Institute Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART ("Impacts of transgenic plants on solitary bees"), Tel.: 032 421 48 85, d.babendreier@cabi.org
  • Silvia Dorn, ETH Zurich ("Influence of transgenesis on plant-insect relationships in the apple system, particularly on semiochemical interactions"), Tel.: 044 632 39 21, silvia.dorn@ipw.agrl.ethz.ch
  • Uta Paszkowski, University of Lausanne ("Impacts of transgenes that confer increased resistance to pathogens on the interactions of rice with symbiotic fungi"), Tel.: 21 692 42 10, Uta.Paszkowski@unil.ch

 

Impacts on the soil ecosystem (two research projects)

The research on the impact on the soil was unable to show any difference between genetically modified insect-resistant Bt-maize plants and conventional varieties of maize. There were no differences in terms of the speed of their decomposition under natural conditions in the soil, nor in the soil organisms involved in this decomposition. In laboratory experiments, the Bt-maize plants were not shown to have any harmful impacts on soil dwellers such as worms, snails and fly larvae; in some cases, the experiments were followed over four generations. The results showed that the Bt-maize varieties investigated behave ecologically just like conventional varieties, and it cannot therefore claimed that the GM varieties pose an increased ecological risk, at least within the field investigated.

A second project developed important conceptual and methodological bases for demonstrating and evaluating a biological burden on the soil ecosystem - e.g. by GMOs -and confirmed their use in practice, using model experiments on soil microorganisms.

Information

  • Wolfgang Nentwig, University of Bern ("Degradability of BT-maize in the soil and impacts on earthworms and other soil macroorganisms"), Tel.: 031 631 4520, wolfgang.nentwig@zos.unibe.ch
  • Hans-Rudolf Oberholzer, Research Institute Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART ("Burden on the soil ecosystem of natural and genetically modified organisms - effects, methods and definition of damage as a contribution to risk assessment"), Tel.: 044 377 72 97, hansrudolf.oberholzer@art.admin.ch

 

Early detection of unexpected environmental impacts (two research projects)

Under the Gene Technology Act, the cultivation of genetically modified plants in Switzerland must be monitored for possible environmental consequences. In the Release Ordinance, which is under revision, the FOEN is mandated to develop and carry out a monitoring programme with which long-term and cumulative environment impacts can be detected as early as possible. In order to establish such a monitoring programme, many questions have to be answered: which parameters are suitable? where should measurements be taken? for how long? where will the data be maintained? how can exchange with EU member states be ensured? A first research project identified suitable indicator organisms and proposed survey methods for detecting unexpected environmental impacts from the cultivation of transgenic maize and potato plants.

A second project shows the difficulties of detecting unambiguously the harmful environmental impacts of genetically modified plants, and proposes solutions that should be considered when setting up a monitoring programme.

Information

  • Angelika Hilbeck, ecostrat GmbH ("Methodological bases for the long-term monitoring of GMOs: aim - indicators - methods"), Tel.: 044 430 30 60, angelika.hilbeck@ecostrat.ch
  • Olivier Sanvido, Research Institute Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART ("Environmental monitoring of commercial BT-maize crops"), Tel.: 044 377 73 04, olivier.sanvido@art.admin.ch


Address for enquiries

Georg Karlaganis, Head of Substances, Soil and Biotechnology Section, FOEN, 079 415 99 62



Publisher

Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
https://www.bafu.admin.ch/en

https://www.admin.ch/content/gov/en/start/dokumentation/medienmitteilungen.msg-id-19349.html