Exploding Myths on Genetically Modified Organisms: Whatever Crops Up: Solving Real Problems in Every Season

Transcription

1 Exploding Myths on Genetically Modified Organisms: Whatever Crops Up: Solving Real Problems in Every Season Dr Guy Van den Eede European Commission Joint Research Centre AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/2012 1

2 Scene-Setting Key Myths Fact: discourses of GMO proponents and opponents often lack solid science-base grounds; science does not speak with one voice; I will reveal the first myth on confusing terminology and misperception about what GMOs are and aren t. Fact: technological advancement cannot be stopped; I will reveal the second myth that GMOs can be prohibited. Fact: government decisions are ultimately political with science just one element in decision-making; I will argue that scientists must learn to use the established channels for providing policy advice more effectively. AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/2012 2

3 The path and power of BIO-INNOVATION The Institute of Radiation Breeding in Hitachiohmiya, Japan: A Cobalt-60 source, ringed by a breeding crop field and a high shield dike around the perimeter. Picture: AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/2012 3

4 The path and power of BIO-INNOVATION The variety Calrose 76 accounted for half the rice grown in California. First conclusion: The GMO debate misses the interconnectivity between decades-long developments: bio-innovation has been the cornerstone of the Green Revolution (*) Picture and Source from AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/ X-rayed ( Atomic Energized ) peanuts.

5 GMO s don t follow the rules of evolution Do they? AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/2012 5

6 The double helix as discovered by Watson and Crick in 1953

7 The double helix in modern society: The business of science

8 GMOs: A Revolution in Evolution Genetic Engineering consists of taking the DNA from one organism and expressing it in another organism, hereby often crossing the genetic barriers between species. The result is a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO). GMOs themselves are subject to evolution. AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/2012 8

9 Exploding Myths What GMOs are not... Examples of confusing terminology and widespread misperceptions AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/2012 9

10 Cloning GMO Yet, stating the obvious surprises many AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

11 Media Influence AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

12 Cause Effect Fact: When a cow eats genetically modified maize, it does not become a genetically modified cow; Fact: When a chicken, that was fed with genetically modified maize lays an egg, that egg is not genetically modified. AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

13 GMO Cultivation What GMOs certainly are: Part of a global approach to tackle problems in food supply; The fastest adopted crop technology in the history of modern agriculture: an 87-fold increase since 1996 (1.7 million hectares) compared to (148 million hectares) in 2010; Set to increase: commercial GM technologies currently number 30 worldwide but are predicted to reach 120 by 2015; Moreover, GM events can easily be combined ("stacked") by conventional cross-breeding, thus creating more "new" GMOs (JRC report). AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

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15 What are the barriers to GMOs? Examples of risks, risk assessment, public perception and governance AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

16 Challenges to adapt current legal systems safety of laboratory workers; moral acceptability; scientific entrepreneurs; patentability of of life; numerous non GMO food safety scandals; Metaphorical and rhetorical discourses. It remains a huge challenge to take the wide range of societal concerns seriously in both communication and decision-making. AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

17 An NGO-expert: The reality behind the myth: GE maize poses a serious threat to the environment, animal and human health.

18 Declaring oneself GMO-free GMO-free municipalities in Flanders, Belgium

19 Discussions in Vatican City November, 2003

20 GM-technology here to stay? Europe Today: GM bacteria, viruses etc. for pharmaceutical purposes GM bacteria for industrial applications GM crops for agricultural purposes Rest of the World Tomorrow: GM animals, including fish, insects etc. Myth that GMOs can be somehow de-invented On the contrary, the application of the technology will never end, it will be applied more intensively. AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

21 Biosafety and the public Where is the scientific reasoning? Society A: GMOs are safe unless proven unsafe Society B: GMOs are unsafe unless proven safe Society C: GMOs are unsafe even if proven safe Society D: GMOs are unsafe especially if proven safe Society E: GMOs are safe even if proven unsafe (Taken from A. Golikov) AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

22 Analysis: EU authorisation voting Member States voting against European Food Safety Authority scientific opinion The chart shows that 10 countries vote against the EFSA scientific opinion AAAS more Vancouver, than 63% 18/02/2012 of the time Approvals of GMOs in the European Union. Report available from EuropaBio.

23 Are GMOs really safe? In the EU safety is assured by a set of stringent regulations aiming at the protection of human and animal health and the environment. AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

24 Salient points of EU regulation A strict regulation with a strong consumers involvement: A rigorous safety assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA); Post-market monitoring; Labelling of GMOs and derived food and feed products at all stages (when present above 0.9%); Traceability from the point of production or import down to the table and vice versa; Co-existence between organic, traditional and GM plant from the seed throughout the production chain. AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

25 Are GMOs per se safe? The case of Maize Bt10 shows the need for vigilance Syngenta: the primary difference between Bt10 and Bt11 is that the same DNA was inserted into different portions of the plant's genome, but the proteins created by the process remained identical. The JRC found the genetic modification of event Bt10 to be very complex in structure, with rearrangements, inversions, and multiple copies of the structural elements (cry1ab, pat, and the amp gene), interspersed with small genomic maize fragments. AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

26 The in-house science service Joint Research Centre "The mission of the Joint Research Center is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology for the Union. Close to the policy-making process, it serves the common interest of the Member States, while being independent of special interests, whether private or national." AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

27 Pan-European Monitoring Research-based policy support in the GMO area is a pan-jrc activity: three Institutes involved IRMM Geel, Belgium World leader Certified Reference Materials and bio-metrology with 25 GMO Certified Reference Materials available. IHCP Ispra, Italy S/T support for the implementation of GMO legislation, European Union Reference Laboratory for GM Food and Feed. (> 80% of all reference methods have been validated here) IPTS Seville, Spain Biotechnology foresight: Assuring that policy-making copes with the speed of scientific development; providing advice on the costs and benefits of action or non-action. AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

28 The European Network of GMO Laboratories ENGL All 27 EU (+ Norway, Switzerland) are members and member states national networks are associated (> 100 participating laboratories): Covers sampling, interpretation of thresholds, quantification of GMOs, method uncertainty, reference materials, unapproved GMOs, etc. Chaired by the JRC; Links with International Standardisation Bodies AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

29 The European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL-GMFF) It is unique in the worlds GMO regulatory and control processes; Operations are carried out, aligned with the European Food Safety Authority; It has a crucial role in (dis)approval of methods that are fit for the purpose of regulatory compliance ; > 60 dossiers validated; It has a role in disputes and in response to crises; It carries out extensive training programs. AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

30 Keeping a close watch The role of the CRL-GMFF in response to emergencies and crises related to the spread of GMOs in the EU market Starlink Bt maize (2001) Bt10 maize (2005) LLRICE601 rice (2006) Bt 63 rice (2008) DAS (Event 32 or E-32) maize (2008) CDC Triffid Flax (Event FP967) (2009) : multiple unapproved GM rice from Chinese origin AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

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32 Conclusions Greater integrity, openness, clarity and public engagement is needed from global policy-makers on GMOs. But a lot needs to be done to inform citizens that: 1. The GMO debate misses the profound interconnectivity between decadeslong advances: bio-innovation has been the cornerstone of the Green Revolution; 2. GMOs are a REVOLUTION in the EVOLUTION and are here to stay; 3. No food-feed has undergone a safety assessment anything similar to GMOs; 4. GMOs are one part of a global approach to tackle problems in food supply; 5. Societal concerns seriously influence science-based decision-making: government decisions are ultimately political with science just one element in decision-making. AAAS Vancouver, 18/02/

33 Thank you for your interest!