Pechan de Vries Genes on the Menu

Transcription

1 Pechan de Vries Genes on the Menu

2 Paul Pechan Gert E. de Vries Genes on the Menu Facts for Knowledge-Based Decisions With 6 color figures and 20 tables 3

3 Dr. Paul Michael Pechan Ludwig Maximilians University Munich Communication Science Chair Oettingenstr Munich Germany Dr. Gert E. de Vries ProBio Partners Meerweg PJ, Overschild The Netherlands pbp@bart.nl Library of Congress Control Number: ISBN Springer Berlin Heidelberg New York This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer-Verlag.Violations are liable for prosecution under the German Copyright Law. Springer is a part of Springer Science+Business Media springeronline.com Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005 Printed in Germany The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Cover-design: design & production, Heidelberg Typesetting: Fotosatz-Service Köhler GmbH, Würzburg Printed on acid-free paper 52 / 3141 xv

4 Foreword When I received my university degree in plant breeding many years ago I was very excited about the new possibilities of developing better plant varieties. In the 1970s, tissue culture and micropropagation techniques became a welcomed addition to the breeder s repertoire. For example, protoplast fusion and microspore culture opened new ways of mixing plant genomes and the speeding up of plant breeding programs. Microbiologists had come up with a method of splicing genes predictably using restriction enzymes. We were happy to have these tools but we could not fully predict how empowering these tools would become to permit us to increase our fundamental knowledge of plants. The knowledge allowed us, in turn, to make much better decisions about which plants to choose and cross with each other in order to introduce useful agronomic traits into new plant varieties. At first, we were just glad to have these useful techniques: suddenly new and elegant possibilities appeared making it possible to improve crop yields and protect plants from various pests. What was started in 1970s became officially labeled, in the 1980s, as genetic engineering. A specific area of genetic engineering dealt with the genetic modification of organisms (GMOs). Very few people had any idea that this technology and its application in agriculture would, a few years later, become a focus of passionate public debate. As scientists, our primary goal was to explore the unknown, learn from nature and find new ways to use this knowledge for the betterment of our society. We would report on these findings in scientific journals. We were not interested in politics and we were ill-prepared to be suddenly in the limelight, having to justify to a non-scientific public what we do and why. However, this we had to learn as the public concerns about the use and possible abuse of genetic engineering became more visible and vocal. A number of well-organized non-governmental organizations led the fight against the food and non-food use of GMOs. They voiced a number of concerns: some legitimate, some less so. Industry, in their initial insensitivity to public opinion, made the discussed issues even more emotionally charged the fight against big companies wanting to control trade in agricultural products globally. Factual and ethical concerns became intermixed with political and ideological agendas and attitudes. What boiled to the top were not necessarily the important or the right issues. It took the scientific community a long time to realize that they were no longer bystanders and that, as members of the society, they needed to be actively involved in the dialogue on these issues. I am therefore very happy that this book is being published. The book provides a critical overview of the GMO debate and the key issues to be considered. It does

5 VI Foreword so in a unique way by presenting GMO research in a societal setting, showing the intricacies and interdependencies of science, risk management, decision making, stakeholders, and social responsibilities. The emphasis on interdependencies, yet with a clear segregation of discussed topics, provides the needed to unclutter the GMO debate. The lessons learned should be applicable to any new scientific application or technology. Prof. Gerhard Wenzel Technical University Munich Chair of plant breeding Acknowledgements We would like to express our gratitude to Visions Unlimited Medien GmbH for providing the CD format of their film Genes on the menu adding value to the book. Our thanks also to Dr. Vasanthi Vanniasingham for reviewing some of the more difficult book sections. The preparation of the book content was supported by the European Commission, project number HPRP-CT The views expressed in the book are purely those of the authors and contributors and may not in any circumstances be regarded as stating an official position of the European Commission. Dr. Paul M. Pechan Gert E. de Vries

6 List of Contributors Ervin Balazs Agricultural Biotechnology Centre (ABC), Godollo, Hungary Anne-Katrin Bock European Commission, Joint Research Centre-Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS), Seville, Spain Andrzej Czaplicki Plant Breeding and Acclimatzation Institute (PBAI), Blonie, Poland Jaroslava Ovesna Research Institute of Crop Production (RICP), Prague, Czech Republic Paul Pechan Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Germany Giorgos Sakellaris National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute of Biological Research and Biotechnology, Athens, Greece Gert E. de Vries Pro Bio Partners, Overschild, The Netherlands Janusz Zimny Plant Breeding and Acclimatzation Institute (PBAI), Blonie, Poland

7 Contents 1 Background on GMOs Basic Facts About GM Crops Paul Pechan History and Uses of Plant Biotechnology Andrzej Czaplicki, Jaroslava Ovesna, Gert E. de Vries The Science of GMOs Herbicide Tolerance Janusz Zimny, Gert E. de Vries Insect Resistance in Crop Plants Gert E. de Vries Virus Resistance Ervin Balazs, Paul Pechan GM Crops in the USA and Europe: What Farm Level Benefits Might be Expected? Anne-Katrin Bock Environmental Issues and Problems Associated with Genetically Modified Plants Gert E. de Vries, Jaroslava Ovesna Regulation, Assessment and Monitoring of GMOs From a Research Proposal to a Product Paul Pechan Genetically Modified Products: Intellectual Property Issues Gert E. de Vries GMO Traceability and Labelling Regulations Paul Pechan

8 X Contents 3.4 Plant Biotechnology and its Regulation in Central and Eastern Europe Paul Pechan, Ervin Balazs Genetically Modified Plants and Risk Analysis Anne-Katrin Bock Monitoring of GMOs Paul Pechan, Ervin Balazs Socio-Economic Considerations Implications of the GMO Labelling and Traceability Legislations Paul Pechan Precautionary Principle Paul Pechan Public Perception of GM Crops Paul Pechan, Giorgos Sakellaris, Anne-Katrin Bock Communication Strategies in Biotechnology Paul Pechan, Giorgos Sakellaris Communicating Risk Paul Pechan, Giorgos Sakellaris The Morality and Ethics of GMOs Paul Pechan Future Applications of GMOs Second Generation GM Plant Products Gert E. de Vries Third Generation of GM Plants: Biofactories Anne-Katrin Bock, Janusz Zimny Biotechnology for Food and Agriculture: Global Issues Gert E. de Vries Guide to Terms Subject Index

9 Introduction Through the centuries, farmers and (more recently) scientists have searched for ways to improve the food we eat by breeding new, better crops. The driving force behind these improvements was the need to reduce the risk of famine and to increase the stability, wealth and status of a particular nation or region. However, traditional plant breeding has only significantly improved our food supply over the last century. This is primarily due to advances in genetics: the study of how genes are inherited and how they affect the characteristics of living organisms. It is now possible to isolate genes and transfer them between unrelated plants. This technology is called genetic engineering. It allows the transfer of desirable characteristics from one unrelated organism to another. Products from genetically engineered crop plants have now been on the market for around a decade, with many more likely to come in the future. In the public arena, genetically engineered plants are most often called genetically modified, or GM crops. They are often more broadly referred to as genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Many people find it difficult to decide whether GM crops and their products are potentially beneficial or damaging to mankind and the environment. What is different about GM crops and food? Who decides whether they are really safe? What about moral and ethical considerations? What about the impact on our society and trade? What does the public really think about them, and how is public opinion formed? This book will guide you through the various issues associated with GM crops and food in a systematic manner with emphasis on Europe. It is divided into five thematic sections: 1. Background information on GM crops and their products 2. The science of making GM crops 3. Regulation, assessment and monitoring of GMOs 4. The socio-economic aspects of the GMO debate and decision-making about GMOs 5. The future of GM crops Before diving into the book, we recommend that you first watch the film Genes on the menu, which can be found on the CD enclosed with the book. It serves as an introduction to the various issues we will be discussing. The five sections can then be read in any order, depending on the preference of the reader.

10 XII Introduction The debate about GMOs has been absolutely fascinating, not only due to the important issues it has raised, but also because through this debate we get a chance to observe how our society interacts and evolves. We therefore hope that the book not only provides a thorough source of information on GMOs, but that it also sheds some light on the intricacies and the implications of communication and risk/benefit decisions in our society. Paul Pechan Gert de Vries