GMO s. Rene Van Acker Ontario Agricultural College

GMO s Rene Van Acker Ontario Agricultural College

Biotechnology The Promise

Terms GM = genetically modified = GE = genetically engineered = GMO = genetically modified organism GM = recombinant DNA technology = novel technology developed in the 70 s. Allows for discrete pieces of DNA to be isolated from any living cell and transferred to and expressed in another living cell. The two cells do not have to be from the same species.

Terms Transgene = the genes that are transferred to a given crop using Genetic Engineering techniques The resultant crop is considered GM. Transgenes cause the desired trait (novel characteristic) to be expressed in the GM crop. Examples of traits? Herbicide tolerance - Insect resistance!! - GM Plant or Animal Breeding GM is a tool in plant or animal breeding but not a requirement for it

Terms PNT Plant with Novel Trait any plant to be registered in Canada that is considered commercially novel - may or may not be GMO. LMO Living modified organisms eg. seeds issues around adventitious presence and biosafety.

Terms Plant or Animal Breeding: is all about selecting from variation in a population. Sources of Genetic Variation make breeding (selection) possible GE or GM is one way to source genetic variation GM or GE is a source for single gene variation.

Terms Biotechnologies: (Not necessarily GM) Tissue Culture Mutagenesis Marker Assisted Breeding Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL s) Doubled Haploids

Terms Green Biotechnology e.g. GM crops White Biotechnology Industrial Biotech e.g. fermentation tanks for biopharmaceutical production.

Total world cropped area = 1.5B ha GM = 12% of Total world cropped area

Commercially Grown GM crops [Global] Canola* Soybean* Corn* Sugarbeet* Alfalfa* Cotton * Squash (US only)* Papaya (US and China only) Tomato (China only)* Sweet Pepper (China only) Poplar (China only) *De-Regulated in Canada (2012 data James ISAAA)

Commercially Grown GM crops in Canada Canola Soybean Corn + Sugarbeet Alfalfa Cotton Squash (US only) Papaya (US and China only) Tomato (China only) Sweet Pepper (China only) Poplar (China only) Currently Grown in Canada + including GM sweet corn (cv Attribute or Insect Protected Hybrids ) (2012 data James ISAAA)

Not yet commercialized crops [Global] Plum Apple Wheat Rice* Alfalfa* Potato*+ *Already De-regulated in Canada +Was commercially grown for brief period but no longer

Commercially Grown GM Animals? None yet Potentially? Fish Salmon (pending approval in US) Pig (EnviroPig not yet de-regulated in Canada) rbst (GM Bovine Growth Hormone) use in dairy cows (yes in US not in Canada) GM Goats used to produce non-food products in their milk Other Foods? Rennet for Cheese making (GMO Bacteria used to make the rennet)

Current Regulation Status in Canada see: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/plants/plants-withnovel-traits/approved-underreview/eng/1300208455751/1300208520765

What we learned growing GM canola in Canada

35.0 30.0 W. Canada Prior to and With GM Canola Avg Yield = 25.3 bu/ac Canola Yield (bu/ac) 25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 Year of GM canola Introduction GM canola adoption over 80% 0.0 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 Year

Biotechnology The Fear

Safety Substantial Equivalence Assumes transgenesis per se has no impact on health or environmental safety effects of transformed organism (or food derived from those organisms) assumes one gene one gene product Novel Traits GE allows for extraordinary novel traits (Eg. Plant Made Pharmaceuticals PMPs)

Summary feeding trials: GRACE and G-TwYST MON810 NK603 In vitro assays with primary cell lines Longitudinal metabolomic study (90 days) Carcinogenicity (2 years) Chronic toxicity (1 year) Subchronic toxicity (90-days) Omics Subchronic toxicity (90-days) Combined carcinogenicity/ chronic toxicity

Photos from October 6, 2014 Simcoe Research Station Thank you very much for growing our GM maize

Unique challenges to-date? Transgene (GMO) escape Transgenes moving from crop to crop

Figure 2: Persistence of Starlink transgenes in US corn (Data from USDA), figure from Marvier and Van Acker 2005

Examples of Transgene Escape risks - Starlink Corn - RR Canola - Prodigene Soybean - Ventria Rice - Liberty Link (GM) Rice - RR Alfalfa - HT (Triffid) Flax

Certified Non-GM Canola Seed: Adventitious Presence of Transgenes 97% of seedlots contained unintended transgenes (Friesen, Van Acker and Nelson. 2003)

Crop Volunteers Feral Metapopulation

Van Acker and Bagavathiannan 2011 Potential Trait Movement in Agriculture

Challenges in controlling trait movement at receiving end - Traits invisible - Self replicating platform - Self disseminating platform - Persistence in environment - Receiver is non-adopter - (No) Containment Requirement? - (No) Enforcement or Recourse?

Regulation of GM Crops

European Union Citizens of the EU have a right to Choice and Guarantee [in their food]. Farmers within the EU have the right to grow all types of crops including conventional, organic and GM crops. Mariann Fischer Boel, EU Commissioner on Agriculture, Opening of GMCC-05, Montpellier, France, Nov 14, 2005.

Danish Coexistence Legislation: Act on the Growing etc. of Genetically Modified Crops English Translation Act No. 436 of 9 June 2004 WE MARGRETHE THE SECOND, by the Grace of God Queen of Denmark, do hereby make known: Folketinget has passed and We have provided the following Act with Our Royal Assent: Scope and Definitions of the Act 1. This Act shall apply to commercial growing, handling, sale and transport of genetically modified crops as far as the first buyer with a view to limiting the possibility of dispersal of pollen, seeds and vegetative propagation material to other fields and crops therefrom. 2(1). In this Act genetically modified crops shall mean crops, including seeds and vegetative propagation material, in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating or natural recombination. (2). In this Act genetically modified material shall mean that part of a genetically modified crop which after dispersal with pollen, seeds or vegetative propagation material can be found again in a conventional or organic crop. Growing, Handling, Sale, Transport etc. 3(1). The Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries may lay down rules providing that the growing, handling and transport of genetically modified crops may only be performed by persons holding a license to prove that they fulfil certain education requirements within the field of coexistence between genetically modified, conventional and organic crops, and subject to previous authorisation. (2). The Minister may lay down specific rules on the aims of such education and on the requirements for being granted the licence mentioned in (1) above.

Government of Canada - Substantial Equivalence - Regulate product Not process (Regulatory congruence with USDA, FDA & EPA) - Plants With Novel Trait (PNT) not GMO s

2001 Royal Society of Canada Report on Food Biotechnology: Elements of Precaution: Recommendations for the Regulation of Food Biotechnology in Canada http://rsc-src.ca/en/expert-panels/rsc-reports/elements-precautionrecommendations-for-regulation-food-biotechnology-in

Labeling - Canada/US Voluntary - EU labeling above 0.9% threshold (for deregulated events) - EC No 1829/2003 The labelling should include objective information to the effect that a food or feed consists of, contains or is produced from GMOs. Clear labelling, irrespective of the detectability of DNA or protein resulting from the genetic modification in the final product, meets the demands expressed in numerous surveys by a large majority of consumers, facilitates informed choice and precludes potential misleading of consumers as regards methods of manufacture or production.

Government of Quebec: Commission on GM crops Key Recommendation (tabled June 2004): - Compulsory labeling of foods containing GM above a threshold of 0.9%. (79% Quebec residents supported compulsory labeling) Never acted on

Liability

Percy Schmeiser vs. Monsanto 1. Patenting life forms that can self-replicate and spread despite our best efforts may be problematic (transgene confinement is difficult) 2. Privilege of patent vs. responsibility in transgene ownership (and escape)

Schmeiser vs. Monsanto Possession of a patented object may constitute use of the object s stand-by or insurance utility and thus constitutes infringement. (Canadian Supreme Court ruling: Schmeiser v. Monsanto, May 21, 2004 p2)... Possession (Presence) = Use = Infringement (odd ruling when 1998 crop is only 3-67% RR)

Schmeiser vs. Monsanto The presumption of use [by truly innocent infringers] may be rebutted in very rare circumstances What matters is what the person does. (Canadian Supreme Court ruling: Schmeiser v. Monsanto, May 21, 2004 p4 and paragraph 158) Is farmer in possession of patented entity guilty until proven innocent?

Schmeiser vs. Monsanto..the source of the Roundup resistant canola in the defendants 1997 crop is really not significant for the resolution of the issue of infringement which relates to the 1998 crop. (Monsanto v. Schmeiser, 2001, p 51) Patent holder not responsible for transgene escape But retains full right to sue for transgene presence

Solutions? TERMINATOR TECHNOLOGY The production of IPP crops requires the use of dedicated planting and harvesting equipment it must be meticulously cleaned out after any operation dedicated transport, grain handling, drying and storage systems should be used» Mascia and Flavell, 2004

GURTS Genetic Use Restriction Technologies v-gurts: Chemical inducer shuts down reproductive capacity of the variety (v) t-gurts: Linked to particular trait. Trait (t) activated with chemical spray. -GURTs not yet field tested Reliability not known (Van Acker et al 2007)

Future -More foods over time (Fruits, Vegetables, Fish) -Labeling in N. America? -Global Low Level Presence (LLP) agreements? Will this allow new GE food imports? -Plant Made Pharmaceuticals (PMP s)?