Abstract
Critics of the use of advanced biotechnologies in the agri-food sector (“New Breeding Techniques”, comprising CRISPR) demand a strict regulation of any such method, even more severe than rules applied to so-called “Genetically Modified Organisms” (i.e. recombinant DNA processes and products). But their position is unwarranted, since it relies on faulty arguments.While most life scientists have always explained that the trigger for regulation should be the single product and its phenotypic traits, opponents insist that the target should be certain biotech processes.The antagonists maintain that NBTs are inherently risky: this belief is exactly the opposite of a long-standing, overwhelming scientific consensus. NBTs involve unpredictable effects, but it is the same for the results of any other technique. The critics wrongly equate “unintended” with “harmful” and misunderstand two meanings of “risk”: the “risk” of not achieving satisfactory results does not automatically translate into health or environment “risks”. Generic claims that allergenic or toxic properties are a hidden danger of outcomes from NBTs are unsubstantiated – as they would be for traditional techniques.Among several errors, we criticize the misuse of the Precautionary principle, a misplaced alarm about “uncontrolled spreading” of genetically engineered cultivars and the groundless comparison of (hypothetical) agricultural products from NBTs with known toxic substances.In order to “save” traditional techniques from “GMO”-like regulations, while calling for the enforcement of similar sectarian rules for the NBTs, the dissenters engage in baseless, unscientific distinctions.Important and necessary socio-economic, ethical and legal considerations related to the use of agri-food biotechnologies (older and newer) are outside the scope of this paper, which mostly deals with arguments from genetics, biology, and evolutionary theory that are provided by those who are suspicious of NBTs. Yet, we will provide some hints on two additional facets of the debate: the possible motivations for certain groups to embrace views which are utterly anti-scientific, and the shaky regulatory destiny of NBTs in the European Union.
Highlights
In this paper we aim to debunk some basic conceptual mistakes regarding criticism of the use of genome ameliorations in the “green” biotech area, in particular with regard to the very recent, in-progress group of methods generically indicated by the term “New Breeding Techniques” (“NBTs”), comprising CRISPR
In order to show that skeptics of advanced agricultural biotech methods try to base their call for strict regulation on views which are unscientific, misunderstood or even plainly contradictory, we examine three documents (ENSSER 2017; Steinbrecher and Paul 2017; and Bauer-Panskus, 2017) recently issued by organizations and authors which have a historical record of opposition to recombinant DNA techniques, i.e. the “classic” transgenesis, used to produce so-called “genetically modified organisms” (“GMOs”)
This necessary action will not cast a general, unsubstantiated doubt on other products or courses of action which are very different and possibly – or certainly – beneficial: virus-immunized papaya or nutritionally-enhanced cassava or submersion-tolerant rice – all “GMO” – have nothing to do with environmental pollution; one of the most widespread recombinant DNA (rDNA) traits has been very advantageous to the environment and farmers, lowering the use of pesticides and requiring less work in the fields (Brookes and Barfoot 2017); and several NBT applications may contribute to managing problematic agricultural-environmental issues
Summary
In this paper we aim to debunk some basic conceptual mistakes regarding criticism of the use of genome ameliorations in the “green” (i.e. agri-food) biotech area, in particular with regard to the very recent, in-progress group of methods generically indicated by the term “New Breeding Techniques” (“NBTs”), comprising CRISPR. The bone of contention in this paper is not whether NBTs are good or bad, risky or safe (a question that cannot be applied to NBTs as a group of diverse techniques, loosely labelled under the same acronym), but what life scientists explain them to be – and what biotech detractors fail to grasp. These opponents place an exclusive, almost obsessive emphasis on (misunderstood) risks and dangers: such a totally negative attitude reveals a biased, unescapable anti-biotechnological mindset, which seems to influence the theoretical misapprehension of the matter. We hope that our constructive criticism may encourage a rebalanced disposition
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