GM Products Research Articles

Persistence of Plant DNA Sequences in the Blood of Dairy Cows Fed with Genetically Modified (Bt176) and Conventional Corn Silage

To determine whether plant sequences, including transgenic sequences, are present in animal blood, we tested blood samples from Holstein cows fed with either Bt176 genetically modified corn or conventional corn. We used previously described sensitive real-time PCR assays targeting transgenic sequences (35S promoter and Bt176 specific junction sequence), a monocopy maize-specific sequence (ADH promoter), and two multicopy sequences from plant nucleus (26S rRNA gene) and chloroplast (psaB gene). The presence of Cry1A(b) protein in bovine blood samples was also tested using a sandwich ELISA kit. Our study shows the ability of plant nuclear and/or chloroplast DNA fragments to enter bovine blood circulation. However, maize nuclear DNA, both mono- and multicopy sequences, was less detected than chloroplast DNA, probably because the higher number of chloroplast copies and also possibly because nuclear DNA might be less protected by the nuclear membrane. Despite our data confirm the ability of small (ca.150 bp) plant DNA fragments to cross the intestinal barrier, we were unable to demonstrate clearly the presence of transgenic DNA or proteins in bovine blood. No sample tested positive with the two real-time PCR assays targeting transgenic sequences (35S promoter and Bt176 specific junction sequence). Only faint punctual positive results occurred randomly and were probably due to postsample collection or laboratory contamination or can be considered as artifact as they have never been confirmed. Our data highlight the difficulties to detect transgenic sequences in blood of dairy cows fed genetically modified corn (Bt176) silage. Those results show that in order to meet the consumers' demand of animals fed with GM products there is currently no cost-effective analytical procedure to replace documentary traceability.

Summary of Main Co-Extra Deliverables Results, Perspectives, Information Dissemination & Application

Summary of Main Co-Extra Deliverables Results, Perspectives, Information Dissemination & Application

International Trade in GMOs and GM Products: National and Multilateral Legal Frameworks

This publication, one of a series of UNCTAD studies which discuss key international trade and development policy issues, focuses on the trade implications of the application of biotechnology techniques in agriculture and the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and products derived from them. Topics considered include: domestic legislation on agro-biotechnology in selected developed and developing countries; the multilateral legal framework, including the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety; actual and potential GM-related trade disputes.

EFSA set up to give independent scientific advice on the safety of GM products in Europe

Biotechnology JournalVolume 3, Issue 9-10 p. 1142-1145 Forum EFSA set up to give independent scientific advice on the safety of GM products in Europe Reinhilde Schoonjans, Reinhilde Schoonjans reinhilde.schoonjans@efsa.europa.eu GMO Unit at EFSASearch for more papers by this author Reinhilde Schoonjans, Reinhilde Schoonjans reinhilde.schoonjans@efsa.europa.eu GMO Unit at EFSASearch for more papers by this author First published: 17 October 2008 https://doi.org/10.1002/biot.200800208AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Volume3, Issue9-10Special Issue: Focus on AntibodiesOctober 2008Pages 1142-1145 RelatedInformation

Errors in text

It is curious that a respected medical journal would publish this discussion of GM food and other GM products (JRSM 2008;101:290–298) without at least some oversight related to the validity of the content.1 I view the promotion of GM food as directly analogous to the promotion of a new pharmaceutical product without any testing for safety. The only difference is that GM food could alter the health of a much larger population, and without any element of product choice. I will address three specific errors of fact and logic-there are many more. ‘GM plants undergo extensive safety testing’. This is absolutely false. In the US, while the GM food plants must go through the FDA for approval, there is NO REQUIRED safety testing: it is up to the producer, and if anything is done it is minimal. These has been essentially no long term animal toxicology on any GM product, something the medical community should be concerned about.2,3 ‘GM crops consumed… with no reported ill effects’ – therefore they are safe. This statement is illogical and the conclusion is not valid. There is no assay and there is no epidemiology. If any GM food product did cause harm it would be impossible to pick up within the constant background of disease, particularly since in the USA, the biggest consumer, there are no labelling requirements. For an example of the necessary data to make a conclusion of harm, see Schubert.4 ‘Increased yields’: there have been none with the current GM crops.5

Heterogeneity in the distribution of genetically modified and conventional oilseed rape within fields and seed lots

The implementation of co-existence in the commercialisation of GM crops requires GM and non-GM products to be segregated in production and supply. However, maintaining segregation in oilseed rape will be made difficult by the highly persistent nature of this species. An understanding of its population dynamics is needed to predict persistence and develop potential strategies for control, while to ensure segregation is being achieved, the production of GM oilseed rape must be accompanied by the monitoring of GM levels in crop or seed populations. Heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of oilseed rape has the potential to affect both control and monitoring and, although a universal phenomenon in arable weeds and harvested seed lots, spatial heterogeneity in oilseed rape populations remains to be demonstrated and quantified. Here we investigate the distribution of crop and volunteer populations in a commercial field before and during the cultivation of the first conventional oilseed rape (winter) crop since the cultivation of a GM glufosinate-tolerant oilseed rape crop (spring) three years previously. GM presence was detected by ELISA for the PAT protein in each of three morphologically distinguishable phenotypes: autumn germinating crop-type plants (3% GM), autumn-germinating 'regrowths' (72% GM) and spring germinating 'small-type' plants (17% GM). Statistical models (Poisson log-normal and binomial logit-normal) were used to describe the spatial distribution of these populations at multiple spatial scales in the field and of GM presence in the harvested seed lot. Heterogeneity was a consistent feature in the distribution of GM and conventional oilseed rape. Large trends across the field (50 x 400 m) and seed lot (4 x 1.5 x 1.5 m) were observed in addition to small-scale heterogeneity, less than 20 m in the field and 20 cm in the seed lot. The heterogeneity was greater for the 'regrowth' and 'small' phenotypes, which were likely to be volunteers and included most of the GM plants detected, than for the largely non-GM 'crop' phenotype. The implications of the volunteer heterogeneity for field management and GM-sampling are discussed.

Predictors of Australian consumers’ intentions to consume conventional and novel sources of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids

To elicit predictors of variation in likelihood to purchase foods rich in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Responses from a community sample (n = 220) were elicited using a computer-administered questionnaire based on an adaptation of Protection Motivation Theory including measures of perceived risk and vulnerability to coronary heart disease (CHD). Other measures included health status, body mass index (BMI), perceived risk/benefits of novel technologies and sociodemographics. Descriptions of model products were presented, including farmed fish fed fishmeal (FFFF); farmed fish fed genetically modified (GM) oilseed (FFFGM); bread, milk and supplements containing fish oil (SFO) or GM oilseed. It was hypothesised that perceived vulnerability to CHD would enhance acceptance of GM products (H1). Furthermore, information describing the benefits of LCO3FA, limitations to fish supply and potential alternatives was given to a treatment group (50%) and hypothesised to have a positive effect on the acceptance of GM products (H2). No evidence was found to support H1 or H2. FFFF was most likely to be purchased (P < 0.01), followed by SFO and FFFGM. Multivariate regression analysis identified significant (P < 0.05) predictors (standardised beta) for likelihood to purchase FFFF: self-efficacy 0.56; behaviour (product) efficacy 0.19; belief that fishmeal is unnatural -0.14 (R2 = 0.44) and for FFFGM: self-efficacy 0.65; perceived severity of CHD 0.15; BMI -0.13; significant other has/had arthritis 0.11; belief that GM oilseed is unnatural 0.11 (R2 = 0.49). Self-efficacy (confidence to consume) was the most important predictor of likelihood to purchase all products.

The International Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms: Uncertainty, Fragmentation, and Precaution

Summary: The regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is paradigmatic for the study of some of the most interesting features of contemporary international law. The main characteristics of this sector are: scientific uncertainty, multi-sectorality and multi-nationality. There are many different scientific opinions concerning GMOs and at the moment the possibility to determine a sound and common vision on the issue seems quite far from reach. At the same time, GM products affect various interests and goods, of public and private nature, such as agriculture, trade, health and environment protection, and consumer information. This means their diffusion would have a significant impact over a multiplicity of policy areas, often connected, sometimes conflicting. Finally, with the development of global trade, GMOs are a transnational commercial issue, which needs an impartial and agreed solution to their regulation. Starting from the uncertainty and the legal conflicts surrounding the regulation of GMOs, the article will deepen the problematic issues concerning sectorality and fragmentation in international law – taking as an instance the conflict between the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement of the WTO – and, finally, it will consider the effect of the introduction of a soft version of the precautionary approach at the global level, namely, with reference to international administration of risk.

Post-normal science in the multilateral trading system: social science expertise and theEC–BiotechPanel

AbstractThe recentEC–Biotechcase highlights the emerging regulatory divide between WTO Members and reveals a deepening crisis over issues of science and governance in the world trading system. This article focuses on the potential role that social science expertise might play as an analytical tool in understanding trade disputes involving scientific expertise relating to matters of risk assessment and polycentric decision-making. Particular consideration is given to the paradigm of ‘post-normal’ science, which pertains in situations where competent national authorities have to frame and implement policies before all the (scientific) facts are known. As theamicus curiaebrief by a group of five social scientists before theEC–BiotechPanel demonstrates, where there is a high degree of scientific uncertainty, as in the case of GM products, post-normal science can offer a valuable means of framing the dispute in a broader societal context than the sound science approach, which is used to assess health, safety, and environmental risks under the SPS Agreement.

Post-Normal Science in the Multilateral Trading System: Social Science Expertise and the EC - Biotech Panel

The recent EC - Biotech case highlights the emerging regulatory divide between WTO Members and reveals a deepening crisis over issues of science and governance in the world trading system. This article focuses on the potential role that social science expertise might play as an analytical tool in understanding trade disputes involving scientific expertise relating to matters of risk assessment and polycentric decision-making. Particular consideration is given to the paradigm of 'post-normal' science, which pertains in situations where competent national authorities have to frame and implement policies before all the (scientific) facts are known. As the amicus curiae brief by a group of five social scientists before the Panel in EC - Biotech demonstrates, where there is a high degree of scientific uncertainty, as in the case of GM products, post-normal science can offer a valuable means of framing the dispute in a broader societal context than the sound science approach, which is used when assessing health, safety and environmental risks under the SPS Agreement.

Co-existence and traceability of GM and non-GM products in the feed chain

According to the European Regulations (EC) 1829/2003 and 1830/2003, products which are, consist of or contain GMOs should be labelled and traceable in each stage of production, processing and distribution. Only in cases where the GMO level is below 0.9% and this presence is due to accidental contamination or is technically unavoidable, no labelling is required. As it is very unclear how feed manufacturers have implemented these new regulations, a Belgian survey was held to evaluate the current situation at importer and feed production level. Several bottlenecks were encountered, at the level of acquisition of raw materials and at production level, such as carry over of GM with non-GM soy in the production lines. Next to this, some weaknesses in the analysis of GMOs were also revealed.

Why silence is not an option

GM products will continue to be marginalized in Europe as long as industry remains silent.

Approaches in the risk assessment of genetically modified foods by the Hellenic Food Safety Authority

Risk analysis has become important to assess conditions and take decisions on control procedures. In this context it is considered a prerequisite in the evaluation of GM food. Many consumers worldwide worry that food derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) may be unhealthy and hence regulations on GMO authorisations and labelling have become more stringent. Nowadays there is a higher demand for non-GM products and these products could be differentiated from GM products using the identity preservation system (IP) that could apply throughout the grain processing system. IP is the creation of a transparent communication system that encompasses HACCP, traceability and related systems in the supply chain. This process guarantees that certain characteristics of the lots of food (non-GM origin) are maintained “from farm to fork”. This article examines the steps taken by the Hellenic Food Safety Authority to examine the presence of GMOs in foods. The whole integrated European legislation framework currently in place still needs to be implemented in Greece. Penalties should be enforced to those who import, process GMOs without special licence and do not label those products. Similar penalties should be enforced to those companies that issue false certificates beyond the liabilities taken by the food enterprises for farmers’ compensation. We argue that Greece has no serious reasons to choose the use of GMOs due to the fact that the structural and pedologic characteristics of the Greek agriculture favour the biological and integrated cultivation more. Greece is not in favour of the politics behind coexistence of conventional and GM plants and objects to the use of GMOs in the food and the environment because the processor has a big burden in terms of money, time and will suffer a great deal in order to prove that their products are GMO free or that any contamination is adventitious or technically unavoidable. Moreover, Greece owns a large variety of genetic material that should try to protect from patenting and commercialisation. Finally, we should be aware of the requirements of movement of GMOs within borders, i.e. GMOs grown or used in other countries but which are not intended to cross into Greece, since Greece is very close to countries that are non-EU. This is where the development of a new, integrated, trustworthy and transparent food quality control system will help to satisfy the societal demands for safe and quality products. On the other hand, Greece should not be isolated from any recent scientific technological development and should assess the possible advantages for some cultivation using a case by case approach. Finally, the safety assessment of GM foods and feed has been discussed according to the risk assessment methodology applied by EFSA.

Strategic Labeling and Trade of GMOs

The emergence of agricultural biotechnology and the subsequent introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the food system have been among the most controversial issues surrounding the increasingly scrutinized agri-food system. They have received considerable attention in the economics literature with the main focus being on the optimal regulatory response to products of biotechnology. This paper builds on the literature on the regulation of products of biotechnology by placing the analysis of labeling decisions in a multi-country context. Specifically, the objective of this study is to examine the effect of the strategic interdependence between countries on their regulatory responses to products of biotechnology. The paper analyzes the strategic effects of national regulatory decisions on labeling of GM products and identifies the determinants of the non-cooperative Nash equilibrium labeling regimes in a small number of producing countries that supply the world market of an agricultural product. Analytical results show that the Nash equilibrium configuration of labeling regimes in countries that have adopted the GM technology depends on (i) the distribution of consumer preferences and the level of consumer aversion to GM products; (ii) the size of the segregation and labeling costs in these countries; (iii) the relative productive efficiency and the cost effectiveness of the GM technology; (iv) the market power of the life science companies; and (v) the strength of intellectual property rights in these countries.

Biotechnology and the Politics of Truth: From the Green Revolution to an Evergreen Revolution

This paper investigates why and how issues around the diffusion of GM technologies and products to developing countries have become so central to a debate which has shifted away from technical issues of cost-benefit optimisation in a context of uniform mass production and consumption in the North, to the moral case for GM crops to feed the hungry and aid ‘development’ in the South. Using comparison between agricultural biotechnology and the ‘Green Revolution’ as a cross cutting theme, the contributions of this paper are threefold. Firstly, by analysing biotechnology as a set of overlapping frames within a discursive formation, four frames are identified which summarise key challenges presented by biotechnology era. Secondly, the use of Foucault's concept of bio-power to synthesise key themes from the frame analysis illuminates the ‘revolutionary’ nature of the biotech revolution. Thirdly, the potential of actor-network theory to provide a tools for the empirical study of processes of (re)negotiation of nature/society relations in the context of agricultural biotechnology controversies is explored.

Irish consumer acceptance of a hypothetical second-generation GM yogurt product

This paper examines Irish consumer acceptance of second-generation GM products, defined here as those which are expected to exhibit a specific consumer-oriented benefit. Conjoint analysis was used to determine Irish consumer preferences ( n = 297) for attributes of a hypothetical GM yogurt. Cluster analysis on the basis of the GM attribute revealed four segments of consumers. An “anti-GM” segment (24.4% of sample) were outright rejecters of all GM foods, while a second cluster (33.4%) specifically rejected second-generation GM products. A further 20.5% of the sample were receptive to the notion of second-generation GM products. However, this group had a number of complex reservations, which would need to be resolved before they would truly accept such products. GM foods offering specific consumer benefits were found to be acceptable to 21.2% of the sample, implying that these foods could represent a segment within the overall food market in the future.

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection of Cauliflower mosaic virus to Complement the 35S Screening Assay for Genetically Modified Organisms

Labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is now in place in many countries, including the European Union, in order to guarantee the consumer's choice between GM and non-GM products. Screening of samples is performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of regulatory sequences frequently introduced into genetically modified plants. Primers for the 35S promoter from Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) are those most frequently used. In virus-infected plants or in samples contaminated with plant material carrying the virus, false-positive results can consequently occur. A system for real-time PCR using a TaqMan minor groove binder probe was designed that allows recognition of virus coat protein in the sample, thus allowing differentiation between transgenic and virus-infected samples. We measured the efficiency of PCR amplification, limits of detection and quantification, range of linearity, and repeatability of the assay in order to assess the applicability of the assay for routine analysis. The specificity of the detection system was tested on various virus isolates and plant species. All 8 CaMV isolates were successfully amplified using the designed system. No cross-reactivity was detected with DNA from 3 isolates of the closely related Carnation etched ring virus. Primers do not amplify plant DNA from available genetically modified maize and soybean lines or from different species of Brassicaceae or Solanaceae that are natural hosts for CaMV. We evaluated the assay for different food matrixes by spiking CaMV DNA into DNA from food samples and have successfully amplified CaMV from all samples. The assay was tested on rapeseed samples from routine GMO testing that were positive in the 35S screening assay, and the presence of the virus was confirmed.

The real and perceived risks of genetically modified organisms.

The debate about the potential risks of genetically modified organisms has lasted for almost three decades without any final conclusion in sight. Why is it that the public remains critical of this technology even though science has so far not demonstrated any tangible risks to human health and the environment?

Ford, B.J. (ed.) GM Crops: the scientists speak.

Ford, B.J. (ed.) GM Crops: the scientists speak.

Unintended effects and their detection in genetically modified crops

The commercialisation of GM crops in Europe is practically non-existent at the present time. The European Commission has instigated changes to the regulatory process to address the concerns of consumers and member states and to pave the way for removing the current moratorium. With regard to the safety of GM crops and products, the current risk assessment process pays particular attention to potential adverse effects on human and animal health and the environment. This document deals with the concept of unintended effects in GM crops and products, i.e. effects that go beyond that of the original modification and that might impact primarily on health. The document first deals with the potential for unintended effects caused by the processes of transgene insertion (DNA rearrangements) and makes comparisons with genetic recombination events and DNA rearrangements in traditional breeding. The document then focuses on the potential value of evolving “profiling” or “omics” technologies as non-targeted, unbiased approaches, to detect unintended effects. These technologies include metabolomics (parallel analysis of a range of primary and secondary metabolites), proteomics (analysis of polypeptide complement) and transcriptomics (parallel analysis of gene expression). The technologies are described, together with their current limitations. Importantly, the significance of unintended effects on consumer health are discussed and conclusions and recommendations presented on the various approaches outlined.