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Melnick RL, Jarvis L, Hendley P, Garcia-Alonso M, Metzger MJ, Ramankutty N, Teem JL, Roberts A. GEnZ explorer: a tool for visualizing agroclimate to inform research and regulatory risk assessment. Transgenic Res 2023; 32:321-337. [PMID: 37278871 PMCID: PMC10409678 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-023-00354-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Confined field trials (CFT) of genetically engineered (GE) crops are used to generate data to inform environmental risk assessments (ERA). ERAs are required by regulatory authorities before novel GE crops can be released for cultivation. The transportability of CFT data to inform risk assessment in countries other than those where the CFT was conducted has been discussed previously in an analysis showing that the primary difference between CFT locations potentially impacting trial outcomes is the physical environment, particularly the agroclimate. This means that data from trials carried out in similar agroclimates could be considered relevant and sufficient to satisfy regulatory requirements for CFT data, irrespective of the country where the CFTs are conducted. This paper describes the development of an open-source tool to assist in determining the transportability of CFT data. This tool provides agroclimate together with overall crop production information to assist regulators and applicants in making informed choices on whether data from previous CFTs can inform an environmental risk assessment in a new country, as well as help developers determine optimal locations for planning future CFTs. The GEnZ Explorer is a freely available, thoroughly documented, and open-source tool that allows users to identify the agroclimate zones that are relevant for the production of 21 major crops and crop categories or to determine the agroclimatic zone at a specific location. This tool will help provide additional scientific justification for CFT data transportability, along with spatial visualization, to help ensure regulatory transparency.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Larissa Jarvis
- McGill University, 845 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Paul Hendley
- Phasera Ltd., 7 Kenilworth Avenue, Bracknell, Berkshire, UK
| | | | - Marc J Metzger
- School of Geosciences, Geography and the Lived Environment, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Navin Ramankutty
- School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - John L Teem
- Genetic Biocontrols LLC, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Andrew Roberts
- Agriculture and Food Systems Institute, Washington, DC, USA.
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Naegeli H, Birch AN, Casacuberta J, De Schrijver A, Gralak MA, Guerche P, Jones H, Manachini B, Messéan A, Nielsen EE, Nogué F, Robaglia C, Rostoks N, Sweet J, Tebbe C, Visioli F, Wal JM, Devos Y, Fernandez Dumont A, Lanzoni A, Paoletti C, Paraskevopoulos K, Waigmann E. Guidance for the risk assessment of the presence at low level of genetically modified plant material in imported food and feed under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. EFSA J 2017; 15:e05048. [PMID: 32625342 PMCID: PMC7009993 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.5048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
This document provides guidance for the risk assessment under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the unintended, adventitious or technically unavoidable presence in food and feed of low level of genetically modified plant material intended for markets other than in the European Union. In this context, the presence at low level is defined to be maximum 0.9% of genetically modified plant material per ingredient. This guidance is intended to assist applicants by indicating which scientific requirements of Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 503/2013 are considered necessary for the risk assessment of the presence at low levels of genetically modified plant material in food and feed. This publication is linked to the following EFSA Supporting Publications article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2017.EN-1329/full
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Goto H, McPherson MA, Comstock BA, Stojšin D, Ohsawa R. Likelihood assessment for gene flow of transgenes from imported genetically modified soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr.) to wild soybean ( Glycine soja Seib. et Zucc.) in Japan as a component of environmental risk assessment. BREEDING SCIENCE 2017; 67:348-356. [PMID: 29085244 PMCID: PMC5654456 DOI: 10.1270/jsbbs.16134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Environmental risk assessment is required for genetically modified (GM) crops before their import into Japan. Annual roadside monitoring along transportation routes from ports to processing facilities for GM soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) have been requested as a condition of import only approval because of lack of information on the likelihood of persistence of imported GM soybean for food, feed and processing and the potential for transfer of transgenes into wild soybean (Glycine soja Seib. et Zucc.) through gene flow under the Japanese environment. The survey of soybean seeds, plants and wild soybean populations were conducted along transportation routes from unloading ports to processing facilities that provided data to help quantify actual exposure. The survey indicated that the opportunities for co-existence and subsequent crossing between wild soybean populations and imported soybean are highly unlikely. Together the survey results and the comprehensive literature review demonstrated low exposure of imported GM soybean used for food, feed and processing in Japan. This evaluation of exposure level is not specific to particular GM soybean event but can apply to any GM soybean traits used for food, feed and processing if their weediness or invasiveness are the same as those of the conventional soybean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidetoshi Goto
- Monsanto Japan Limited,
2-5-18, Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0031,
Japan
- Laboratory of Plant Breeding, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba,
1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572,
Japan
- Corresponding author (e-mail: )
| | | | | | - Duška Stojšin
- Monsanto Company,
800 N Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63167,
USA
| | - Ryo Ohsawa
- Laboratory of Plant Breeding, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba,
1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572,
Japan
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Ahmad A, Negri I, Oliveira W, Brown C, Asiimwe P, Sammons B, Horak M, Jiang C, Carson D. Transportable data from non-target arthropod field studies for the environmental risk assessment of genetically modified maize expressing an insecticidal double-stranded RNA. Transgenic Res 2016; 25:1-17. [PMID: 26433587 PMCID: PMC4735227 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-015-9907-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
As part of an environmental risk assessment, the potential impact of genetically modified (GM) maize MON 87411 on non-target arthropods (NTAs) was evaluated in the field. MON 87411 confers resistance to corn rootworm (CRW; Diabrotica spp.) by expressing an insecticidal double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) transcript and the Cry3Bb1 protein and tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate by producing the CP4 EPSPS protein. Field trials were conducted at 14 sites providing high geographic and environmental diversity within maize production areas from three geographic regions including the U.S., Argentina, and Brazil. MON 87411, the conventional control, and four commercial conventional reference hybrids were evaluated for NTA abundance and damage. Twenty arthropod taxa met minimum abundance criteria for valid statistical analysis. Nine of these taxa occurred in at least two of the three regions and in at least four sites across regions. These nine taxa included: aphid, predatory earwig, lacewing, ladybird beetle, leafhopper, minute pirate bug, parasitic wasp, sap beetle, and spider. In addition to wide regional distribution, these taxa encompass the ecological functions of herbivores, predators and parasitoids in maize agro-ecosystems. Thus, the nine arthropods may serve as representative taxa of maize agro-ecosystems, and thereby support that analysis of relevant data generated in one region can be transportable for the risk assessment of the same or similar GM crop products in another region. Across the 20 taxa analyzed, no statistically significant differences in abundance were detected between MON 87411 and the conventional control for 123 of the 128 individual-site comparisons (96.1%). For the nine widely distributed taxa, no statistically significant differences in abundance were detected between MON 87411 and the conventional control. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were detected between MON 87411 and the conventional control for 53 out of 56 individual-site comparisons (94.6 %) of NTA pest damage to the crop. In each case where a significant difference was observed in arthropod abundance or damage, the mean value for MON 87411 was within the reference range and/or the difference was not consistently observed across collection methods and/or sites. Thus, the differences were not representative of an adverse effect unfamiliar to maize and/or were not indicative of a consistent plant response associated with the GM traits. Results from this study support a conclusion of no adverse environmental impact of MON 87411 on NTAs compared to conventional maize and demonstrate the utility of relevant transportable data across regions for the ERA of GM crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aqeel Ahmad
- Monsanto Company, 800 N. Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63141, USA.
| | - Ignacio Negri
- Monsanto Company, Fontezuela Research Station Route 8, km214, CP2700, Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Wladecir Oliveira
- Monsanto Company, Dionisio Bortolotti Avenue, km 0.5, Caixa Postal 9, Santa Cruz das Palmeiras, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Christopher Brown
- Monsanto Company, 800 N. Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63141, USA
| | - Peter Asiimwe
- Monsanto Company, 800 N. Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63141, USA
| | - Bernard Sammons
- Monsanto Company, 800 N. Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63141, USA
| | - Michael Horak
- Monsanto Company, 800 N. Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63141, USA
| | - Changjian Jiang
- Monsanto Company, 800 N. Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63141, USA
| | - David Carson
- Monsanto Company, 800 N. Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63141, USA
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Roberts A, Finardi-Filho F, Hegde S, Kiekebusch J, Klimpel G, Krieger M, Lema MA, Macdonald P, Nari C, Rubinstein C, Slutsky B, Vicien C. Proposed criteria for identifying GE crop plants that pose a low or negligible risk to the environment under conditions of low-level presence in seed. Transgenic Res 2015; 24:783-90. [PMID: 26264890 PMCID: PMC4569670 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-015-9899-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The low-level presence (LLP) of genetically engineered (GE) seeds that have been approved in the country of origin but not the country of import presents challenges for regulators in both seed importing and exporting countries, as well as for the international seed trade and the farmers who rely on it. In addition to legal, financial and regulatory challenges, such LLP situations in seed may also require an environmental risk assessment by the country of import. Such assessments have typically been informed by the national framework established to support decisions related to wide scale cultivation, and frequently do not take into account the low environmental exposure and prior regulatory history of the GE plant. In addition, such assessment processes may not be well suited to the decision-making timeframe that is necessary when dealing with an LLP situation in imported seed. In order to facilitate regulatory decision making, this paper proposes a set of scientific criteria for identifying GE crop plants that are expected to pose a low or negligible risk to the environment under LLP conditions in seed. Regulatory decision makers in some importing countries may decide to use these criteria to assist in risk analysis associated with LLP situations they are experiencing or could experience in the future, and might choose to proactively apply the criteria to identify existing GE plants with regulatory approvals in other countries that would be expected to pose low risk under conditions of LLP in seed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Roberts
- Center for Environmental Risk Assessment, ILSI Research Foundation, Washington, DC, USA.
| | | | - Subray Hegde
- Biotechnology Regulatory Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Juan Kiekebusch
- Asociación de Semilleros Argentinos, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | | - Martin A Lema
- MAGyP, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,National University of Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | | - Clara Rubinstein
- Monsanto Co., St. Louis, MO, USA.,ILSI Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Carmen Vicien
- Center for Environmental Risk Assessment, ILSI Research Foundation, Washington, DC, USA
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Transportability of confined field trial data from cultivation to import countries for environmental risk assessment of genetically modified crops. Transgenic Res 2015; 24:929-44. [PMID: 26138875 PMCID: PMC4639567 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-015-9892-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Requirement of in-country confined field trials for genetically modified (GM) crops prior to unrestricted release is well-established among countries with domestic regulations for the cultivation approval of GM crops. However, the requirement of in-country confined field trials is not common in countries where the scope of the application does not include cultivation. Nonetheless, Japan and China request in-country confined field trials for GM crops which are intended only for use as food, feed and processing. This paper considers the transportability of confined field trial data from cultivation countries (e.g. United States, Canada, and South American countries) to import countries like Japan for the environmental risk assessment of GM crops by reviewing: (1) the purpose of confined field trial assessment, (2) weediness potential, defined as “an ability to establish and persist in an unmanaged area that is frequently disturbed by human activity”, of host crops, and (3) reliability of the confined field trial data obtained from cultivation countries. To review the reliability of the confined field data obtained in the US, this paper describes actual examples of three confined field trials of approved GM corn events conducted both in the US and Japan. Based on the above considerations, this paper concludes that confined field data of GM corn and cotton is transportable from cultivation countries to importing countries (e.g. from the US to Japan), regardless of the characteristics of the inserted gene(s). In addition, this paper advocates harmonization of protocols for confined field trials to facilitate more efficient data transportability across different geographies.
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Horak MJ, Rosenbaum EW, Kendrick DL, Sammons B, Phillips SL, Nickson TE, Dobert RC, Perez T. Plant characterization of Roundup Ready 2 Yield ® soybean, MON 89788, for use in ecological risk assessment. Transgenic Res 2015; 24:213-25. [PMID: 25248506 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-014-9839-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
During the development of a genetically modified (GM) crop product, extensive phenotypic and agronomic data are collected to characterize the plant in comparison to a conventional control with a similar genetic background. The data are evaluated for potential differences resulting from the genetic modification process or the GM trait, and the differences--if any--are subsequently considered in the context of contributing to the pest potential of the GM crop. Ultimately, these study results and those of other studies are used in an ecological risk assessment of the GM crop. In the studies reported here, seed germination, vegetative and reproductive growth, and pollen morphology of Roundup Ready 2 Yield(®) soybean, MON 89788, were compared to those of A3244, a conventional control soybean variety with the same genetic background. Any statistically significant differences were considered in the context of the genetic variation known to occur in soybean and were evaluated as indicators of an effect of the genetic modification process and assessed for impact on plant pest (weed) characteristics and adverse ecological impact (ecological risk). The results of these studies revealed no effects attributable to the genetic modification process or to the GM trait in the plant that would result in increased pest potential or adverse ecological impact of MON 89788 compared with A3244. These results and the associated risk assessments obtained from diverse geographic and environmental conditions in the United States and Argentina can be used by regulators in other countries to inform various assessments of ecological risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Horak
- Monsanto Company, 800 N. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63141, USA,
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Horak MJ, Rosenbaum EW, Phillips SL, Kendrick DL, Carson D, Clark PL, Nickson TE. Characterization of the ecological interactions of Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soybean, MON 89788, for use in ecological risk assessment. GM CROPS & FOOD 2015; 6:167-82. [PMID: 26177011 PMCID: PMC5033220 DOI: 10.1080/21645698.2015.1067365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Revised: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
As part of an ecological risk assessment, Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soybean (MON 89788) was compared to a conventional control soybean variety, A3244, for disease and arthropod damage, plant response to abiotic stress and cold, effects on succeeding plant growth (allelopathic effects), plant response to a bacterial symbiont, and effects on the ability of seed to survive and volunteer in a subsequent growing season. Statistically significant differences between MON 89788 and A3244 were considered in the context of the genetic variation known to occur in soybean and were assessed for their potential impact on plant pest (weed) potential and adverse environmental impact. The results of these studies revealed no effects of the genetic modification that would result in increased pest potential or adverse environmental impact of MON 89788 compared with A3244. This paper illustrates how such characterization studies conducted in a range of environments where the crop is grown are used in an ecological risk assessment of the genetically modified (GM) crop. Furthermore, risk assessors and decision makers use this information when deciding whether to approve a GM crop for cultivation in-or grain import into-their country.
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Introduction to ISBGMO12: biosafety research past, present and future. Transgenic Res 2014; 23:911-4. [PMID: 24823764 PMCID: PMC4204009 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-014-9794-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 03/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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