1
|
Spök A, Sprink T, Allan AC, Yamaguchi T, Dayé C. Towards social acceptability of genome-edited plants in industrialised countries? Emerging evidence from Europe, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Front Genome Ed 2022; 4:899331. [PMID: 36120531 PMCID: PMC9473316 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2022.899331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The agricultural biotechnology world has been divided into two blocks; countries adopting GM crops for commercial cultivation (adopters) and others without any or without relevant cultivation of such crops (non-adopters). Meanwhile, an increasing number of adopter countries have exempted certain genome-edited (GE) crops from legal GMO pre-market approval and labelling requirements. Among them are major exporters of agricultural commodities such as United States, Canada, and Australia. Due to the relaxed legislation more GE plants are expected to enter the market soon. Many countries in the non-adopter group, however, depend on import of large volumes of agricultural commodities from adopter countries. Unlike first generation GM, certain GE crops cannot be identified as unambiguously originating from genome editing using available techniques. Consequently, pressure is mounting on non-adopter jurisdictions to reconsider their policies and legislations. Against this backdrop, the paper explores recent developments relevant for social acceptability in selected non-adopters, Japan, New Zealand, the EU, Norway, and Switzerland in contrast to United States, Canada, and Australia. While Japan is already opening-up and Norway and Switzerland are discussing revisions of their policies, the EU and New Zealand are struggling with challenges resulting from high court decisions. In an attempt to take a closer look into the inner dynamics of these developments, the concept of social acceptability proposed by Wüstenhagen et al. (Energy Policy, 2007, 35(5), 2683-2691) is employed. This aids the understanding of developments in the jurisdictions considered and identifies specific or cross-cutting challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Armin Spök
- Science, Technology and Society Unit, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - Thorben Sprink
- Institute for Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology, Julius Kühn-Institut, Federal Research Center for Cultivated Plants, Quedlinburg, Germany
| | - Andrew C. Allan
- New Cultivar Innovation, Plant & Food Research, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Tomiko Yamaguchi
- College of Liberal Arts, International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Christian Dayé
- Science, Technology and Society Unit, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
An Agro-Climatic Approach to Developing a National Prevention Tool for Deoxynivalenol in French Maize-Growing Areas. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14020074. [PMID: 35202102 PMCID: PMC8877702 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14020074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The levels of deoxynivalenol (DON)—a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium graminearum—in maize for food and feed are subject to European Union regulations. Obtaining a compliant harvest requires the identification of agronomic and climatic risk factors related to higher fungal contamination and DON production. A national, multiyear database for maize was created, based on field survey data collected from 2004 to 2020. This database contains information about agricultural practices, climatic sequences and DON content at harvest for a total of 2032 maize fields localized in the French maize-growing regions. A linear mixed-model approach highlighted the presence of borers, late harvest and inadequate crop residue management, normal-to-cold temperatures in March, humidity in August and the absence of a hot end of the maize development cycle with a dry August as creating conditions favoring maize contamination with DON. The various possible associations between these risky climatic conditions and agricultural practices were compared, grouped and ranked as related to very low to high DON concentrations. Some combinations may even exceed the regulatory threshold. The national prevention tool, created for producers and agricultural cooperatives, is informative and easy-to-use to control the sanitary quality of their harvest.
Collapse
|
3
|
Roucou A, Bergez C, Méléard B, Orlando B. A Fumonisin Prevention Tool for Targeting and Ranking Agroclimatic Conditions Favoring Exposure in French Maize-Growing Areas. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:214. [PMID: 33809408 PMCID: PMC8001851 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13030214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The levels of fumonisins (FUMO)-mycotoxins produced by Fusarium verticillioides-in maize for food and feed are subject to European Union regulations. Compliance with the regulations requires the targeting of, among others, the agroclimatic factors influencing fungal contamination and FUMO production. Arvalis-Institut du végétal has created a national, multiyear database for maize, based on field survey data collected since 2003. This database contains information about agricultural practices, climatic conditions and FUMO concentrations at harvest for 738 maize fields distributed throughout French maize-growing regions. A linear mixed model approach highlights the presence of borers and the use of a late variety, high temperatures in July and October, and a water deficit during the maize cycle as creating conditions favoring maize contamination with Fusarium verticillioides. It is thus possible to target a combination of risk factors, consisting of this climatic sequence associated with agricultural practices of interest. The effects of the various possible agroclimatic combinations can be compared, grouped and classified as promoting very low to high FUMO concentrations, possibly exceeding the regulatory threshold. These findings should facilitate the creation of a national, informative and easy-to-use prevention tool for producers and agricultural cooperatives to manage the sanitary quality of their harvest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agathe Roucou
- Arvalis—Institut du Végétal, Station Expérimentale, 91720 Boigneville, France; (C.B.); (B.M.); (B.O.)
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kuntz M. Technological Risks (GMO, Gene Editing), What Is the Problem With Europe? A Broader Historical Perspective. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:557115. [PMID: 33240863 PMCID: PMC7681002 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.557115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Europe is often the center of origin of restrictions regarding technologies (e.g., biotechnologies: GMOs and, more recently, gene editing). The causes have already been analyzed in relation to European regulations, but not to its deeply embedded roots. This is what the present article attempts to do. It first depicts the broader historical background in Europe, the rise of a new ideology aiming to avoid repetition of the tragedies of the past, and the way these postmodern ideas have been transposed to science, with a focus on the issue of technological risk. In contrast to Europe, the United States has not enacted biotechnology-inhibiting laws, and the reasons for such a difference are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Kuntz
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAE, Grenoble, France
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
GMO/GMF on Social Media in China: Jagged Landscape of Information Seeking and Sharing Behavior through a Valence View. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16234838. [PMID: 31810171 PMCID: PMC6926536 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16234838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The study examines the critical factors affecting Chinese social media (SM) users’ intentions and behavior to seek and share information on genetically modified organisms/ genetically modified food (GMO/GMF). The proposed framework was conceptualized through benefit-risk analysis and subsequently mapped SM users’ perceived benefits and risks to seeks and share information using Kurt Lewin’s valence view. Quantitative data was collected using survey questionnaires administered from 583 SM users. The results of the path analysis demonstrated two key findings related to SM users’ perceived benefits and risks to seek and share information on GMO/GMF. Among risks, the psychological risk is the strongest predictor of perceived risk to use SM for GMO/GMF, which consequently determines the intentions and behaviors to share information about GMO/GMF on SM in People’s Republic of China. Among benefits, the results showed that perceived usefulness, creditability of GMO/GMF information, and information support are positively related to perceived benefits to use SM for GMO/GMF, which subsequently, predicts the intentions and behaviors to seek information about GMO/GMF on SM. This study suggests scholars and practitioners explore and utilize the efficient communication strategy to fulfill the potential of the SM to increase GMO/GMF acceptance in Chinese society.
Collapse
|
6
|
Gardner CM, Gwin CA, Gunsch CK. A survey of crop-derived transgenes in activated and digester sludges in wastewater treatment plants in the United States. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2018; 77:1810-1818. [PMID: 29676738 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2018.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The use of transgenic crops has become increasingly common in the United States over the last several decades. Increasing evidence suggests that DNA may be protected from enzymatic digestion and acid hydrolysis in the digestive tract, suggesting that crop-derived transgenes may enter into wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) intact. Given the historical use of antibiotic resistance genes as selection markers in transgenic crop development, it is important to consider the fate of these transgenes. Herein we detected and quantified crop-derived transgenes in WWTPs. All viable US WWTP samples were found to contain multiple gene targets (p35, nos, bla and nptII) at significantly higher levels than control samples. Control wastewater samples obtained from France, where transgenic crops are not cultivated, contained significantly fewer copies of the nptII gene than US activated and digester sludges. No significant differences were measured for the bla antibiotic resistance gene (ARG). In addition, a nested PCR (polymerase chain reaction) assay was developed that targeted the bla ARG located in regions flanked by the p35 promoter and nos terminator. Overall this work suggests that transgenic crops may have provided an environmental source of nptII; however, follow-up studies are needed to ascertain the viability of these genes as they exit WWTPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Courtney M Gardner
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA E-mail: ; Present address: Duke University, Box 90287 Hudson Hall, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Carley A Gwin
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA E-mail: ; Present address: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bucknell University 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA
| | - Claudia K Gunsch
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA E-mail: ; Present address: Duke University, Box 90287 Hudson Hall, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
The ethical concerns about transgenic crops. Biochem J 2018; 475:803-811. [PMID: 29490910 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20170794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
It is generally accepted that transgenesis can improve our knowledge of natural processes, but also leads to agricultural, industrial or socio-economical changes which could affect human society at large and which may, consequently, require regulation. It is often stated that developing countries are most likely to benefit from plant biotechnology and are at the same time most likely to be affected by the deployment of such new technologies. Therefore, ethical questions related to such biotechnology probably also need to be addressed. We first illustrate how consequentialist and nonconsequentialist theories of ethics can be applied to the genetically modified organism debate, namely consequentialism, autonomy/consent ethics (i.e. self-determination of people regarding matters that may have an effect on these people) and virtue ethics (i.e. whether an action is in adequacy with ideal traits). We show that these approaches lead to highly conflicting views. We have then refocused on moral 'imperatives', such as freedom, justice and truth. Doing so does not resolve all conflicting views, but allows a gain in clarity in the sense that the ethical concerns are shifted from a technology (and its use) to the morality or amorality of various stakeholders of this debate.
Collapse
|
8
|
Kuntz M. Scientists Should Oppose the Drive of Postmodern Ideology. Trends Biotechnol 2016; 34:943-945. [PMID: 27637727 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2016.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The National Academies of Sciences of the USA recently published a report entitled Gene Drive on the Horizon. This commentary discusses the 'Aligning Research with Public Values' aspects in this report, the topic of public engagement, and the worrying ideological shift towards postmodernism which aims to deconstruct Enlightenment values.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Kuntz
- Cell and Plant Physiology Laboratory, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5168 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)/Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA)/Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Université Grenoble-Alpes, 38054 Grenoble CEDEX 9, France.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Rzymski P, Królczyk A. Attitudes toward genetically modified organisms in Poland: to GMO or not to GMO? Food Secur 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s12571-016-0572-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|
10
|
Panchin AY, Tuzhikov AI. Published GMO studies find no evidence of harm when corrected for multiple comparisons. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2016; 37:213-217. [PMID: 26767435 DOI: 10.3109/07388551.2015.1130684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
A number of widely debated research articles claiming possible technology-related health concerns have influenced the public opinion on genetically modified food safety. We performed a statistical reanalysis and review of experimental data presented in some of these studies and found that quite often in contradiction with the authors' conclusions the data actually provides weak evidence of harm that cannot be differentiated from chance. In our opinion the problem of statistically unaccounted multiple comparisons has led to some of the most cited anti-genetically modified organism health claims in history. We hope this analysis puts the original results of these studies into proper context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Y Panchin
- a Institute for Information Transmission Problems RAS , Moscow , Russian Federation and
| | - Alexander I Tuzhikov
- a Institute for Information Transmission Problems RAS , Moscow , Russian Federation and.,b Department of Ophthalmology , School of Medicine, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller Miami , FL , USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Ricroch A, Harwood W, Svobodová Z, Sági L, Hundleby P, Badea EM, Rosca I, Cruz G, Salema Fevereiro MP, Marfà Riera V, Jansson S, Morandini P, Bojinov B, Cetiner S, Custers R, Schrader U, Jacobsen HJ, Martin-Laffon J, Boisron A, Kuntz M. Challenges facing European agriculture and possible biotechnological solutions. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2015; 36:875-83. [PMID: 26133365 DOI: 10.3109/07388551.2015.1055707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Agriculture faces many challenges to maximize yields while it is required to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner. In the present study, we analyze the major agricultural challenges identified by European farmers (primarily related to biotic stresses) in 13 countries, namely Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, UK and Turkey, for nine major crops (barley, beet, grapevine, maize, oilseed rape, olive, potato, sunflower and wheat). Most biotic stresses (BSs) are related to fungi or insects, but viral diseases, bacterial diseases and even parasitic plants have an important impact on yield and harvest quality. We examine how these challenges have been addressed by public and private research sectors, using either conventional breeding, marker-assisted selection, transgenesis, cisgenesis, RNAi technology or mutagenesis. Both national surveys and scientific literature analysis followed by text mining were employed to evaluate genetic engineering (GE) and non-GE approaches. This is the first report of text mining of the scientific literature on plant breeding and agricultural biotechnology research. For the nine major crops in Europe, 128 BS challenges were identified with 40% of these addressed neither in the scientific literature nor in recent European public research programs. We found evidence that the private sector was addressing only a few of these "neglected" challenges. Consequently, there are considerable gaps between farmer's needs and current breeding and biotechnology research. We also provide evidence that the current political situation in certain European countries is an impediment to GE research in order to address these agricultural challenges in the future. This study should also contribute to the decision-making process on future pertinent international consortia to fill the identified research gaps.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnès Ricroch
- a AgroParisTech, Paris and Université Paris-Sud, Collége d'Etudes Interdisciplinaires , Sceaux , France
| | - Wendy Harwood
- b Crop Transformation Group, John Innes Centre (JIC) , Norwich Research Park , Norwich , UK
| | - Zdeňka Svobodová
- c Institute of Entomology BC AS CR, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia , České Budějovice , Czech Republic
| | - László Sági
- d Plant Cell Biology Department, Center for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences , Martonvásár , Hungary
| | - Penelope Hundleby
- b Crop Transformation Group, John Innes Centre (JIC) , Norwich Research Park , Norwich , UK
| | - Elena Marcela Badea
- e Biotechnology and Biosecurity Department , Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy , Bucharest , Romania
| | - Ioan Rosca
- f University of Agronomic Science and Veterinary Medicine-Bucharest , Bucuresti , Romania
| | - Gabriela Cruz
- g APOSOLO - Associação Portuguesa de Mobilização e Conservação do Solo , Évora , Portugal
| | - Manuel Pedro Salema Fevereiro
- h Laboratory of Plant Cell Biotechnology , ITQB - Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa ITQB/IBET - Apt 127 , Oeiras , Portugal
| | - Victoria Marfà Riera
- i CRAG - Centre de Recerca en AgriGenòmica, Campus UAB - Edifici CRAG, Bellaterra - Cerdanyola del Vallès , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Stefan Jansson
- j Umeå Plant Science Center, Umeå University , UMEÅ , Sweden
| | - Piero Morandini
- k Department of Biosciences , Biophysics Institute of the National Research Council (CNR), Università di Milano , Milano , Italy
| | - Bojin Bojinov
- l Faculty of Agronomy , Agricultural University of Plovdiv , Plovdiv , Bulgaria
| | - Selim Cetiner
- m Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences , Sabanci University , Istanbul , Turkey
| | | | - Uwe Schrader
- o InnoPlantae.V., OT Gatersleben , Stadt Seeland , Germany
| | - Hans-Joerg Jacobsen
- p Institut für Pflanzengenetik, Leibniz Universität Hannover , Hannover , Germany
| | - Jacqueline Martin-Laffon
- q Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire Végétale - CNRS , CEA, INRA, Université Grenoble-Alpes , Grenoble , France , and
| | - Audrey Boisron
- r INRA, Direction de la Valorisation, Information Scientifique et Technique , Versailles , France
| | - Marcel Kuntz
- q Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire Végétale - CNRS , CEA, INRA, Université Grenoble-Alpes , Grenoble , France , and
| |
Collapse
|