Dec 17, 2003

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Measures by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to promote precautionary research

Biosafety research

Since 1987 the German government has been supporting the development of genetic engineering with special programmes aimed at promoting research projects dealing with biosafety matters.

Developments in bio- and genetic engineering, particularly new applications of genetic and biotechnological methods in agriculture and the food industry, have been the subject of heated public debate for years. Questions about the effects on humans and the environment are repeatedly raised. The precautionary principle, which is enshrined in German law, encourages the clarification of unanswered questions relating to the application of biotechnology and genetic engineering. This in turn calls for careful and often interdisciplinary scientific research.

Back in 1987 the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) published its first concept for biological safety research, as a result of which projects for the safety assessment of genetically modified organisms were launched. By 2001 more than 110 projects for the safety assessment of genetically modified plants and nodule bacteria had been included in the support programme.

For a number of years now, numerous research projects throughout the world have been looking at the impact of transgenic plants on the environment. Many relevant findings have since been published. However, current developments in the field of “green genetic engineering”, even at judicial level, underline the need for accompanying biosafety research.

BioMonitor

In 1997 the BMBF published its BioMonitor call for tenders, on the basis of which research projects focusing on “Ecology and monitoring transgenic plants in the field”, “Molecular microbial ecology”, “Genetic engineering and food” and “Vectors for somatic gene therapy” were selected for funding.

Safety research and monitoring

The BMBF has been funding biosafety research projects on the basis of its “safety research and monitoring” funding programme since April 2001. These trials focus exclusively on issues of green (plant) genetic engineering. In choosing these issues, the aim is to give consideration to scientifically founded objections put forward in the public debate surrounding green genetic engineering. With these promotional measures, the BMBF is, amongst other things, implementing precautionary research in the field of “green genetic engineering”, as agreed in the German government’s coalition agreement, whilst at the same time laying the foundations for the safe handling of genetically modified crops.

In spring 2001 funding was given to a total of 40 projects, which are grouped into seven collaborative projects. In addition two contracts were awarded to implement “communication management in biosafety research”

The key themes currently receiving funding are:

• Research approaches to release-related safety research
• Development of methods for post-market monitoring
• Communication management in biosafety research

The projects will study the effects of the release of GM crops in Germany. The research relates to oilseed rape, potatoes, maize and selected woody plants. The projects aim to study in greater detail hypotheses about correlations between genetic modification and environmental impact.

• Bt maize and non-target organisms: Several projects are looking at whether, for instance, the diversity and abundance of spiders, caterpillars, ground beetles and aphids change when Bt maize is grown instead of conventional maize. As a result of a genetic modification, Bt maize is resistant to the European corn borer, one of the most significant maize pests.
• New gene transfer methods: In addition to crop-specific studies, research projects concerned with general issues are also being conducted. For example researchers are developing new strategies to minimise the gene sequences transferred to plants, or for developing alternatives to the available marker genes for selecting the GM plants.
• Monitoring: Possible changes in the environment generally come to light only as a result of long-term monitoring. The funding should therefore also contribute to the development of parameters and methods for a long-term monitoring programme once market approval in Germany has been granted, in accordance with the requirements of the new Deliberate Release Directive 2001/18/EC. Analysis will be carried out to see which of the existing facilities and networks in Germany could be used for this type of monitoring.
• The general public: Up until now biosafety research findings have mainly been communicated within the scientific community. They are rarely brought into the public domain. The concept launched in 2001 therefore contains for the first time accompanying communication measures aimed at informing the public of projects and trials, their aims and their results. The central element is the Internet portal www.gmo-safety.eu.