“Ethical and social considerations belong in the political arena.”
In the European debate about genetically modified plants there has for some time been a call for decisions concerning the cultivation of these plants to pay greater attention to the potential benefits and social and ethical aspects. Whether it is desirable and possible to stop basing decisions exclusively on the principle of risk prevention and the results of biosafety research is a matter of some discussion. GMO Safety spoke to Alfons Bora of the Institute of Science and Technology Research in Bielefeld about the position of scientific experts in politics and about the role of biosafety research in the public debate.
Debate
“‘Creation’ is not a stop sign, but a call to act responsibly.”
In the debate about the accountability of plant genetic engineering, ethical and moral arguments play a role as well as scientific criteria. Among them, there is much talk about ‘safeguarding creation’. Critics of plant genetic engineering in particular use this as an argument to try to place restrictions on a purely functional approach to nature. - GMO Safety spoke to Dr Stephan Schleissing of the Institut Technik-Theologie-Naturwissenschaften (Technology-Theology-Natural Sciences Institute) about the nature of the public debate surrounding plant genetic engineering, about ethical perspectives and ways of achieving a better culture of dialogue. more
Debate
New plants, new questions?
Drought tolerance, disease and pest resistance, better nutrient utilisation, and the production of biomass and renewable raw materials are important goals for plant breeding today. Genetic engineering methods will also play a role in this. What new research topics are being generated by the latest developments? GMO Safety spoke to four experts to find out.more
- Urs Niggli: “From an organic farming point of view, I see no need to use transgenic plants.”
- Inge Broer: “We need to develop a clear, efficient system for analysing new plants.”
- Bernd Müller-Röber: “Problems can occur even with conventionally bred plants.”
- Daniel Barben: “The potential consequences and implications of new technologies should be studied in an interdisciplinary manner.”
Debate
“The impact of Bt maize on water bodies in Europe has not been sufficiently researched”
Whether Bt maize can harm aquatic organisms like caddis-fly larvae has become a key topic in the scientific debate about the biosafety of Bt maize. GMO Safety spoke to Steffi Ober of Germany’s Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) about these findings. Dr Ober is involved in a research project by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) to enable a more accurate assessment of the risks posed by Bt maize cultivation in protected areas and water bodies in Brandenburg.more
Debate
Nationalisation of the GMO cultivation decision: “The buck has been passed to the Member States.”
In the near future the EU Member States are to have the possibility themselves to restrict or ban the cultivation of genetically modified crops to prevent adventitious presence of GM material in other products. GMO Safety has spoken with Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Dederer from the Faculty of Law at the University of Passau about the room for manoeuvre of the Member States.more
Debate
Feed the world: With or without genetic engineering?
In 2009 the number of starving and malnourished people in the world rose to over a billion. The UN’s millennium goal of halving the number of hungry people by 2015 is probably no longer attainable for a number of different reasons, ranging from population growth and water scarcity to climate change and the economic crisis. Can plant biotechnology play a role in reducing hunger and poverty? GMO Safety asked two experts. more
- Matin Qaim, University of Göttingen: “With Bt cotton, and even with Bt maize, we have seen yield increases of 30 to 40 per cent in developing countries.”
- Hans Rudolf Herren, Millenium Institut, Washington: “There are various organic farming techniques which can get us a lot further than genetic engineering.”
Debate
“Science is credible if it operates independently of day-to-day politics and economic interests.”
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) was set up on 1 November 2002 as part of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV). The BfR identifies possible risks from food, substances and products, assesses them according to scientific criteria and actively contributes to reducing them. GMO-Safety spoke to Prof. Andreas Hensel , president of the BfR.more
Debate
“Unease finds a legitimate expression in risk.”
It was five years ago, on 16 April 2002, that the German version of GMO Safety (bioSicherheit) went online. In the words of Wolf-Michael Catenhusen, then State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), at the launch of bioSicherheit, the intention was for everyone to form their own opinion about the opportunities and risks of genetically modified plants. One of the goals was to ensure a better perception within the public debate of the topics and results of safety research into genetically modified plants. GMO Safety spoke to Wolfgang van den Daele about the continuing conflict surrounding crop genetic engineering and the strained relations between science and society. more
Debate
“The central problem is the mixing of scientific and political arguments.”
Plant (‘green’) genetic engineering is still perceived in the first place as a risk. Although scientists have been conducting biological safety research for years, the belief that possible consequences for the environment of genetically modified plants have not been researched is widespread. While politicians reinforce this attitude, the voice of scientists in the public debate is almost inaudible. GMO Safety spoke to Karl-Heinz Kogel, a biologist and agricultural scientist at the University of Giessen, about this. Kogel has taken a very active part in the public discussions about his release trial with GM barley. more
Debate
“On paper there is a clear division between science and politics. But the reality is different.”
The EU legal framework and the procedure for authorising genetically modified crops are being criticised and some member states have made various reform proposals. GMO Safety spoke to Maria Weimer, a PhD student at the European University Institute in Florence. more
Debate
Safety research into genetically modified plants: Why? Who does it? How independent is it?
Biological safety research in the field of plant biotechnology: What are people’s expectations? How can people find out about current research findings? These were the key questions of a panel discussion that was held on 29 June 2009 in Berlin as part of the closing conference of the Biosafenet project funded by the EU Commission.more
Further debate texts
Cultivation of GM oilseed rape: Is oilseed rape capable of coexisting?
Risk assessment for Bt plants: two concepts
Epigenetics: There is more to heritable changes than DNA - but does this make transgenic plants unsafe?
Four questions put to experts from different sectors of society
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"Acceptance and respect are very important to me."
Gene technology and nature conservation. An irreconcilable controversy?
“Europeans are rejecting a potentially powerful tool for producing better agriculture.”
He says of himself that he has been “a Green all his life”. For years, as a senior member of staff at English Nature he followed the effects that new agricultural practices are having on biodiversity and the environment. Now he is calling for a change of direction. He sees genetic engineering as a tool for developing new crops that can make agriculture more sustainable. He presented his thoughts at the annual conference of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland in Bremen.
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