Dec 16, 2009

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EPTA Project

"Transgenic plants for non-foods bring new challenges for their approval and for determining their coexistence."

In a joint project, several European facilities for technology assessment (TA) have been concerned with whether and how the framework requirements for the use of agricultural gene technology in Europe have changed and whether this results in new challenges for managing genetically modified plants and foodstuffs. The findings and conclusions of the EPTA (European Parliamentary Technology assessment) project are presented in the final report. bioSafety spoke with Rolf Meyer, the coordinator of the project.

The eight TA facilities involved in this project evaluated in total 29 TA projects and discourses on Green Technology from the participating Countries. Based on these findings, a questionnaire was designed and was sent to 183 experts in the fields of development, evaluation and regulation of transgenic plants. Of these, 71 experts (from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Norway, Austria, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) returned the questionnaire

The EPTA is a consortium of the parliamentary TA facilities of different European countries, dealing with exchange and coordination in questions of social economy and ecological outcomes of new scientific technological developments; and analyses of scientific technological trends and the social developments connected with them.

GMO Safety: What was the reason for the parliamentary TA facilities to initiate a project on this topic?

Rolf Meyer: There were two reasons for carrying out a joint project on genetically modified plants and foodstuffs. On the one hand, over the last few years many project on these issues have been performed by the parliamentary facilities for technology assessment (TA) in Europe. This reflects the high social and political significance of the debates on Green gene technology. We wanted to compare the current national standing of scientific and corporate discussion in the European countries to determine from these the European status.

Secondly, at the beginning the TA facilities sensed that, despite the amendments to the EU regulations for gene technology, many protagonists are for different reasons still not satisfied and that the regulations are about to face new challenges. Therefore, a look into the future through the project played a decisive role. This appraisal has in the meantime proved to be correct: in the autumn of 2008, in the framework of the French presidency, discussions on transgenic plants were reopened on a European level and, among others, socio-economical aspects were introduced into the debate on administration by the council of ministers.

GMO Safety: During the analysis of the future utilisation of transgenic plants new influencing factors have been found. What factors are these?

Rolf Meyer: In the framework of the investigation, a whole series of factors were identified that could either promote or restrict the future use of transgenic plants. It is calculated that the increasing demand for bioenergy and biomass will be especially important for the future. Even though at present, as a result of the finance and economical crisis, the spotlight on biofuels has disappeared, energy crops and other renewable primary products will quickly regain importance with the next economical recovery – and increasing energy prices.

In the report it is pointed out that transgenic plants for non-foods will probably be less critically viewed by consumers since, on the one hand, the sensitive area of foodstuffs is not directly concerned, and on the other, positive ecological effects can be connected with industrial and energetic use of biomass.

The report highlights that the future of transgenic crops in Europe will not dictated alone or even predominantly through the detailed rulings of the administration, but depends to a large degree on which form of sustainable agriculture is adopted in Europe and what role transgenic plants can play in it.

GMO Safety: If your prognoses in relation to the demand, cultivation and growth advancement actually occur, according to your analysis new challenges for regulating the European system will arise. What are they?

Rolf Meyer: At present, a series of transgenic plants are being developed that comprise various new characteristics such as a higher nutrient content, or the capability of being used for energy or as pharmaceuticals. It is possible that within the next 10 years these new crops could become available and gain approval in Europe. However, in particular, transgenic crops for non-food use present new challenges, with regard to both approval and in managing coexistence. For example, transgenic plants for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals – so-called plant-made-pharmaceuticals – pose new questions on safety, since, because of their expression of drug components, they have to be kept strictly away from the food chain. This will probably make new criteria in risk assessment necessary, and make new demands on risk management and the organisation of coexistence.

GMO Safety: The attitude of the public is an important factor for you. Your analyses do not indicate any clear changes in the future public acceptance of transgenic crops – nevertheless, for individual areas you predict positive tendencies.

Rolf Meyer: We have come to the conclusion that the attitude of the public will continue have a definite influence in the future. The majority of the experts asked were of the opinion that the acceptance of transgenic non-food crops will increase in the next 10 – 15 years, whereas the acceptance level for transgenic foodstuffs will not improve. However, statements concerning the future public opinion are associated with considerable uncertainty, because, for example, the acceptance of transgenic energy crops is dependent to a great extent on the future social perception of biofuels.

Guaranteeing the freedom of choice and high-quality consumer information as well as the value to the consumer and risks to the environment and health are determining factors that will influence consumer acceptance.

GMO Safety: With the Treaty of Lisbon coming into effect on 1st December, the national and the European parliaments gain a greater influence on the European legislation. Which issues could be of more interest to the European Parliament in regard to agricultural gene technology?

Rolf Meyer: An unsolved problem is the relationship of uniform EU regulation and national or regional freedom of action. Here there are opposing opinions, on one side a strengthening of the EU-wide decisions (e.g. through EFSA and the Commission) and on the other more decision-making authority at the national or even the region level (e.g. for gene technology-free regions) in the sense of subsidiarity. This could be an important parliamentary discussion issue.

GMO Safety: Many thanks for this interview