Genetically Engineered Crops Experiences and Prospects (2016) / Chapter Skim
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1 The Study of Genetically Engineered Crops by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
1 The Study of Genetically Engineered Crops by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Pages 29-46
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From page 29... ...
In 2014, the National Academies formed the Committee on Genetically Engineered Crops: Past Experience and Future Prospects to undertake a broad retrospective examination of the technology and to anticipate what evolving scientific techniques in genetic engineering hold for the future of agriculture. The committee's present report builds on and updates concepts and questions raised in previous National Academies reports.
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From page 30... ...
Plant scientists were using genetic engineering to gain a better understanding of plant biology and to identify 2 Chapter 3 of the present report provides more detail on the nature of the concerns and the recommendations provided by the Committee on Recombinant DNA Molecules. See the section "Policy Responses to Scientific and Public Concerns."
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From page 31... ...
As is evident from Table 1-1, the National Academies have often been called on to evaluate the potential effects on human and animal health and on the environment as genetic engineering has evolved. In addition to examining the natural science related to genetic engineering in agriculture, many National Research Council reports have pointed out the need for social-science research on societal ef fects and greater social engagement with the public on the topic of GE crops.
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From page 32... ...
insights in basic studies of High-Reward food animals, crop plants, Opportunities plant pathogens, and insect pests Agricultural 1987 Foundation for Develop strategies for Biotechnology: Agronomic Research, national competitiveness in Strategies Richard Lounsbery agricultural biotechnology for National Foundation, and study public-sector and Competitiveness USDA–ARS, National private-sector interactions in Research Council Fund biotechnology research Field Testing 1989 Biotechnology Evaluate scientific information Genetically Science Coordinating pertinent to decision-making Modified Committeeb regarding the introduction of Organisms: genetically modified plants Framework for and microorganisms into the Decisions environmentc Genetically 2000 National Academy of Investigate the risks and Modified Sciences (NAS) benefits of genetically Pest-Protected modified pest-protected plants Plants: Science and the framework used by and Regulation the United States to regulate these plants and revisit the conclusions of the 1987 NAS Council white paper Environmental 2002 USDA Examine the scientific Effects of basis supporting the scope Transgenic and adequacy of USDA's Plants: The regulatory oversight of Scope and environmental issues related Adequacy of to GE crops Regulation
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From page 33... ...
It recommended the process be made more transparent and rigorous and include postcommercialization monitoring and suggested that USDA include in its deregulation assessments potential effects of GE crops on regional farming practices or systems. Report was the first to examine how commercial use of GE crops with nonpesticidal traits could affect agricultural and nonagricultural environments and the first to provide guidance for assessing the potential cumulative environmental effects of commercialized GE crops on large spatial scales over many years.
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From page 34... ...
for unintended effects with Unintended those of foods derived from Health Effects other conventional genetic modification methods Biological 2004 USDA Evaluate three general Confinement strategies for those GE of Genetically organisms that require Engineered biological confinement: Organisms reducing the spread or persistence of GE organisms, reducing unintended gene flow from GE organisms to other organisms, and limiting expression of transgenes The Impact 2010 National Academies Review and analyze published of Genetically literature on impact of GE Engineered crops on the productivity Crops on Farm and economics of farms in Sustainability the United States; examine in the United evidence for changes in States agronomic practices and inputs; evaluate producer decision-making with regard to the adoption of GE crops aIn addition to consensus reports, the National Academies have held a number of work shops, symposia, and forums on various aspects of genetic engineering in agriculture. See Biotechnology and the Food Supply: Proceedings of a Symposium (1988)
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From page 35... ...
Report found insufficient data or inadequate scientific techniques to assess effective biological confinement methods. When biological confinement was needed, it would require safe practices by designers and developers of GE organisms, effective regulatory oversight, and transparency and public participation when appropriate techniques and approaches were being developed and implemented.
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From page 36... ...
. The Committee on Genetically Engineered Crops: Past Experience and Future Prospects -- which was tasked with examining both the benefits and the direct or indirect adverse effects on human and animal health, the environment, and society -- followed this advice by taking many steps to involve interested groups during the process of writing its report while it consulted, reviewed, and built on the findings and recommendations of many preceding National Research Council reports (see section below "Soliciting Broad Input from Different Perspectives and Evaluating Information")
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From page 37... ...
Sponsors may also nominate persons to serve on a committee, but they do not have a role in selecting who is appointed and do not have access to the committee during its deliberations or to its report before the report is approved for public release. SOLICITING BROAD INPUT FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND EVALUATING INFORMATION The National Academies study process states that in all National Academies studies "efforts are made to solicit input from individuals who have been directly involved in, or who have special knowledge of, the problem under consideration"5 and that the "report should show that the committee has considered all credible views on the topics it addresses, whether or not those views agree with the committee's final positions.
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From page 38... ...
The study will: • Examine the history of the development and introduction of GE crops in the United States and internationally, including GE crops that were not commer cialized, and the experiences of developers and producers of GE crops in different countries. • Assess the evidence for purported negative effects of GE crops and their ac companying technologies, such as poor yields, deleterious effects on human and animal health, increased use of pesticides and herbicides, the creation of "super-weeds," reduced genetic diversity, fewer seed choices for producers, and negative impacts on farmers in developing countries and on producers of non-GE crops, and others, as appropriate.
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From page 39... ...
Many committee members also attended a 1-day workshop that compared the environmental effects of pest-management practices among cropping systems, which featured 12 additional speakers.7 The number of presentations made to the committee greatly exceeds that of previous National Academies committees that were convened to examine GE crops.8 Over the course of the study, the committee heard from speakers not only from the United States but also France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Australia as well as representatives from the African Union, the World Trade Organization, and the European Food Safety Authority.9 Members of the public were also encouraged to attend the meetings, and the committee made a concerted effort to use technologies that enabled people to view the meetings if they could not be present. All in-person, public meetings were webcast live, members of the public could listen to webinars, and recordings of the presentations at the meetings and webinars were archived on the study's website.
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From page 40... ...
crops, in terms of both unnecessary restrictions and lax oversight Consolidation of corporate ownership in the U.S. seed sector Perspectives on corporate influence on agricultural research at public institutions Critiques of genetic engineering in agriculture with regard to its usefulness in meeting world food demands and distributing benefits equitably to resource-poor farmers and low income consumers Health and environmental risks related to GE crops and foods Webinar 1 October 1, 2014 Perspectives on GE crops from agricultural extension specialists in different crop production regions of the United States Webinar 2 October 8, 2014 International trade issues related to GE crops Webinar 3 October 22, 2014 Perspectives on GE crops from agricultural extension specialists in different crop production regions of the United States Webinar 4 November 6, 2014 GE disease resistance in crops, specifically in papaya, plum, cassava, and potato Public Meeting 2 December 10, 2014 Emerging technologies and synthetic-biology approaches to GE crops U.S.
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From page 41... ...
THE STUDY OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CROPS 41 TABLE 1-2 Continued Event Date Topics Public Meeting 3 March 5, 2015 U.S. regulatory system for GE crops with regards to assessment of the safety of GE foods Responsibilities and operating process of the European Food Safety Authority Methods for evaluating the risk of allergy from GE foods State of knowledge about potential perturbations of the gastrointestinal tract mucosa by GE foods State of knowledge about metabolomic analysis to confirm the effects of transgenesis in plants Webinar 8 March 19, 2015 Socioeconomic issues related to GE crops in developed countries Webinar 9 March 27, 2015 GE trees Webinar 10 April 6, 2015 State of knowledge about the interaction between GE crops and the human gut microbiome Webinar 11 April 21, 2015 GE quality traits, specifically in apple, potato, and alfalfa Webinar 12 April 30, 2015 Practices and priorities of donor organizations involved in agricultural development with respect to GE crops Webinar 13 May 6, 2015 Intellectual-property rights issues related to GE crops Webinar 14 May 7, 2015 Prospects for, risks posed by, and benefits of the use of RNA interference in crop production Webinar 15 May 13, 2015 Socioeconomic issues related to GE crops in developing countries Input from the Public As with all National Academies committees, members of the public were invited to provide oral or written statements and information to the committee.
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From page 42... ...
Assessing the Quality of the Evidence To evaluate the evidence on purported benefits of and risks posed by GE crops, the committee drew on information presented during public meetings, webinars, and the workshop. After presentations, the committee commonly made requests to invited speakers for additional data or documentation.
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From page 43... ...
and non-GE crops 296–302 Effects on environment 140–154 Effects on herbicide use 133–135 Effects on insect and weed resistance 122–126, 136–139 Effects on insecticide use 116–121 Effects on landscape biodiversity 146–154 Human Health and Food Safety Appropriate animal testing 184–198 Regulatory actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 184–207, 466–477 Health effects of herbicides associated with herbicide-resistant crops 212–213, 231–233 Health effects of insect-resistant crops 179–225, 231–233 Health effects of RNA-interference technology 233–235 Sufficiency of health testing 176–207 Economic Costs of regulation 310–316 Costs of research and development 310–316 Effects on farmers in developed and developing countries 256–302 Effects on global markets 306–310 Socioeconomic effects in developing countries 271–287 Public and Social Goods Farmer knowledge 288–291 Feeding the growing world population 331–333, 437–442 Seed saving 318–319 Access to Information Data quality and comprehensiveness 171 Intellectual property 316–331 Regulation of GE crops 456–493 Transparency in data reporting 502–506
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From page 44... ...
ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT Examining the purported benefits of and risks posed by GE crops -- past and future -- in the linear structure of a report is challenging because many effects change over time with the evolution of genetic engineering and the manner in which it is used. Effects also overlap social, economic, and envi
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From page 45... ...
Chapter 5 examines mechanisms for testing the safety of GE crops and foods derived from GE crops in the United States and other countries. It also discusses the purported risks and benefits associated with GE crops and foods related to human health, such as nutritional effects, insecticide and herbicide use, allergens, gastrointestinal tract issues, disease, and chronic illnesses.
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From page 46... ...
1984. Genetic Engineering of Plants: Agricultural Research Opportunities and Policy Concerns.
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