Basel, Switzerland
January 28, 2005
By Robert Derham,
Checkbiotech
Yesterday, the European
Commission's Joint Research Centre released six new applications
for field trials for public information—all of them in France (links).
France has been part of a
conservative block of EU countries that has openly called for
more time and guidelines with respect to opening its doors to
genetically modified (GM) crops.
France’s apprehension to draft legislation that would align
itself with the EU Directive 2001/18/EC, which covers the
deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified
organisms (GMOs), has drawn repeated criticism from EU
officials.
However, times may be changing in France as the French Ministry
of Agriculture awaits a parliamentary inquiry concerning GM
crops that is expected to be ready in April of this year. The
inquiry will inform French leaders about the aspects of
transgenic crops, which would then be the basis for new French
legislation concerning growing and selling GMOs in France.
The following six products from three French companies are
scheduled for field trials within France this year:
- Biogemma -
Genetically modified maize with a gene involved in nitrogen
efficiency and grain filling. The enhanced maize should
allow for better nitrogen assimilation by the plant and an
increased content of essential amino acids in its grains.
- Pioneer Genetique Sarl
- A maize variety called, 1507, has new genes that were
introduced so as to provide resistance from certain
Lepidopteran insect pests, such as the European Corn Borer (Ostrinia
nubilalis), and to tolerate application of
glufosinate-ammonium herbicide to restrict weed growth.
- Pioneer Genetique Sarl
- NK603 maize varieties have been genetically modified
to tolerate application of glyphosate herbicide, which
allows farmers to use a broad-spectrum, non-selective,
systemic herbicide to reduce the growth of weeds in maize
fields.
- Pioneer Genetique Sarl
- A new variety that results from a cross between 1507
maize and NK603 maize varieties will be tested for its
resistance to Lepidopteran insects, such as the European
corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), and its ability to
tolerate the use of glufosinate-ammonium and glyphosate
herbicides for the weeding of maize field.
- Pioneer Genetique Sarl
- A genetically modified maize hybrid that was obtained
by crossing two genetically modified inbred lines: one
inbred line has received an insert providing tolerance to
glyphosate herbicide and the other inbred line has received
an insert providing resistance to certain Lepidopteran
insects.
- Meristem Therapeutics
Pluriannuals - Field experimentations with a genetically
modified corn, expressing a gastric lipase for medical uses
will be carried out to assess its ability to produce health
care products.
The first company, Biogemma, has a
rocky past with field trials in France. Several of its trials
have been destroyed in the past and it openly threatened to move
its operations outside of France if the government did not take
appropriate actions to prevent such actions.
"We have to stop this waste," said Toppan, director of research
at French biotech firm Biogemma. "We have to return to
scientific criteria. These acts of destruction are not part of
the debate, that's why scientists are mobilised," he told
Reuters.
However, Biogemma is not alone.
Meristem Therapeutics has already taken the first step to look
for more tolerable environment to test and produce its gastric
lipase for human health care. They have been in talks with
government officials, farmers and trade organizations in the US
state of Colorado for almost two years now. Currenty, Meristem's
headquarters are located in Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Whether Meristem will carry out trials in Colorado or France is
yet to be determined, however, after several inviting statements
from government officials and trade agencies, the grass seems
greener in Colorado.
"The last information from Meristem is that they haven't made a
decision. We are doing everything we can to encourage them to
come to Colorado," said John Cevette, the executive director of
Greeley-based Colorado Corn.
"We very much want Meristem to come to Colorado," Cevette said.
"It would be a huge economic boon for us if they do."
Changing Tides
In attempt to shift the tide, French Minister for European
Affairs, Noelle Lenoir, presented a report last year showing
that France is significantly behind its British and German
neighbors with respect to the field of biotechnology. Lenoir’s
suggestion was that France begin making more investments into
this important field in order to keep pace.
Before the EU's moratorium on new biotech food approvals in
1999, the French were operating more than 1,000 biotech test
plots, according to the Minister of Research and New
Technologies. Today, there are only about 40. Lenoir labeled
this an act of "self-censorship."
French Academy of Sciences has also spoken up in favor of GM
crops. "Transgenic varieties have been rejected in Europe,
although there has never been a health problem regarding
consumers or damage to the environment," said the scientists in
a report. "All the criticisms against GMOs can be set aside
based for the most part on strictly scientific criteria."
Possibly the most significant turn of events arose when French
winemakers, in the Alsace area of France, put in requests to
test genetically engineered grape vines with resistance to
fanleaf.
Fanleaf is caused by a virus that is transmitted by a small
nematode called, Xiphinema index, when it feeds on the
roots of plants. Scientists have inserted a gene into healthy
grape rootstocks that prevents the virus from destroying
vineyards.
The French Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA),
a government-run network of research centers noted, "The INRA
looked for means to fight the virus, and when it didn't find
any, it decided to go after the disease with GMOs.”
Without genetic engineering, French winemakers are left to fight
fanleaf virus with a pesticide that has been banned in Germany,
Switzerland and in some U.S. states. Commenting on the
pesticide, Fuchs added, "It is one of the most dangerous
pesticides on earth. It kills all organisms in the soil, even
the micro-organisms that play a big role in the biological life
that forms terroir."
Sources: EC Joint Research Centre, Reuters, French Ministry
of Agriculture and the Fort Morgan Times
LINKS
Deliberate release into the
environment of GMOs for any other purposes than placing on the
European market:
-
Field experimentation of a genetically modified maize.
Functional validation of a gene involved in nitrogen efficiency
and grain filling - Biogemma
-
Testing of 1507 maize varieties - Pioneer Génétique Sarl
-
Testing of NK603 maize varieties - Pioneer Génétique Sarl
-
Testing of genetically modified maize resistant to certain
Lepidopteran insects and tolerant to two herbicides (1507xNK603
maize) - Pioneer Génétique Sarl
-
Testing of genetically modified maize tolerant to an herbicide
and resistant to certain Lepidopteran insects (NK603xMON810
maize) - Pioneer Génétique Sarl
-
Pluriannuals field experimentations of genetically modified corn
expressing a gastric lipase for medical uses - Meristem
Therapeutics |
