Biosafety of forest transgenic trees: improving the scientific basis safe tree development and implementation of EU policy directives Action FP 0905 Start date: 12/04/2010 End date: 11/04/2014 Year: 2 Cristina Vettori Chair National Research Council, Plant Genetics Institute / Italy for
Scientific context and objectives (1/2) • Background / Problem statement A large body of knowledge on environmental effects and biosafety issues of transgenic trees, and on existing documentation and risk assessment of GM plants (EFSA, Directive 2001/18/EC, EC/553/2003, EC/1829/2003, APHIS, OECD, Biosafety Clearing House database, etc. ) is available. Today there is an urgent need to compile this scattered knowledge to build-up an European knowledge platform. This Action can be used for the implementation of EU policy directives to ensure a safe development and practical use of GMTs in future, thanks to the development of a network of scientists (plant biology, forest ecology, policy and economy) with complementary skills and experience that will interpret existing and generate new biosafety knowledge. • Objectives ØList the principal biological characters of existing GMTs in the world ØEvaluate methods for monitoring of the GMTs in the production chain from the plantation to the final products ØProvide information for further environmental impact assessment to assist EU policy ØGive socio-economic and cost/benefits analyses in relation to the use of GMTs useful for policymakers and forest sector enterprises ØReport about the concerns or acceptance of the society in different countries concerning the use of GMTs in forestry and plantations 2
Scientific context and objectives (2/2) Research directions To reach its aims, the work plan is organized in 4 WGs to implement collaboration of scientists, and the main methodologies are: Ø desk research through the use of PC to collect information from internet in specific web-site and specialized scientific journal Ø contribution with existing data from own research carried out with own national funds Ø to collect data by questionnaires placed in the web site The collaboration among EU and non-EU countries is fundamental to make a wide scientific knowledge exchange at world level in order to improve the scientific basis on biosafety of transgenic trees, and only a network like this can permit to reach the objectives of the Action. At the moment, there are not any Network collaborations on GMTs, similar to this Action, under EU Framework Programme or in other European organisations, such as EUREKA, ESF, etc. 3
Working groups Working group 1: Biological characterization of GMTs Characterize the GMTs in respect to their genetic and phenotypic features relevant for gene flow, gene containment and gene targeting Working group 2: Environmental impact assessment and monitoring of GMTs in the whole production chain from plantation to final products Recognize existent strategies and studies concerning the environmental risk assessment and the monitoring systems (used or proposed) Working group 3: Socio-economic implications of and recommendations for the use of GMTs Make socio-economics analyses of the use of GMTs considering the concerns and acceptance by the public, the economic potential for GMTs and R&D efforts to be invested, as well as cost/benefit analyses, and propose recommendations for the use of GMTs Working group 4: Management of intranet – internet websites and dissemination Provide science-based information and increase public awareness in the utilization of GMTs in forest plantation and safeguarding the environment. 4
Results vs. Objectives • WGs fully operating: üParticipants nominated and Task force available for all WGs üStrategy for collection scientific information defined: 1 survey published for WG 1, and 3 surveys available for WG 3 üGMT database under preparation (great contribution from STSM and ESRs) • Web site available and continuously updated: üForum for each WG and survey of WG 1 activated üMC minutes, WG reports, Workshop presentations, etc. • Divulgation activity fully operating: üPosters and workshop presented at national/international meeting ü 8 joint publications published (+1 accepted in November 2011 by Nature Biotechnology) ü 10 STSMs finished, 2 programmed within 31 May 2012; 1 Training School completed It is extremely important to find a joint European strategy for the future regulation and use of GMTs (both economic and politics) on basis on knowledge which is worldwide available. Several countries outside Europe are doing experimentation of GMTs in the environment for long time and some of them are ready for commercialization. Therefore, It is clear that such an objective can only be reached by networking like this Action. 5
Significant highlights in Science or Networking (1/2) • Workshop of COST at the IUFRO “Tree Biotechnology” meeting, Arraial d’Ajuda, Bahia, Brazil (July 2011): ü 4 joints publications üArbor. Gen Inc: is the largest global supplier of seedling products to the commercial forestry industry, as well as the leading developer of biotech seedlings • The activity brought by 3 STSMs allowed a significant scientific breakthrough for WG 1 (GMP database) and for WG 3 (socio-economic survey preparation) • Joint publication accepted in Nature Biotechnology: this is a correspondence describing the activity of the COST Action highlighting the importance of a network on GMT at world level and which has received the highest recognition of its validity in science from the top journal in the world in the sector of biotechnology • The activity led to: üBilateral Collaboration project between Belgium (Marie Baucher) and France (Jean. Charles Leplé) started üSTSMs: permitted new collaborations among participants, and with COST Action FP 0903 to evaluate the effect of ozone on transgenic poplars ü 4 Joints publications 6
Significant highlights in Science or Networking (2/2) • The activity led to: üSeveral National grants. This is the case of Sandra Sharry (Argentina): creation of CIMAD, Center for the wood studies, and the incorporation of the development of GM trees with better wood. üWorkshop in Argentina: invitation to participate at the REDBIO INTERNATIONAL (FAO) – “Biotechnology communication and social impact” (November 2013). • The activity resulted in a notable spin-off: üNetwork Collaboration: proposal presented by Prof. Joachim Schiemann within the call “KBBE. 2012. 3. 3 -04 of the FP 7” (Verification of GMO risk assessment elements and review and communication of evidence collected on the Biosafety of GMO). Trans-proposal: collaboration with 3 COST Actions of the FA Domain (FA 0804, FA 0806, FA 1006) for a workshop on “Value Communication of Novel Agrotechnologies” to exchange information and experience on how communicate the same problematic related to the use of novel biotechnological as benefit for the society. Possible socio-economic impacts are forecasted in relation to the activity of WG 3 in collaboration with WG 4 for public perception of GMP problematic (surveys and forum in the web site), and the first data/results will be available at the end of 3 rd year of the Action considering that an analysis at world level, comparing EU situation vs other continents is in course. • • 7
Challenges Ø During its 16 months of activity in 2011, the Action in general is in line with the work plan approved for the second year of activities Ø For the third year, in addition to the 4 th MC and 4 th WG meetings, it is planned in 2012: ü Increase ESRs participation at the WG meetings ü Training school in “Plant genomics, EU policy directive on forest plantation” ü Revision of the GMT database ü Submission of at least 2 joint publications ü 3 rd SB meeting ü 3 rd workshop on biosafety ü Participation at the ESOF 2012 (12 th of July, Dublin): Workshop of the COST Action titled: “PLANTING THE SEEDS OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED TREES” 8
Action Parties Grant Holder: • Plant Genetics Institute - CNR • Cristina Vettori • Italy Expression of interest from private companies: Nancy M. Hood, Arbor. Gene Inc. (USA) David Zhou, Futura. Gene (China) 9
Action participants 10
Use of COST instruments YR 1 YR 2 YR 3 YR 4 No. of MC / SB meetings WG meeting 2 1 1+1 1 2+1 N. A. No. of STSMs 1 out of 6 6 + 4 (2) N. A. No. of workshops / conferences 1 2+1 N. A. No. of joint publications 1 8 N. A. 1 N. A. No. of training schools In red: planned before the end of the first/second year of the Action In green: 1 publication submitted in the first year of the Action 11
Thank you for your attention! 12
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