A new European research project on the risks associated with genetically modified plants, completely independent of the biotechnology industry, has been set up in Switzerland, Testbiotech (Institute for Independent Impact Assessment in Biotechnology) announced on Wednesday 16 November.
It will be conducted by a consortium more than a dozen experts from the scientific and academic communities of five European countries (Austria, Germany, United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland). The consortium will not carry out experimental risk research itself, but will base its analysis on a wide range of scientific publications and databases. The German and Austrian regulatory authorities will make advisory contributions.
The project, which is to be funded by Stiftung Mercator Schweiz, is called RAGES (Risk Assessment of Genetically engineered organisms in the EU and Switzerland) and will be coordinated by the European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility (ENSSER), Critical Scientists Switzerland (CSS), Gene Watch UK and Testbiotech.
The findings will be presented at a conference at the end of 2017, in either Switzerland or Germany, a decision still having to be taken on exactly where, Christoph Then of Testbiotech told EUROPE. The European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the competent Swiss authorities, NGOs and journalists will be invited to discuss the findings.
“The aim of the project is to improve the scientific knowledge and public understanding of the risks and potential hazards involved in introducing genetically engineered plants into agroecosystems and food production”, said Angelika Hilbeck of ENSSER in a press release. She added that recommendations will be made “for future risk assessment and improved regulation of these crops”.
“Current regulatory practice for risk assessment in Europe is not sufficient to deal with the real dimensions of potential hazards associated with genetically engineered plants”, said Then. Criticising the strong influence of the biotech companies, he went on to say: “We must have a more balanced system that gives much higher priority to the protection of the environment and consumers”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)