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Moderated conference on GMOs in the pipeline, hosted by the FAO Biotechnology Forum in 2012

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Wed, 7 Nov 2012 16:48:12 +0100
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I am Mertxe de Renobales, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of the Basque Country/EHU in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain). For the last 13 years, I have been teaching a course on "Transgenic Foods" in 2 undergraduate degree programs (Food Science and Technology, and Dietetics and Human Nutrition), and currently in 2 Masters programs (Food Quality and Safety, and Nutrition and Health), covering issues related to the current social debate. My interest in this conference is related to my teaching duties because students often raise questions regarding GM plants in developing countries.

As Dr. Breyer says (Message 5), the potential problems related to the use of antibiotic resistance marker genes (ARMGs) is mainly a European concern, promoted by a variety of bodies with different interests, the opinions of which tend not to be based on scientific data. I agree with Prof. Gupta (message 3) in that the issue of ARMGs has been overblown out of proportion and with Dr. Dubock (message 4) in that decisions should be made based on scientific data. In 2004, the European Food Safety Authority published an Opinion regarding the use of ARMGs in GM plants (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/48.pdf). In several documents it has repeatedly concluded that the presence of ARMGs in GM plants do not pose a relevant risk to human or animal health or to the environment. Yet, certain interest groups continue to question their use. 

Unfortunately, it is my understanding that many developing countries which export foods (raw materials and/or ingredients) to Europe do have to take into consideration European regulations, and attitudes. Many non-scientific views which may also influence public opinion in those countries are transposed to their countries (see R. Paarlberg, Starved for Science - how biotechnology is being kept out of Africa. Harvard Univ. Press, 2008). In my modest opinion, mentioning that Golden Rice was developed without ARMGs in its web page may be a strategy to help promoting this excellent crop, which certain groups opposed very adamantly. Thank you for any clarifying comments on the perceptions in developing countries.

Mertxe de Renobales Scheifler
Biokimika eta Biologia Molekularra / Bioquímica y Biología Molecular
Farmazia Fakultatea / Facultad de Farmacia
Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea / Universidad del País Vasco
Paseo de la Universidad 7
01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz
Spain
mertxe.derenobales (at) ehu.es
Tfno: (+34)-945-013097
Fax: (+34)-945-013014
http://www.ehu.es/lactiker  

[To contribute to this conference, send your message to [log in to unmask] For further information on this FAO Biotechnology Forum, see http://www.fao.org/biotech/biotech-forum/]

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