Tomorrow’s crops will be required to yield more, to perform in spite of less favourable growing conditions and to limit the environmental impact of cultivation. Several breeding approaches are being pursued, including the use of genetic modification (GM). Already a large number of field trials include GM traits that target enhancing and securing yield and the first products are nearing market introduction. ln the USA, Canada, the EU, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines Monsanto has submitted a dossier for commercialization of the first drought tolerant maize that was developed in collaboration with BASF. ArborGen is seeking permission to commercialize frost tolerant eucalypts in the USA.
Some authors suggested that there might be specific issues associated with the introduction of e.g. a stress tolerance trait. They assume that an increased tolerance to stress factors such as drought, high temperatures, salt, water lodging, low temperatures or frost may influence the GMO’s fitness. Similarly, speed of germination and growth, enhanced photosynthesis, better use of soil minerals are linked to potential effects on the p|ant’s reproduction, invasiveness and persistence. Yet, it is not always clear on what basis such assumptions are based and to what extent these issues are specific or different for GM plants with traits that target enhancing or securing yield.
Aim of this study
Anticipating the presentation of regulatory files covering field trials and commercial introduction of plants with yield enhancing and yield securing traits, this study was targeted to:
- Provide a comprehensive outlook on the developments and expectations in relation to the deployment of such traits; and
- Identify aspects that will be important for the Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) of plants incorporating these traits and that are different from those already known for first generation GMOs.
Given the vast area to be covered, the scope ofthe project was further determined by:
- Focussing on those strategies that could be considered novel in terms of the ERA;
- Limited to those that were in development or in a pre-commercial stage; and
- Restricting to those for which relevant information such as regulatory documents, patent applications and scientific publications was available.