TY - JOUR
T1 - Revisiting risk governance of GM plants
T2 - The need to consider new and emerging gene-editing techniques
AU - Agapito-Tenfen, Sarah Z.
AU - Okoli, Arinze S.
AU - Bernstein, Michael J.
AU - Wikmark, Odd Gunnar
AU - Myhr, Anne I.
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank the organizing editors for the invitation to submit to this special issue, as well as the constructive feedback of the reviewers. We also gratefully acknowledge the work of our colleague, Katrine Jaklin, for assistance with preparation of the figures for this manuscript. MB’s time was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 741402 (Project short-title, NewHoRRIzon, seeking to understand and support implementation of RRI in research and innovation systems). The opinions expressed in this document reflect only the authors’ view and in no way reflect the European Commission’s opinions. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. SA-T was funded by The German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Bundesamt für Naturschutz, BfN) – The Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety, (Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit, BMUB) under grant FKZ 351784100 and the opinion of the beneficiary does not have to be in line with the submissions of the donor.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Agapito-Tenfen, Okoli, Bernstein, Wikmark and Myhr.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - New and emerging gene-editing techniques make it possible to target specific genes in species with greater speed and specificity than previously possible. Of major relevance for plant breeding, regulators and scientists are discussing how to regulate products developed using these gene-editing techniques. Such discussions include whether to adopt or adapt the current framework for GMO risk governance in evaluating the impacts of gene-edited plants, and derived products, on the environment, human and animal health and society. Product classification or definition is one of several aspects of the current framework being criticized. Further, knowledge gaps related to risk assessments of gene-edited organisms—for example of target and off-target effects of intervention in plant genomes—are also of concern. Resolving these and related aspects of the current framework will involve addressing many subjective, value-laden positions, for example how to specify protection goals through ecosystem service approaches. A process informed by responsible research and innovation practices, involving a broader community of people, organizations, experts, and interest groups, could help scientists, regulators, and other stakeholders address these complex, value-laden concerns related to gene-editing of plants with and for society.
AB - New and emerging gene-editing techniques make it possible to target specific genes in species with greater speed and specificity than previously possible. Of major relevance for plant breeding, regulators and scientists are discussing how to regulate products developed using these gene-editing techniques. Such discussions include whether to adopt or adapt the current framework for GMO risk governance in evaluating the impacts of gene-edited plants, and derived products, on the environment, human and animal health and society. Product classification or definition is one of several aspects of the current framework being criticized. Further, knowledge gaps related to risk assessments of gene-edited organisms—for example of target and off-target effects of intervention in plant genomes—are also of concern. Resolving these and related aspects of the current framework will involve addressing many subjective, value-laden positions, for example how to specify protection goals through ecosystem service approaches. A process informed by responsible research and innovation practices, involving a broader community of people, organizations, experts, and interest groups, could help scientists, regulators, and other stakeholders address these complex, value-laden concerns related to gene-editing of plants with and for society.
KW - CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9
KW - Crop breeding
KW - Genetically modified plants
KW - Risk assessment
KW - Transgenic plants
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85058783367&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85058783367&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpls.2018.01874
DO - 10.3389/fpls.2018.01874
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85058783367
SN - 1664-462X
VL - 871
JO - Frontiers in Plant Science
JF - Frontiers in Plant Science
M1 - 1874
ER -