New Plant Breeding Techniques – innovations for sustainable agriculture in EU Sławomir Sowa Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute – National Research Institute, Poland
New Plant Breeding Techniques –innovations for sustainable
agriculture in EU
Sławomir SowaPlant Breeding and Acclimatization
Institute – National Research Institute,Poland
Sustainable agriculture
Society Economy
Environment
Reducing poverty and ensuring food security !
Addressing EU agriculture challengesChallenges for intensification of crop production
Climate change• Soil fertility (low organic matter, soil erosion and desertification )• Water scarcity (soil degradation, salinity)• Low nutrient levels (N, P, K)
Arable soil degradation in the EU• Protection against pest and disease damage and weed competition, (pesticides,
integrated pest management)• Energy supply (greenhouse gas emission, fossil fuel energy, energy footprint)
Reducing crop yield gaps in the EU• Developed and developing countries,• Differences in European regions (social, economic and political factors )• Access to innovation (SMEs, R&D, bioeconomy)
We need to produce more with less natural resources !
New Plant Breeding Techniquesincreasing the ability for innovation
• Zinc finger nuclease (ZFN-1, ZFN-2 and ZFN-3)• TALE nuclease (TALENs) transcriptional activator like effector-nuclease• CRISPR-Cas system clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats• Oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis (ODM)• Cisgenesis and intragenesis• RNA-dependent DNA methylation (RdDM)• Grafting (on GM rootstock)• Reverse breeding• Agro-infiltration (agro-infiltration “sensu stricto”, agro-inoculation, floral dip)
Innovation and progress in plant breeding and research !
Definition of Genetically Modified Organism
• Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment ofgenetically modified organisms
• “genetically modified organism (GMO)” means an organism, with theexception of human beings, in which the genetic material has been altered ina way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination
Organisms with novel genetic combinations that go beyond thenatural barriers of mating and recombination !
Process/product based- classificationas GMO
Directive 2001/18/EC
Techniques which give rise to GMOs• recombinant nucleic acid techniques,• direct introduction into an organism of heritable material prepared outside the organism• cell fusion by means of methods that do not occur naturally
Techniques not considered to result in genetic modification• in vitro fertilization,• natural processes such as: conjugation, transduction, transformation,• polyploidy induction
Techniques of genetic modification excluded from the Directive• mutagenesis• cell fusion of plant cells which can exchange genetic material through traditional breeding
Process + product = GMO !
Detection, identification andquantification of NBTs products
Methods for detection, identification and quantification of GM food/feed Regulation (EC)1829/2003
Identification possible with prior knowledge• Zinc finger nuclease ZFN-3• Cisgenesis and intragenesis
Identification impossible even with prior knowledge• Zinc finger nuclease ZFN-1, ZFN-2• TALE nuclease (TALENs)• CRISPR-Cas system• Oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis (ODM)• RNA-dependent DNA methylation (RdDM)• Grafting (on GM rootstock)• Reverse breeding• Agro-infiltration
We need clear harmonised system ensuring trade of agricultural products !
http://www.wellnessuncovered.com
Biotechnology and science basedeconomy
• The EU adopted policies designed to promote an increased rate ofinnovation in agriculture and food systems
• We need to build bridges between research, technology and stakeholders,including farmers, industry and NGOs
• Science, technology and innovation promote competitiveness, productivityand sustainable growth.
Innovation goes far beyond R&D !
NBTs – opportunity for organic farming
• The organic market is continuously growing in EU• Organic food play a role in addressing food security• Organic farming respects natural life cycles and the environment• Restricted use of pesticides and fertilizers
http://www.euractiv.com/sections/innovation-feeding-world/commission-organic-farming-not-enough-address-food-security-318699
There is even stronger demand for crop varieties resistant topests, diseases and abiotic stresses in organic farming
Urgent need for legal certainty
• European plant breeders are keen to use NBTs
• NBTs offer increased speed, precision and costs reduction of plant breeding• Clear regulatory status of NBTs is prerequisite for implementation of NBTs into
EU plant breeding• If NBTs fall within the scope of the GMO legislation (implementation by SMEs
impossible, problems with a unauthorized GMOs, trade and labelling),
The European Commission has to provide legal certainty!
The light at the end of the tunnel ?
17.11.2015Swedish Board of Agriculture „CRISP/Cas9 Arabidopsismutant that no longer containsthe Cas9 complex and guided RNA gene is considered not subject to the EuropeanGMO legislation”