6. GMOs - Genetically modified plants in food and environment

June 23 Wednesday

10-12

F
room, red

English

The application of modern biotechnologies, particularly the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agricultural have engendered a heated global debate over the past half decade. The yet partly unknown, but potentially irreversible impact of GMOs on the environment and human/animal health remain a core issue, however, the foods (and animal feed) derived from these plants are already on our tables.

Genetically modified organisms - i.e. plants/animals carrying foreign genes from another, unrelated organism - have been present in the agricultural market since the mid-1990s. While their introduction went initially relatively unnoticed in the US, in Europe their first imports immediately lead to broad public protests and consequent regulatory changes. Their impacts stem from uncertainties of the technology itself, i.e. the lack scientific knowledge about the regulatory and feedback mechanisms of the genome itself, which may be disturbed or upset be a randomly introduced new gene. These are further exacerbated when the organisms (at present, practically only plants) are introduced in the natural environment, and may lead to the uncontrolled and unintended spread of the foreign gene, which can result in creating resistant ‘superweeds’ and ‘superbugs’ and eventually in the deterioration of agricultural biodiversity. On the consumer’s side, the new genes’ protein products may have allergenic or toxic side-effects, however, testing and monitoring methods to check against these lag behind in development. Thus, little is known about the potential long-term hazards, which should be sorted out before it becomes too late, as was the case with many new technologies introduced in the 20th century, from CFCs to nuclear power.

The workshop will be facilitated by Veronika Mora of the Hungarian Environmental Partnership Foundation, who also actively campaigns against the introduction of GMOs into the Hungarian agriculture since 1997. She is also a member of the official Advisory Board on Gene Technologies. She will provide a brief introduction into the issue, depending on the needs of participants and also give an overview of the situation in Hungary and the Central and Eastern European region.

However, the workshop is primarily intended to be a discussion forum: instead of lengthy presentations we would like to have an exchange of views and experiences, centred around the following issues:

  • What is the GMO situation around Europe, legislation, cultivation and the use GM foods/feeds?
  • What are the implications of recent developments in the regulatory/political level, including the lifting of the EU de facto moratorium and the WTO dispute?
  • What are the new promises of the biotech industry (e.g. the “second generation of GMOs”), and what is behind the showcase?
  • Where does science stand? What are the latest findings and how they are interpreted?
  • What do people do around Europe, what are the main campaign issues and how they are developing?

While we don’t intend to pass any resolution or declaration, we do hope that all participants will be able to walk away with new or updated information and knowledge of the different aspects of the GO debate, as well as new contacts with other people active in the field. Therefore the ideal participants of the workshop will be those how themselves or their organisation are involved in GMO activities in one way or another and are able to provide input in the above discussions. However, it is of course open to anyone simply interested to hear what’s going on in what is likely to be one of the major environmental debates of the 21st century.

Contact:

MORA Veronika * Hungarian Environmental Partnership Program (Okotars Foundation) * www.okotars.hu  * move@okotars.hu  * www.zpok.hu/genmanipulacio