Germany
October 16, 2008
Source:
GMO Compass
From 2008 to 2011 the German
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) will once
again fund a large number of biosafety research projects. The
main focus of the projects is to develop methods to prevent a
spread of GM plants. Another focus is further research into the
environmental impacts of genetically modified Bt maize.
Key
focus: Limiting the dispersal ability of transgenic crops in
oilseed rape and maize
When
transgenic plants containing new or modified substances are to
be used to produce functional foods or for the production of
industrial or pharmaceutical materials, it is important that
they do not spread uncontrollably. Biological systems are being
developed and tested that are designed to limit the spread of GM
plants.
A separate
research focus is on limiting the spread of oilseed rape via
volunteer rape. Rape seeds can survive for long periods in the
soil, reappearing as volunteer rape in subsequent crops and
leading to an unintentional spread of the plants. It is hoped
that by breeding low-persistence rape lines, the volunteer
problem can be reduced.
Focus:
Ecological impacts of Bt maize
Research
will be carried out on the environmental impacts of a new type
of Bt maize which is resistant to its two main chewing pests,
the European corn borer and the Western corn rootworm. Field
trials will test whether the different Bt toxins in the Bt maize
plants influence or increase each other’s effects, thereby
leading to negative environmental impacts.
BMBF is
putting eight million euros into the 23 research projects in
this programme.
Further
information:
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