Ghent, Belgium
February 24, 2009
After an initial negative decision
in May 2008, VIB recently received an authorisation to field
test its genetically modified poplar trees in Belgium. VIB had
appealed the negative decision at the Council of State, which in
December 2008 ruled in favour of VIB and suspended the refusal.
Final negotiations with the Belgian federal government led to a
permit. This permit is a landmark in the Belgian field trial
history as it is the first permit for a field trial in Belgium
since 2002.
The poplar trees have an altered wood composition which renders
them more suitable for the production of bio-ethanol. Wood
produced in the greenhouse produces 50% more bio-ethanol than
conventional poplar wood. The field trial will test whether
trees grown under natural conditions will also produce wood that
can be converted to bio-ethanol more easily.
In May 2008 the federal competent authorities had refused to
give a permit, even though the Belgian Biosafety Advisory
Council and the regional Flemish environment minister had both
given a positive advice. VIB decided to appeal the negative
decision and to investigate alternatives for its field trial. In
October 2008 VIB asked for a permit in the Netherlands to do its
field trial there, to be sure that it would be able to start the
trial in 2009. The Belgian permit now means that VIB does not
have to go abroad with its trees. It will however proceed in the
Netherlands to also get the permit there, as this will keep
options open to start trial activities there in the coming years
as well.
VIB, the Flanders Institute for
Biotechnology, is a non-profit research institute in life
sciences. About 1100 scientists and technicians conduct
strategic basic research on the molecular mechanisms that are
responsible for the functioning of the human body, plants, and
micro-organisms. Through a close partnership with four Flemish
universities − UGent, K.U.Leuven, University of Antwerp, and
Vrije Universiteit Brussel − and a solid funding program, VIB
unites the forces of 65 research groups in a single institute.
The goal of the research is to extend the boundaries of our
knowledge profoundly. Through its technology transfer
activities, VIB strives to convert the research results into
products for the benefit of consumers and patients. VIB develops
and disseminates a wide range of scientifically substantiated
information about all aspects of biotechnology. For more
information, please visit:
www.vib.be. |
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