The Genetic Resources Policy Committee (GRPC) of the Consultative Group On International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has agreed a final text of Guiding principles for the development of the Future Harvest Centers’ policies to address the possibility of unintentional presence of transgenes in ex-situ collections. A draft had been circulated for comments(1) to farmers’organizations, NGOs and other stakeholders. The GRPC amended the draft text in light of the comments received and now recommends that it be adopted by the centres of the CGIAR.

The document is available below (2).

“This is a very important outcome,” said Emile Frison, Secretary of the GRPC and Director General of IPGRI. “We said we would consult widely, and we have, and I am especially pleased that we received several comments from farmers’ organizations,” he added.

The GRPC met at Patancheru from 28 February to 2 March. Inaugurating the workshop, Willie Dar, Director General of the host institution, ICRISAT, said that the meeting was significant because the GRPC is an important and independent advisory body that provided policy guidelines to the centres on issues related to genetic resources.

In addition to the question of inadvertent GMOs in collections, the meeting also discussed the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The GRPC recommended that more efforts were needed to demonstrate the specific nature and qualities of agricultural biodiversity to international groups such as the CBD and its open-ended working group on access and benefit sharing. “Agricultural biodiversity is distinct from the wild biodiversity the CBD generally focuses on,” said Frison, “and restrictions on the exchange of agriculturally important germplasm could have negative consequences.”

Exchange and benefit sharing are important features of the International Treaty, which the GRPC also discussed at length. The Committee noted that the agreement to be signed between the centres and the Governing Body of the Treaty (which will supersede the current FAO Trust Agreements) had received only a few minor changes from the Interim Committee of the Treaty during its meeting last November. Signing the agreement will enable the centres to formally join the Treaty and its multilateral system for access and benefit sharing.

The multilateral system applies only to the crops listed on Annex 1 of the Treaty and those accessions of other species held in Trust by the Future Harvest Centres. The GRPC meeting also tasked IPGRI to study possible options for mechanisms for access and benefit sharing for crops not on Annex 1. This issue is gaining importance because the centres of the CGIAR are increasingly working on crop and system diversification, which will include increased research and use of non-Annex 1 crops.

“I appreciate the trust placed in IPGRI to carry out this work,” said Frison, “and look forward to reporting back as soon as possible.”

(1) Draft circulated for comments

Experts discuss unintended GMOs in genebanks

(2) Document

Guiding principles for the development of Future Harvest Centres' policies to address the possibility of unintentional presence of transgenes in ex situ collections

Background

1.    In the management of germplasm, the Future Harvest Centres embrace the following overarching principles: ethics, transparency, accountability, risk analysis and quality control.

2.    The purpose of genebanks is to collect, conserve and make genetic resources available. The maintenance of the genetic identity of the accessions is an overriding objective of genebanks. The Centres take proactive steps that aim to prevent the unintentional introgression of exotic genes, including transgenes, not already present into samples conserved in their genebanks. Proper germplasm management procedures and genebank practices and protocols to ensure quality and integrity of accessions must be followed.

3.    Transgenes and conventional genes are subject to the same underlying biological processes of mutation, geneflow, introgression, recombination and natural selection. Therefore, best practices for preventing introgression of conventional genes provide an appropriate basis for preventing introgression of transgenes.

4.    Germplasm management procedures and practices should conform to best practices. Best practices and appropriate technologies vary with the crop, influenced, for example, by its breeding system, pollination system, and whether it is an annual/perennial. These best practices include procedures and practices that aim to prevent the transfer of genes from sources other than the accession in question. Routes for transfer by other sources include admixture of seeds and pollination.

5.    It is recognized that available technical means do not permit the complete exclusion of unintentional presence of exotic genes, including transgenes, in genebank accessions. It is also recognized that available testing techniques do not provide an absolute guarantee, without testing every single seed or plant that any given accession is free of transgenes. However, best practices in genebanks will achieve a high degree of statistical probability that an accession does not include unintentionally present transgenes.

Guiding Principles

6.    The Centres should take proactive steps to determine the risk of the unintentional presence of exotic genes, including transgenes, in their ex situ collections.

7.    The Centres should develop, document and communicate crop-specific guidelines for best gene bank management practices. These guidelines should include crop-specific risk analysis procedures (i.e., risk assessment, management, and communication) addressing critical control points.

8.    The major genebank operations that need to be evaluated are collecting, acquisition, regeneration, characterization, delivery, conservation, testing health and viability, evaluation and documentation (genebanks are most open to unintentional introduction of transgenes at the collecting and acquisition stage, because germplasm may have been exposed to geneflow outside the control of the genebank).
The guidelines must aim to minimize geneflow at these stages, for transgenes and for conventional genes.

9.    As part of their risk analysis, when collecting or acquiring new accessions by other means, Centres should consider the following regarding testing:

a.    whether transgenic events (commercial and research) in the relevant taxa are likely to be present in the area of collecting or acquisition; 

b.    the distance between the collecting site and areas where transgenic events (commercial and research) are situated; or

c.    whether germplasm providers can provide adequate documentation of their germplasm management practices with respect to the material in question.

10.  With respect to existing accessions, Centres' testing procedures should be guided by the following criteria:

a.    No testing would be required when:
i.  there are no transgenic events (commercial or research) in the relevant taxa at the present time;
ii. there were no transgenic events (commercial or research) in the relevant taxa at the time of acquisition (e.g., maize prior to 1996);
iii. it is determined that, unless there are other factors, there is no presence of transgenic events within a distance that would allow for introgression; or
iv. there are transgenic events (commercial or research) present, however, proper management practices have been followed and documented in the management of the accession,

b.    Tests should be undertaken when there are transgenic events (commercial or research) present and good management practices cannot be demonstrated.

c.    Once an accession has been determined to either not require testing or has tested negative, the Centre will follow best practice regeneration and maintenance procedures to maintain the genetic integrity, as for all accessions.

11.  If and when transgenes are detected in an accession, in following best practice management procedures, the Centres will take appropriate steps to prevent introgression of those transgenes to other accessions.

12.  The Centres should establish and maintain a database on the global status of GM research and development for the crops within their collections in order to facilitate risk analysis. The database should be posted on a publicly accessible website.

13.  The Centre should bear the costs of the procedures, including tests when necessary, set out above. Requests for additional assurances above those established by the Centre should be met through additional funds on a case-by-case basis from outside sources.

14.  Upon request by the recipients of materials, the Centre will provide information describing procedures and tests that the Centre has followed for the accession concerned.

15.  All data resulting from any testing should be properly documented and made publicly available as soon as it is considered scientifically reliable (e.g., by posting on the Centre's web site). All procedures and supporting information should be presented at the same time. The Centre will also inform the relevant authority of the country of collecting or acquisition of the material in question when transgenes are found; the Centre will also inform the relevant authority of the country in which the Centre is located.