Projects / Programmes
Traceability of genetically modified crops in the food and feed production.
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.03.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B225 |
Biomedical sciences |
Plant genetics |
| B390 |
Biomedical sciences |
Phytotechny, horticulture, crop protection, phytopathology |
geneticaly modified crops, traceability, gene flow, detection, DNA methods, co-existence
Researchers (10)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
After the first commercialisation of a transgenic plant in 1994, large production of transgenic crops started in 1996. The introduction of GM crops in the EU has raised questions concerning gene dispersal and co-existence with non-GM-farming. The recently introduced EU regulation on traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms and the traceability of food and feed products produced from genetically modified organisms (Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003) provides the framework for implementing GM traceability systems in Europe. If a regulation such as traceability has to be implemented, it is essential that the competent authority who is responsible for the implementation and enforcement has access to the necessary tools and the output of the experimental data has to be used in the framework of the European legislation.This situation underlines the urgent need to construct the scientific and technological basis that is needed to meet the challenges raised by the foreseen extension of GMOs in the Slovenian and EU market. Despite the potential benefits of GM crops, there is also concern over the possible environmental and agronomic impacts if the transgenes 'escape' and become established in natural or agricultural ecosystems. Slovenia is characterised by large geographical diversity which results in the distribution and size of farm lands, that are in most parts characterized by very small size. The objectives of the proposed research work are to develop technical guidelines for establishment the system of traceability and efficient sampling scheme for specific conditions of relative small field size, from the field to the point where the sample is taken for the analysis. Existing and experimental information gained from this study on gene flow of the GM crops targeted will be collated and synthesised, points of reducing risks during the various post-field phases from field to the store will be identified and evaluated. Appropriate molecular tools for tracing and detection of GM crops will be applied and validated.
