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GMO: INRA must remain expert
While in the current context INRA does not intend to make available GM plant varieties for sale in France, the Institute strives to remain a major player in the field of plant biotechnologies. Around the world, plant biotechnologies, including GMOs, are a focus of research and innovation. INRA must insure its expertise in this field to contribute to decisions regarding potential requests to market GMOs in Europe; requests which are made by multinationals based on agronomic conditions different to those found on the European market. Through the quality of its research and expertise, INRA must therefore be able to assess the environmental, health, social and economic risks and benefits of these products.
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In 2007 INRA conducted a consultative process and made a number of commitments (1), to:
- Foster scientific knowledge on plant biotechnologies;
- Focus innovation (whether or not it involves transgenesis) on subjects of collective interest aimed at overcoming crucial challenges for agriculture, food and nutrition and the environment;
- Constitute accessible public resources to help public and private users tap into biotechnologies and to preserve a diverse collection of resources;
- Build national capacity for public expert assessments by conducting research to analyze the benefits, impacts and risks of various types of innovation at different levels, whether or not they involve transgenesis;
- Implement principles of parsimony, caution and transparency, dialogue with stakeholders, and national and international cooperation with partners having the same values and objectives.
In this context, a shift from confined trials to field trials of GMO crops will be an option if required to acquire new knowledge, taking all possible measures to prevent dissemination and aimed at information and dialogue with stakeholders. For this reason – to conduct legitimate trials for public research – INRA developed trials using GM vine rootstock in Colmar (2) and poplars in Orléans.
More than ever, we must remain ambitious, competent and true to our values to deliver scientific excellence and solutions for the current and future needs of societies.
Marion Guillou
President
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Label for the news :
News
Date for the news :
2011.03.08
Date of creation : 13/12/2010
Date of last update : 13/12/2010
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