Key Issues and Information Resources - Food Safety and Biotechnology

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	Agri-food Production and Bio-diversity
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KEY ISSUES AND INFORMATION SOURCES -
Food Safety and Biotechnology

Modern biotechnology has great potential to contribute to human well being. Various food crops have been genetically modified for greater productivity or nutritional value, or for resistance to pests or diseases. Common examples include tomatoes, grains, cassava, corn, and soybeans. However, the use of biotechnology in seed development raises questions about possible contamination of non-GMO species. There is also growing public concern about the potential risks of biotechnology to human health and the environment. These concerns affect the future development of agri-food production.

There is growing pressure for the international community to take action to create credible and effective safeguards for humans and the environment. This requires a better understanding of the numerous issues, which can be facilitated by open dialogue and communication.

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Information resources provided by various stakeholders:

Committee on Environmental Impacts Associated with Commercialization of Transgenic Plants, Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources, National Research Council, U.S.A.

New Report - Environmental Effects of Transgenic Plants: The Scope and Adequacy of Regulation has been published by the Committee

Organisation web site: http://www.nationalacademies.org/nrc/.

Specific pages of interest:

http://www.nap.edu/books/0309082633/html/ - Transgenic crops offer the promise of increased agricultural productivity and better quality foods. But they could also raise a variety of harmful environmental effects. In this new report, a panel of experts examines: (1) similarities and differences between crops developed by conventional and transgenic methods; (2) potential for commercialized transgenic crops to change both agricultural and nonagricultural landscapes; and (3) how well the U.S. government is regulating transgenic crops to avoid any negative effects. Environmental Effects of Transgenic Plants, the report from the National Academies' National Research Council, provides information mainly about transgenic processes, previous experience with the introduction of novel crops, principles of risk assessment and management, the science behind current regulatory schemes and issues in monitoring transgenic products already on the market. This report suggests that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has substantially improved its regulation of transgenic plants, but the process could be improved further by soliciting greater public input, enhancing scientific peer review, and more clearly presenting the data and methods behind regulatory decisions. It emphasises that the public should be more involved in the review process and that ecological testing and monitoring should continue after transgenic plants have entered the marketplace. It provides a detailed road map for the federal government to follow as it reinforces its assessment of environmental risks.

FAO’s COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

is a permanent forum where governments discuss and negotiate matters relevant to genetic resources for food and agriculture. The main objectives of the CGRFA are to ensure the conservation and sustainable utilisation of genetic resources for food and agriculture, as well the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their use, for present and future generations. The Commission aims to reach international consensus on areas of global interest, through negotiations.

Organisation web site: http://www.fao.org/ag/cgrfa/default.htm.

FAO’s ELECTRONIC FORUM ON BIOTECHNOLOGY IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

provides an open forum that allows a wide range of parties, including governmental and non-governmental organisations, policy makers and the general public, to discuss and exchange views and experiences about specific issues concerning biotechnology in food and agriculture for developing countries. This is done through a series of e-mail conferences, each lasting two months, on specific topics, for which background papers (before the conferences) and summary documents (after) will be produced.

Organisation web site: http://www.fao.org/biotech/forum.htm.

Specific pages of interest:

http://www.fao.org/biotech/Conf5.htm - Here, you can find the report about the fifteenth session of the FAO’s committee on agriculture held in 1999 which focused on biotechnology.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA)

is one of three Federal Agencies, along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), primarily responsible for regulating biotechnology in the United States. Products are regulated according to their intended use, with some products being regulated under more than one agency.

Organisation web site: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/biotech/.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

aims to attain the highest level of health by all peoples.

Organisation web site: http://www.who.int/.

Specific pages of interest:

http://www.who.int/fsf/ - The WHO runs a Food Safety Programme which is involved in several activities ranging from education, collaboration with NGOs and technical collaboration with member states. Its site also provides useful links and contacts related to food safety.

FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE (FSIS)

is the public health agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is responsible for ensuring that the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labelled and packaged, as required by the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act.

Organisation web site: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/.

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE MOVEMENTS (IFOAM)

IFOAM represents the worldwide movement of organic agriculture and provides a platform for global exchange and cooperation. It is committed to a holistic approach in the development of organic farming systems including maintenance of a sustainable environment and respect for the need of humanity.

Organisation web site: http://www.ifoam.org.

INTERNATIONAL FOOD INFORMATION COUNCIL FOUNDATION

The purpose of this organisation is to bridge the gap between science and communications. It does this by collecting and disseminating scientific information on food safety, nutrition and health and by working with an extensive roster of scientific experts to help translate research into understandable and useful information for opinion leaders, and ultimately, consumers.

Organisation web site: http://www.ific.org/.

Specific pages of interest:

http://www.ific.org/publications/brochures.vtml - On its site you can find information and publications on biotechnology. In particular, the article (part of the "Food Insight" publication) "Food Biotechnology - Benefits for Developing Countries", describes the Food Biotechnology Resource Kit. This kit is a compilation of backgrounders on food biotechnology topics, product benefits, consumer attitudes, federal safeguards and labelling and the environment. Information has been updated to address the most recent government regulatory issues and the latest information on food biotechnology. The kit also includes positions of other leading health professional organisations along with an extensive resource list.

AGBIOWORLD

Agbioworld is principally a volunteer-driven organization that receives the vast majority of small operating budget from individual contributions. Volunteers and financial supporters are principally comprised of academics, independent scientists, and non-profit researchers. To date, Agbioworld has received no corporate funding for initiatives and has committed to keeping the majority of funding sources to individual contributors. This web site makes a series of claims regarding bioengineered crops that is not supported by the depth and breadth of extensive scientific and economic data collected in laboratory tests, field trials and commercial cultivation over the past two decades. The following report from the AgBioWorld Foundation is a point-by-point refutation of those assertions.

Organisation web site: http://www.agbioworld.org/.

CROPLIFE INTERNATIONAL

is the recognised world-wide representative of the Crop Protection Industry. Its network comprises of six Regional Associations: Africa/Middle-East, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Japan, Latin America and North America. These in turn encompass the national associations of their regions. It provides information and technical guidelines on effective and safe use and handling of crop protection products. It also provides information on water quality monitoring, risk assessment, etc.

Organisation web site: http://www.croplife.org.

FOOD AND DRINK FEDERATION FOODFUTURE PROGRAMME

aims to inform consumers and improve public understanding of genetic modification. The programme initiates a wider discussion of the technology, the perceived benefits and disadvantages as well as the ethical and moral concerns.

Organisation web site: http://www.foodfuture.org.uk/index.htm.

DEPARTMENT OF NUTRITION AND FOOD MANAGEMENT of the Oregon State University

manages the Food Resources web site. You can find lots of links and contacts related to the food sector about organisation, associations, products and relevant issues.

Organisation web site: http://osu.orst.edu/food-resource/index.html.

Specific pages of interest:

http://osu.orst.edu/food-resource/safety/safety.html - Here, you can find links to food safety information resources.

CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY (CFS)

Established by the International Center for Technology Assessment (CTA) , the CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY (CFS) is a public interest and environmental advocacy organisation which works to address the impacts of the food production system on human health, animal welfare and the environment. On its web site you can find a detailed analysis of the primary areas of concern including Genetically Modified Organisms.

Organisation web site: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/.

GATEWAY TO GOVERNMENT FOOD SAFETY INFORMATION

This web site provides information on national food safety initiatives and links to different US federal and state governmental agencies. It also provides industry assistance and food safety news for consumers and educators.

Organisation web site: http://www.foodsafety.gov/.

FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY

was set up to ensure food safety and to offer independent, balanced advice. Its site was developed according to the input and questions collected from the users so that it provides the information the public need to feel confident about the food they eat.

Organisation web site: http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/.