Download Research in Green Genetic Engineering Is Indispensable

Research in Green Genetic Engineering Is Indispensable
For Freedom of Research and Field Trials – Strengthen German
Research –
DFG and DLG Issue Memorandum
13 May 2009
Science and business in Germany demand more reliable legal and political
frameworks and a more open social climate in order to be able to better
exploit the opportunities offered by green genetic engineering. With this
objective, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research
Foundation) and the Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft (German
Agricultural Society, DLG) released a joint memorandum on 13 May in
Berlin, which brings the position of research into green genetic
engineering in Germany back to centre stage. Research programmes
carried out in this highly promising field were being more and more
seriously affected by misguided political decisions, such as the current ban
on growing genetically modified maize, and by the illegal destruction of
field trials. "Scientists at universities, public research institutions and in
medium-sized businesses therefore find themselves increasingly
compelled to restrict their research projects in the area of green genetic
engineering or to abandon them entirely. There is a danger that this will
mean an important research direction in Germany will be lost," argue the
DFG and the DLG.
The memorandum, a response to an initiative of the DFG Senate
Commission on Substances and Resources in Agriculture and the DLG,
calls emphatically for a change in current policy. "Politicians and society at
large should have a strong interest in Germany also assuming a leading
position in research into green genetic engineering again, so that it is able
to fulfil its responsibilities in the international community." This is the only
way to allow the enormous potentials of green genetic engineering to be
exploited for supplying humanity with sufficient healthy foods,
environmentally friendly energy generation and for overcoming climate
change.
At the presentation of the memorandum the President of the DFG,
Professor Matthias Kleiner, emphasised the significance of basic research
for the utilisation of green genetic engineering. At the same time Kleiner
expressed his support for more field trials. “In order to continue to take
full advantage of the genetic potential of our crops, what is needed above
all is basic research that can call on the entire repertoire of modern
cultivation methods - not only in the laboratory, but also outdoors. In
order to learn how plants behave under real conditions, field trials are
indispensable," said the DFG President. Science carries a particular
responsibility when it comes to the assessment of the opportunities and
risks of green genetic engineering, and especially the release of
genetically modified organisms, he continued. "This high level of
DFG
responsibility is something our scientists are fully aware of, and they take
it very seriously," Kleiner stressed. This sense of responsibility, however,
must be matched by an equivalent amount of freedom. "Responsibility
and freedom are inextricably linked in basic research." Freedom of
research should not be allowed to fall victim to election campaigns; rather
scientists should be encouraged in their freedom to do research and have
their basic rights reinforced. The DFG President explicitly welcomed the
"Round Table" proposed by the German Federal Ministry of Education and
Research on the science and policy aspects of green genetic engineering:
"I hope that this will keep the discussion on a factual level and that the
politicians responsible will follow the arguments of the scientific
community on this issue."
DLG Präsident Carl Albrecht Bartmer, with a view to the continuous
growth of the world population, referred to the necessity of increasing the
productivity of agricultural land. This is an urgent requirement, in his
view, because the fertile agricultural areas available worldwide could only
be increased by an insignificant amount, and due to climatic effects their
yield capacity would change. "We must learn the lessons of Lampedusa
and face the challenge of global nutrition, even here in abundant
Germany," emphasised the DLG President. Numeric and economic growth
in the world population would also have an energy-related component.
Biomass would create additional degrees of freedom in the sustainable
energy mixture of the future. Also, industrial demand for raw materials
based on plants would clearly increase. For Bartmer, these are all facts
which are already triggering a challenging demand dynamic in themselves.
All three aspects occurring together would clearly intensify the situation.
"Shortages on world agricultural markets are therefore to be expected."
The responsibility assumed by the utilisation of progress and innovation
and by research funding are therefore of a geopolitical dimension.
"Germany and Europe, privileged by their know-how, land and climate,
but above all by a highly qualified and innovative agriculture and food
industry, bear a special responsibility here," emphasised Bartmer.
The development biologist and Nobel Prize recipient for medicine,
Professor Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, from Tübingen, expressed concern
during the presentation of the memorandum over the consequences of
current political decisions on green genetic engineering and research in
Germany. In particular, the ban on the release of genetically modified
maize sends "a frightening message". The basis of the release embargo is
based upon unrealistic tests, the scientist argued. On the contrary, there
had been numerous studies funded by the EU, the DFG and the German
Federal Ministry of Education and Research which had established that
there was no threat to people or the natural environment from genetically
modified maize. Now the fear is that many innovative researchers will turn
their backs on Germany. "Research is international, and restrictions in this
country certainly do not prevent progress worldwide, but in fact they shut
German researchers as well as plant breeders out of international
competition," underlined Nüsslein-Volhard: "The pioneering role of
Germany in plant breeding, which represents a large amount of potential,
DFG
and thereby capital of our country, is seriously endangered." In the
opinion of the Nobel laureate, the current situation of green genetic
engineering resembles that of genetic engineering in medicine 25 years
ago. Even in this initial phase of “red” genetic engineering, many
researchers had left Germany following irrational political decisions, and
pharmaceutical companies had shifted jobs abroad. "In the meantime
reason has broken out in the application of genetic engineering in
medicine. But instead of learning from the mistakes, they are repeated,"
argued Nüsslein-Volhard.
"Germany is dependent on innovations and lives off high-technology
products as well as the rapid transfer of research results from science to
business." This point was highlighted by Dr. Arend Oetker. At the same
time the president of the Donors´ Association for the Promotion of Science
and Humanities made clear that in the "High-tech Strategy for Germany",
innovation expertise from both business and science is combined. A faster
transfer into practice and better products would be the result. Strategies
for improving the position of Germany in relation to the international
competition are crucial foundations for the country’s economic and social
prosperity. In his view, hindering the practical application of green genetic
engineering and the reservations and fears stirred up by many politicians
vis-à-vis green genetic engineering would present substantial obstacles to
these demands for innovation. "Especially now, in times of the gravest
economic crisis in 80 years, we stand emphatically against this position."
With a view to the consumer benefits, products of green genetic
engineering are under development that are predicted to come on to the
market in the next ten years. These include, for example, improved
nutrient compounds (proteins, amino acids, vitamins, etc.), the
elimination of undesirable characteristics (allergens, bitter agents, toxins,
etc.) as well as the improvement of shelf life/storage stability. For him, PR
work with regard to the wider public is essential. Dr. Arend Oetker sees
the necessity of a communication process appropriate to different targetgroups in strengthening these relationships, which should begin in the
schools and universities. This is essential in his view, so that innovations
can be driven forward in all areas of research. "This is central to the
security of the German economy, and to maintaining our prosperity."
DFG