Insuring the safety of foods derived from nutritionally-enhanced plants and animals

Chassy B.M., . (2004) Insuring the safety of foods derived from nutritionally-enhanced plants and animals. [Proceedings Paper]

In recent years the techniques of molecular biology - often called biotechnology - have been used by plant breeders to produce new transgenic plant varieties. These new varieties are intended to improve agricultural yields and/or profitability by conferring resistance to insects and viruses or tolerance to herbicides. New plant varieties developed through biotechnology have been subjected to rigorous pre-market scientific review by government regulators prior to commercialization. The safety assessment strategy applied to transgenic crops is called the Substantial Equivalence paradigm. Almost all of the new crop varieties in use today are intended to produce commodities that are indistinguishable from their conventional counterparts with regard to safety functionality and composition. Although their introduction has not been without controversy these new varieties are planted each year on hundreds of millions of hectares around the world. Agricultural biotechnologists are currently developing food and feed plants with improved nutritional characteristics. Research is also being directed at the production of nutritionally enhanced transgenic animals. These crops and animals will by design have altered chemical composition and nutrient value. It is therefore necessary to determine if the safety assessment principles that were applied to the first commercial transgenic crops can be applied to these new non-equivalent varieties. This paper explores the applicability of the Substantial Equivalence paradigm and a multi-factorial food safety assessment process to nutritionally-enhanced crops. Recently the International Life Sciences Institute ILSI has published a paper that reviews the applicability of present day assessment principles to these new crops. The authors conclude that the Substantial Equivalence paradigm is applicable and no new or unusual safety issues are presented by nutritionally-enhanced crops and animals.

Full text available from:

Abstract

In recent years the techniques of molecular biology - often called biotechnology - have been used by plant breeders to produce new transgenic plant varieties. These new varieties are intended to improve agricultural yields and/or profitability by conferring resistance to insects and viruses or tolerance to herbicides. New plant varieties developed through biotechnology have been subjected to rigorous pre-market scientific review by government regulators prior to commercialization. The safety assessment strategy applied to transgenic crops is called the Substantial Equivalence paradigm. Almost all of the new crop varieties in use today are intended to produce commodities that are indistinguishable from their conventional counterparts with regard to safety functionality and composition. Although their introduction has not been without controversy these new varieties are planted each year on hundreds of millions of hectares around the world. Agricultural biotechnologists are currently developing food and feed plants with improved nutritional characteristics. Research is also being directed at the production of nutritionally enhanced transgenic animals. These crops and animals will by design have altered chemical composition and nutrient value. It is therefore necessary to determine if the safety assessment principles that were applied to the first commercial transgenic crops can be applied to these new non-equivalent varieties. This paper explores the applicability of the Substantial Equivalence paradigm and a multi-factorial food safety assessment process to nutritionally-enhanced crops. Recently the International Life Sciences Institute ILSI has published a paper that reviews the applicability of present day assessment principles to these new crops. The authors conclude that the Substantial Equivalence paradigm is applicable and no new or unusual safety issues are presented by nutritionally-enhanced crops and animals.

[error in script]

Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Available at Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang Selangor Malaysia. mal HD9410.1 A111 2004 vol. 1 Call Number
AGROVOC Term:	PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY
AGROVOC Term:	ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
AGROVOC Term:	FOOD SAFETY
AGROVOC Term:	NUTRIENT IMPROVEMENT
AGROVOC Term:	NUTRITIVE VALUE
AGROVOC Term:	WORLD
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:27
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16354

Actions (login required)

View Item