Feasibility of new breeding techniques for organic farming

Andersen, Martin Marchman; Landes, Xavier; Xiang, Wen; Anyshchenko, Artem; Falhof, Janus; Østerberg, Jeppe Thulin; Olsen, Lene Irene; Edenbrandt, Anna Kristina; Vedel, Suzanne Elizabeth; Thorsen, Bo Jellesmark; Sandøe, Peter; Gamborg, Christian; Kappel, Klemens; Palmgren, Michael G.

doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2015.04.011

Cited by 95 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 90 publications

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“…Most claims for the integration, uptake and acceptance of GM into organic agriculture are based on the assumptions that: (1) organic farming has unacceptably low yields; (2) that these techniques can improve the yields of organic farming; (3) these techniques are the best way to improve yields and; and (4) yields are the main aspect of interest [21,[41][42][43]. These assumptions ignore the range of scientific evidence challenging the claims related to organic vs. conventional yields [44][45][46] and directly collide with the multidimensional values that shape and define organic farming [47,48].…”

Section: Gm Use In Organics? the Framing Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

Should Organic Agriculture Maintain Its Opposition to GM? New Techniques Writing the Same Old Story

2016

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Abstract:Biotechnology is diversifying rapidly through the development and application of new approaches to genome editing and ongoing research into synthetic biology. Proponents of biotechnology are enthusiastic about these new developments and have recently begun calling for environmental movements to abandon their campaigns against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and for organic agriculture to reconsider its exclusion of Genetic Modification (GM). In this article, we begin by describing the diversity of practices that cluster under both the terms GM and organic and show that although there is a clash of different cultures of agriculture at stake, there is also a spectrum of practices existing between these two poles. Having established the terms of the debate, we then go on to analyse whether the organic movement should reconsider its position on GM in light of new plant breeding techniques (NPBTs), using the criteria highlighted as important by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) in their 2016 draft revised position on GMOs. Through this analysis, we suggest that given the in-context-trajectory of biotechnology development, the continued narrow framing of agricultural problems and the ongoing exclusion of important socio-economic, political and cultural dimensions, the organic movement is justified in maintaining its opposition to GM in the face of NPBTs.

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Section: Gm Use In Organics? the Framing Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

Should Organic Agriculture Maintain Its Opposition to GM? New Techniques Writing the Same Old Story

2016

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“…The new generation of genome editing technologies could empower local initiatives and responsive creation of varieties that may result in a more pragmatic way of using genetic technologies. As suggested recently and maybe counterintuitively (SCNAT 2013; Kahane et al 2013;Jacobsen et al 2013;Andersen et al 2015;Palmgren et al 2015;Jacobsen et al 2015), the potential of modern plant breeding might be best exploited if associated with low-input systems such as organic or agro-ecological farming.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetically modified crops in Switzerland: implications for agrosystem sustainability evidenced by multi-criteria model

Wohlfender-Bühler

Feusthuber

Wager

et al. 2016

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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In Switzerland, genetically modified (GM) crops have been banned in 2005 and have never been used in agriculture. The relevance and sustainability of genetically modified crops for agrosystems have been assessed following a mandate from the Swiss Parliament defined by the Federal Act on Agriculture (187d al.1). For that, an ex ante study based on a multi-criteria decision analysis model that summarises literature and the opinion of experts has been done.The impacts of genetically modified crops on both environmental and socio-economical sustainability in Switzerland have been assessed. Here, we review four model crops for Swiss agriculture: maize, sugar beet, potato and apple. Each crop was compared for both conventional and genetically modified farming systems that contain a specific trait, namely insecticide production (Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)), herbicide tolerance (HT), fungal resistance (FR), or bacterial resistance (BR). Results show that six out of seven scenarios showed a lower socio-economical sustainability for genetically modified compared to the conventional systems, whereas a slight improvement in the environmental component, mostly resources use, was observed in all scenarios. In conclusion, our work indicates that only carefully tailored and designed genetically modified crops would meet the high standard of requirements of Swiss agrosystems. Our model has thus allowed a quick diagnostic on the impact of genetically modified cultivation on sustainability.

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“…The so-called sustainable intensification of agricultural production is necessary including better agricultural practices, soil and water management, and species improvement (Bruce et al, 2013;Rinaldo and Ayliffe, 2015). It has been suggested that GMOs could contribute to achieve this (Bruce et al, 2013;Liu et al, 2013;Fichtner et al, 2014;Andersen et al, 2015).…”

Section: Genome Editing Using Sdns: An Outlookmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genome Editing with Engineered Nucleases in Economically Important Animals and Plants: State of the Art in the Research Pipeline

2017

Current Issues in Molecular Biology

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Feasibility of new breeding techniques for organic farming

Cited by 95 publications

References 90 publications

Should Organic Agriculture Maintain Its Opposition to GM? New Techniques Writing the Same Old Story

Should Organic Agriculture Maintain Its Opposition to GM? New Techniques Writing the Same Old Story

Genetically modified crops in Switzerland: implications for agrosystem sustainability evidenced by multi-criteria model

Genome Editing with Engineered Nucleases in Economically Important Animals and Plants: State of the Art in the Research Pipeline

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