Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
full-scale production on 1,000 hectares. 29 The gene for the enzyme lipase
was derived from dogs and the product is intended to be used for treating
Cystic Fibrosis.
Pharma-Planta, a research consortium under the European Com-
mission's 6th Framework Programme, is pioneering academic research
activities in partnership with a small number of firms. 30 The European
Technology Platform “Plants for the Future,” which is advising the Euro-
pean Commission on research topics for the upcoming 7th Framework
Programme, 31 set a particular focus on industrial crops, including molec-
ular farming. 32 These activities have very recently brought molecular
farming into the radar of EU regulators and risk assessors.
WhyRisksMightDifferfromFirst-GenerationGMCrops
In principle, most of the potential risks discussed for first-generation GM
crops 33 apply to molecular farming as well. Nevertheless, three reasons
are suggested here as to why risks associated with molecular farming
could have different characteristics:
29 D. Burtin, Presentation in the course of the IPTS Workshop 'Molecular farming in
plants - opportunities and challenges': Recombinant Gastric Lipase, Antibodies, and
Allergen Production in Transgenic Plants., June 19, 2006; according to most recent
information Meristem Therapeutics has ceased its operational activities for financial
reasons and it remains unclear whether at all and how development of their flagship
product, the dog lipase from maize, will continue.
30 See www.pharma-planta.org.
31 EU Technology Platforms are led by industry and serve as frameworks for stakehold-
ers, to define research and development priorities, timeframes, and action plans on
a number of strategically important issues where achieving Europe's future growth,
competitiveness, and sustainability objectives is dependent upon major research and
technological advances in the medium to long term. The European Technology Plat-
form “Plants for the Future” is coordinated by European Plant Science Organisations
and EuropaBio and is advising the European Commission on biotechnology and plant
genomics.
32 Plants for the Future: Input to the European Commission online consultation to
FP7 by the Technology Platform (October 2004), www.epsoweb.org/Catalog/TP/
TP FP7 1.pdf.
33 Mostly herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant crops.
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