Sunday Evening News 404 - Week 49 - 2024
Weekly report on genetic engineering, genome editing, biotechnology and legal regulation.
November 2024-12-02 - 2024-12-08
Prof. Dr Dr hc. Ingo Potrykus had his 91st birthday on 5 December 2024. The WGG congratulated the father of Golden Rice on his birthday and his life's work.
I copy below the geetings from Adrian Dubock, Executive Secretary, Golden Rice Humanitarian Board
Happy birthday!
You have written: “.. had I known what this pursuit would entail, perhaps I would not have started.” 1
And you started to think about practical aspects of food security almost 65 years ago. 2
The UN also committed, almost 70 years ago, and subsequently 2 & 3 to commit to overcoming vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and other micronutrient deficiencies:
1958: UN’s WHO & US NIH meeting on combatting VAD.
1990: UN World Summit for Children.
1992: UN International Conference on Nutrition.
2000: The UN’s Millennium Development Goals, 1990 – 2015.
2004: the UN’s UNICEF & Micronutrient Initiative Report ‘Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency’.
2015: The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 2015 – 2030.
2021: The UN’s Global Nutrition Report: The state of global nutrition.
2023: The UN’s WHO’s World Health Assembly Resolution to accelerate food micronutrient fortification.
And yet, published in 2022: "We estimate that over half of preschool‐aged children and two‐thirds of non‐pregnant women of reproductive age worldwide have micronutrient deficiencies”4 And yet: ‘In 2019, 890 million children suffered from VAD in LMICs, including almost 334 million with severe VAD.’ And ‘about 33% of <5y have VAD, contributing to 2% of <5y deaths.’ 5
People are beginning to understand that repeating the same actions while expecting different outcomes is unproductive6.
As a result, many now recognize that chemical supplementation and chemical fortification are insufficient, alone, to overcoming VAD and other micronutrient deficiencies .
Biofortification, especially with organically coloured crops like Golden Rice, are crucial complements to reach whole populations.
In LMICs where rice is the staple, both you, Ingo, and the UN, are on the cusp of success, when people of influence act on that recognition, rather than only acknowledging it.
At no greater cost than white rice to growers, communities and consumers, Golden Rice, ‘GR + 3’ and ‘GR + 5’ are the future2 to overcoming micronutrient malnutrition.
I invite all recipients of this birthday greeting to also celebrate, with you and I, that you didn’t know what your ‘pursuit would entail’ in the 1960s!
Best wishes,
Adrian
1 Abstract in Potrykus, I., 2014, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-043014-114734
2 Figure 8 in Dubock, A., 2024. https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v12i10.5818
3 Dubock, A., 2019. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84445
4 Stevens, G., et al, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00367-9
5 Song, P., et al , 2023 . https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.13.04084
6 attributed to Einstein, A., but see https://artsandculture.google.com/story/who-really-said-these-5-famous-phrases/JAXh1xsiCEHOqw?hl=en
Please send your birthday greetings to '‘Ingo Potrykus’' ingo@potrykus.ch
Council of EU: AOB item for the meeting of the "Agriculture and Fisheries" Council of 9 and 10 December 2024:
Regulation on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed products: state of play Information from the Presidency
https://www.parlament.gv.at/dokument/XXVIII/EU/5483/imfname_11436372.pdf
AOB item for the meeting of the "Agriculture and Fisheries" Council of 9 and 10 December 2024:
The potential of biotechnology within the agri-food sector Information from Denmark and Spain, supported by Czechia, Estonia, Finland, The Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden
https://www.parlament.gv.at/dokument/XXVIII/EU/5482/imfname_11436374.pdf
Patente / NGT - Patents / NGT
Rechtsgutachten: Rechtliche Möglichkeiten zur Änderung des Patentschutzes von Pflanzen in Deutschland, Europa und im internationalen Recht.
Gutachten im Auftrag der Bundestagsfraktion Bündnis 90 /Die Grünen
vorgelegt von Prof. Dr. Axel Metzger, LL.M. (Harvard), Humboldt-Universität Berlin
Meetings-Veranstaltungen
Saatgut-Tagung 2025: "Ökologische Pflanzenzüchtung und die Herausforderungen unserer Zeit – Die zunehmende
Bedeutung der Resilienz"
https://zukunftsstiftung-landwirtschaft.de/ueber-uns/aktuelles/saatgut-tagung2025/
Press Releases - Media / Presse- und Medienberichte
Bündnis90/Die Grünen: Patente auf Pflanzen können begrenzt werden
OTS: ARGE Gentechnik-frei fordert Rechtssicherheit anstelle einer unausgegorenen Gentechnik-Deregulierung
Crysmann T.: Neues Rechtsgutachten heizt Debae um NGTPatente an
Wecker K.: Wachsende Rechtsunsicherheit für Züchter durch ungeklärte Patentfrage
Informationsdienst Gentechnik: Schweiz: Gentechnik-Weizen darf ins Freie
https://www.keine-gentechnik.de/nachricht/schweiz-gentechnik-weizen-darf-ins-freie
Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH Zürich): Crispr-Cas: die Balance finden zwischen Effizienz und Sicherheit
https://idw-online.de/de/news844147
CRISPR-Cas technology: balancing efficiency and safety
How to navigate Poland’s EU presidency policy agenda like a pro
https://www.politico.eu/article/navigate-poland-european-union-presidency-policy-agenda/
GVO.UK: ACRE advice: variation for a trial of genetically modified potatoes (17/R29/01)
Hess A.: New court ruling overturns USDA rule on genetic engineering plants
Only some selected press releases or media reports are listed here. The daily up-date of the press releases and
media reports are ►here: December week 49
Publications – Publikationen
Wesseler J., Cingiz K., Jin Y., Kardung M., Simonett M. (2024): Report on the repercussions associated with traceability,
labeling, and coexistence requirements for plants obtained by New Genomic Techniques
De Schrijver N., Wijns J., Patrick Rüdelsheim P. (2024): Interpretation of the GMO definition in EU Member States
Exploration of how some elements of the GMO definition are interpreted across European Member States
https://open.overheid.nl/documenten/15f63566-b13f-4b11-a4cf-570e7d9ed83b/file
Defez R., Errigo.C., Formici G., Scaffardi L., Sirsi E., Fornara F., Brambilla V. (2024): The history of GM crops in Italy:
After two decades of a de facto ban, the engagement of farmers and scientists has prompted the Italian government to allow field-testing of NGT/TEA plants again
EMBO Rep. | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44319-024-00330-3
https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.1038/s44319-024-00330-3
Hartung F., Krause D, Sprink T. Ralf W. (2024): Anwendungen der Grünen Gentechnik in der Landwirtschaft: Potenziale und
Risiken, Studien zum deutschen Innovationssystem, No. 5-2024, Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation (EFI), Berlin
https://pure.tugraz.at/ws/portalfiles/portal/83356619/final_report.pdf
Napiórkowski, M., Nowak, A., Biesaga, M. et al. (2024): Narratives in European debate concerning new genomic techniques.
Transgenic Res | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-024-00416-7
Given the complexity of agricultural problems, it is essential to develop acceptable solutions for various stakeholders with diverse knowledge, viewpoints, and preferences. However, European public opinion has become highly polarized, making constructive discussions on these issues difficult. We present the results of the narrative analysis of media debate on new genomic techniques. The study identified two primary narrative groups: ‘precaution-focused’ and ‘innovation-focused.’ The former emphasizes caution, potential risks, and the need for stringent regulation, while the latter highlights benefits, progress, and the promise of genome editing for sustainable agricultural practices. Within each group of narratives, several distinct narratives were identified. The research has revealed that despite the high polarization, the narratives shared important values and beliefs. Going beyond the dividing narratives and concentrating on common values can depolarize the debate and set the stage for new narratives, enabling constructive debate, concentrating on solving problems, and maximizing collective outcomes.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11248-024-00416-7
Ethen, D. Z., Begum, M., Deltomme, B., Rasheduzzaman, Md., Ballesteros, J. F., Abilgos-Ramos, R., … De Steur, H. (2024): Golden
opportunities? How marketing expectations drive purchase intentions of golden rice in Bangladesh and the Philippines. GM Crops & Food 15(1), 316–335 | https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2024.2418161
Golden Rice (GR), genetically modified (GM) rice enriched with provitamin A, holds promise to address micronutrient deficiencies in developing countries. However, its success hinges on market acceptance. This study investigates how the marketing aspects of GR influence consumers’ purchase intentions in Bangladesh and the Philippines. The Expectation Confirmation Theory (ECT) is employed to analyze the role of expectations regarding the marketing mix components (i.e. product, price, place, promotion), risk perceptions, performance expectations, and expected satisfaction on consumers’ purchase intentions. Data from online surveys in Bangladesh (n = 391) and the Philippines (n = 354), collected using convenience sampling, were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings reveal that positive expectations toward the marketing mix, performance, and satisfaction increase consumers’ purchase intention of GR, whereas risk perceptions have a negative influence. Additionally, it was found that expectations toward all four marketing mix components significantly affect purchase intention in Bangladesh. However, only product and promotion have a notable influence in the Philippines. These results emphasize the importance of effectively addressing consumers’ marketing expectations to help ensure a successful implementation. This study is novel as it delves into consumers’ purchase intentions for a GM biofortified crop and their expectations for different aspects of its future marketing (i.e. product, price, place, promotion), performance, and satisfaction. If GR is commercialized, future research should validate these expectations based on actual consumer experiences. Additionally, longitudinal studies could track changes in consumer expectations over time, identifying consistently valued marketing elements and offering a valuable technique for product development before launch.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2024.2418161?src=exp-la#abstract
Baffes J., Etienne X. (2024): Yield growth patterns of food commodities: Insights and challenges.
PLoS ONE 19(11): e0313088. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313088
Understanding global food production and productivity patterns is crucial for policy and investment decisions aimed at addressing poverty, food insecurity, and climate change. This paper develops comprehensive calorific-based production and yield indices for 144 crops, covering 98% of global agricultural land and food output. These indices provide standardized measures across various crops and varieties, facilitating comparison of agricultural productivity and consolidating country and regional contributions to global food production. Utilizing a Box-Cox transformation, we find that a linear model best approximates yield growth. Our findings reveal that, at an aggregate level, there has been no discernable slowdown in global yield growth over the past six decades. This translates into an average annual yield increase equivalent to nearly 33 kilograms of wheat per hectare. These results suggest that any observed deceleration in specific commodities, regions, or countries, has been offset by gains in others. While these findings are reassuring from a global food supply perspective, caution is warranted about the sustainability of production and the affordability of food. These concerns are particularly relevant as global food demand increases due to population and income growth, and as the pressures from climate change intensify. The study underscores the importance of adopting strategic and sustainable agricultural practices to ensure continued food security in the face of evolving global challenges.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0313088
Betz, R., Heidt, S., Figueira-Galán, D. et al. (2024): Alternative splicing regulation in plants by SP7-like effectors from
symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Nat Commun 15, 7107 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-51512-5
Most plants in natural ecosystems associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to survive soil nutrient limitations. To engage in symbiosis, AM fungi secrete effector molecules that, similar to pathogenic effectors, reprogram plant cells. Here we show that the Glomeromycotina-specific SP7 effector family impacts on the alternative splicing program of their hosts. SP7-like effectors localize at nuclear condensates and interact with the plant mRNA processing machinery, most prominently with the splicing factor SR45 and the core splicing proteins U1-70K and U2AF35. Ectopic expression of these effectors in the crop plant potato and in Arabidopsis induced developmental changes that paralleled to the alternative splicing modulation of a specific subset of genes. We propose that SP7-like proteins act as negative regulators of SR45 to modulate the fate of specific mRNAs in arbuscule-containing cells. Unraveling the communication mechanisms between symbiotic fungi and their host plants will help to identify targets to improve plant nutrition.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-51512-5
Feyissa B.A., de Becker E.M., Salesse-Smith C.E., Zhang J. et al. (2024): An orphan gene BOOSTER enhances photosynthetic
efficiency and plant productivity. Developmental Cell | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2024.11.002
Organelle-to-nucleus DNA transfer is an ongoing process playing an important role in the evolution of eukaryotic life. Here, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of non-photochemical quenching parameters in 743 Populus trichocarpa accessions identified a nuclear-encoded genomic region associated with variation in photosynthesis under fluctuating light. The identified gene, BOOSTER (BSTR), comprises three exons, two with apparent endophytic origin and the third containing a large fragment of plastid-encoded Rubisco large subunit. Higher expression of BSTR facilitated anterograde signaling between nucleus and plastid, which corresponded to enhanced expression of Rubisco, increased photosynthesis, and up to 35% greater plant height and 88% biomass in poplar accessions under field conditions. Overexpression of BSTR in Populus tremula × P. alba achieved up to a 200% in plant height. Similarly, Arabidopsis plants heterologously expressing BSTR gained up to 200% in biomass and up to 50% increase in seed.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1534580724006671?via%3Dihub
Palmgren M. and Shabala S. (2024): Adapting crops for climate change: regaining lost abiotic stress tolerance in crops.
Front Sci (2024) 2:1416023. | https://doi.org/10.3389/fsci.2024.1416023
It is often stated that agricultural outputs need to increase substantially to meet the demands for more food posed by a growing population. However, when accounting for climate change, we argue that current projected increases are unrealistic and a more realistic goal would be to maintain yields per area of food production. This will require breeding for crops with increased tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, waterlogging, and high temperatures. This goal can be accomplished in one of two ways: by introducing stress tolerance genes into present high-yielding crops or by increasing the yields of already tolerant orphan crops and/or wild plants. We argue that the first strategy will require easing the restrictions on the use of gene editing technologies and making substantial improvements to cell-based phenotyping to identify the stress tolerance genes available in the gene pool of a crop and its wild relatives. The success of the second strategy will depend on the number of domestication genes that need to be selected for in order to obtain yields comparable to present-day cultivars. It is still too early to conclude which of the two strategies, rewilding (bringing genes lost from wild ancestors back to domesticated crops) or de novo domestication (domesticating resilient wild plants or underutilized crops directly), will be most effective for future sustainable agriculture. However, given the importance of the issue, some rapid action needs to be taken.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/science/articles/10.3389/fsci.2024.1416023/full
Ramos-Madrigal J, Fritz GJ, Schroeder B, et al. (2024): The genomic origin of early maize in eastern North America.
Cell: S0092867424012777. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.11.003
Indigenous maize varieties from eastern North America have played an outsized role in breeding programs, yet their early origins are not fully understood. We generated paleogenomic data to reconstruct how maize first reached this region and how it was selected during the process. Genomic ancestry analyses reveal recurrent movements northward from different parts of Mexico, likely culminating in at least two dispersals from the US Southwest across the Great Plains to the Ozarks and beyond. We find that 1,000-year-old Ozark specimens carry a highly differentiated wx1 gene, which is involved in the synthesis of amylose, highlighting repeated selective pressures on the starch metabolic pathway throughout maize’s domestication. This population shows a close affinity with the lineage that ultimately became the Northern Flints, a major contributor to modern commercial maize.
Hähn, G.J.A., Damasceno, G., Alvarez-Davila, E. et al. (2024): Global decoupling of functional and phylogenetic diversity in
plant communities. Nat Ecol Evol | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-024-02589-0
Plant communities are composed of species that differ both in functional traits and evolutionary histories. As species’ functional traits partly result from their individual evolutionary history, we expect the functional diversity of communities to increase with increasing phylogenetic diversity. This expectation has only been tested at local scales and generally for specific growth forms or specific habitat types, for example, grasslands. Here we compare standardized effect sizes for functional and phylogenetic diversity among 1,781,836 vegetation plots using the global sPlot database. In contrast to expectations, we find functional diversity and phylogenetic diversity to be only weakly and negatively correlated, implying a decoupling between these two facets of diversity. While phylogenetic diversity is higher in forests and reflects recent climatic conditions (1981 to 2010), functional diversity tends to reflect recent and past climatic conditions (21,000 years ago). The independent nature of functional and phylogenetic diversity makes it crucial to consider both aspects of diversity when analysing ecosystem functioning and prioritizing conservation efforts.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-024-02589-0
Cullot G, Aird EJ, Schlapansky MF et al. (2024): Genome editing with the HDR-enhancing DNA-PKcs inhibitor AZD7648
causes large-scale genomic alterations. Nat Biotechnol (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41587-024-02488-6
The DNA-PKcs inhibitor AZD7648 enhances CRISPR–Cas9-directed homology-directed repair efficiencies, with potential for clinical utility, but its possible on-target consequences are unknown. We found that genome editing with AZD7648 causes frequent kilobase-scale and megabase-scale deletions, chromosome arm loss and translocations. These large-scale chromosomal alterations evade detection through typical genome editing assays, prompting caution in deploying AZD7648 and reinforcing the need to investigate multiple types of potential editing outcomes.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-024-02488-6
EFSA
Webinar: Draft guidance on the characterisation and risk assessment of microorganisms used in the food chain
FEZ Panel (2024). Safety evaluation of the food enzyme protein-glutamine γ-glutamyltransferase from the non-genetically modified
Streptomyces mobaraensis strain AE-BTG. EFSA Journal, 22(12), e9083. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9083
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9083