Economic aspects and the impact of EU policies on GM crop production, an overview

The Genomic Misconception of Transgenesis is a major source of erroneous decisions in the regulation of GM crops. The difference between GMand non-GM-crops on the level of molecular processes has been overestimated. These misunderstandings grew due of politically motivated fear-mongering. In the wake of molecular breeding, the uncontested understanding among many scientists and in particular for people working in the risk assessment community was that GM crops pose by principle some novel risks, unprecedented compared to conventionally bred crops. This view has then unfortunately been taken up in the United Nations Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety without scientific scrutiny, this needs to be questioned in certain basic aspects. In the 15 years of worldwide commercialization GM crops have proven save, even safer than conventional crops. Many leading researchers like Nobel Laureate Werner Arber, based on detailed molecular insights and on his own innovative experience in genetic engineering claim that related to molecular processes there is no difference between genetically engineered and natural mutation. The United States and Canada are contradicting clearly the European and unfortunately also the view of UN agencies. But this transatlantic divide is artificial and built on political views rather than scientific knowledge. The dividing views could be solved with some more innovative regulatory proceedings. The Cartagena Protocol risk assessment concept needs to be amended in the view of basic scientific molecular biology insights, also confirmed in the last years again with genomic analysis of transcriptomic facts. Reference Ammann K (20110903) Review: Genomic Misconception of Transgenesis, The difference between GMand non-GM-crops on the level of molecular processes has been overestimated. In ASK-FORCE contribution, Vol. AF-9, pp 57. Ammann K, Neuchatelhttp://www.ask-force.org/web/AF-9-Differences-GM-non-GM-crops/AF-9-Genomic-Misconception-20110903-opensource.pdf. L13.2