2-Plants: GE beans may neutralise transgenic debate

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TITLE:  Beans May Neutralise Transgenic Debate
SOURCE: Inter Press Service, by Mario Osava
        http://ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=23633
DATE:   6 May 2004

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Beans May Neutralise Transgenic Debate

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 6 (IPS) - The heated debate about genetically
modified organisms in Brazil just might escape the dead end it had
entered with the transgenic soybean controversy, that is, if all goes
well with a genetically modified version of a kidney-type bean that is
currently undergoing field tests.

It is the first time that such a broad and meticulous study is being
conducted of a genetically modified (GM) crop, and includes analysis of
soils and microogranisms to determine whether they suffer changes as a
result of the presence of altered beans.

This approach is a novelty in the world. "Europe is still debating how to
conduct an evaluation" of the environmental impacts of the new
technology, Norma Gouvea Rumjanek, biochemist at the agro-biology centre
of the state-run Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, EMBRAPA,
told IPS.

Beginning this week, she has been collecting soil samples at the EMBRAPA
rice and bean experimental fields in Santo Antonio de Goias, in western
Brazil, where three weeks ago researchers planted 1,500 conventional and
transgenic bean plants in order to compare their development and effects
on the environment.

The new bean has been genetically modified to be resistant to golden
mosaic, the disease that takes the heaviest toll on Brazil's bean crop. A
gene from the disease-causing virus itself has been introduced into the
bean "with a modification intended to fool the virus," says Francisco
Aragao, a coordinator of the transgenic bean project.

The gene produces a protein that does not function for the virus, but the
virus "thinks that it is indeed its protein," and in incorporating it is
rendered harmless, Aragao, EMBRAPA expert in genetic and biotechnology
resources, explained to IPS.

This technology can also be applied to the tomato, which suffers the same
disease as the bean. "And now that we learned how to genetically modify
the bean, which is more complex than soybean, we hope to also add a gene
to make it more resistant against drought," Aragao said.

But now the bean that is resistant to golden mosaic must pass the field
tests for biosafety, and to determine whether it repeats in the field the
characteristics that were recorded under laboratory conditions.

Soil analysis during the cultivation of the crop will indicate whether
the genetic modification has any effect on the microorganisms and other
species -- like worms and insects -- that are important for the nutrition
and health of the plants and the soil, said biochemist Rumjanek.

No effects on these living organisms in the soil are expected, but if
they do occur it is because there is an unwanted alteration in the bean plant.

The introduced gene is well known -- that is not the problem -- but in
the genetic modification process "there isn't control over where the gene
is inserted," she admitted.

The scientists will also study whether the beans maintain their
metabolism, particularly their ability to absorb and fix nitrogen from
the air. That is a characteristic also present in soybeans. It is
important to maintain nitrogen levels as a means of saving on fertiliser.

These analyses, entrusted to the agro-biology centre, form part of a
broader effort by the EMBRAPA system, which is made up of 40 research
units distributed throughout the country, to evaluate and ensure the
biosafety of transgenic products. Some 600 researchers were involved in
the overall project.

There are numerous genetic engineering projects under way involving
Brazil's leading crops. Some of the achievements have been limited to the
laboratory, but so far the country's environmental authorities have
authorised field studies only for transgenic bean and papaya varieties.

However, the precautions taken in the field experiments and the
assessments of those two cases did not quell the criticisms from those
who reject all genetically modified products due to potential threats to
the environment and human health.

The question cannot be restricted to its "biological aspects, effects on
soil, insects microorganisms and pollen," says David Hathaway, a
consultant to non-governmental organisations involved in the transgenics
debate.

"It is essential to consider two other dimensions: the alternatives like
organic farming and the socio-economic impacts," he told IPS.

Before approving the golden mosaic-resistant bean for commercial use,
alternatives that are economically viable and with lesser environmental
impact should be considered, such as using biological controls to
eradicate the white fly, which transmits the virus, or other forms of
developing resistance against the disease -- or even finding ways to live
with it, Hathaway said.

Furthermore, he said, this form of biotechnology usually involves the
payment of patent rights and reliance on genes and technologies from
abroad, with their added costs and strict conditions, such as the ban on
farmers producing their own seeds from the plants grown from patented
transgenic seeds, he added.

The critic of genetically modified crops nevertheless recognised the
broad and detailed testing effort being carried out in the case of the
transgenic bean as "an advance, though insufficient."

The researchers hope to get past the confrontational attitudes that the
debate has produced. The transgenic soybean developed by the U.S.
multinational Monsanto is today "more of a legal question" than an
environmental or health issue, said EMBRAPA biochemist Rumjanek.

She was referring to the widespread illegal planting of genetically
modified soybeans in southern Brazil, which was later authorised by
exceptional legislation in 2003. Soybeans are a leading Brazilian export,
and the vast majority of the crop produced in the south is from
genetically modified seed, much of which has been smuggled in from
Paraguay or Argentina.

But the kidney-type bean is a product widely consumed in Brazil,
especially amongst the poorer segments of society, and genetic
modification of that crop only emerged after it became evident that
traditional means of improvement -- such as cross breeding -- did not
improve resistance against golden mosaic disease, said Aragao.

After unsuccessful experiments with 45,000 units of different beans, both
wild and domesticated, genetic engineering emerged as an essential tool
for improving this crop, said the EMBRAPA biotech expert.




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