1. Genetic modification for disease resistance: a position paper
- Author
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Jean B. Ristaino, Lise Korsten, David Grzywacz, Serge Savary, Peter Scott, Richard N. Strange, Jennifer A. Thomson, Plant Pathology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, University of Greenwich, AGroécologie, Innovations, teRritoires (AGIR), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College of London [London] (UCL), North Carolina State University, Center for High Performance Simulation and Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, and University of Pretoria [South Africa]
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,S1 ,[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio] ,Developing country ,Development ,01 natural sciences ,Plant breeding ,Developing countries ,[SHS]Humanities and Social Sciences ,03 medical and health sciences ,Biosafety ,Economics ,2. Zero hunger ,Disease resistance ,Food security ,business.industry ,food and beverages ,Plant disease ,Biotechnology ,030104 developmental biology ,Risk analysis (engineering) ,Multinational corporation ,Agriculture ,Genetic modification ,Genetic engineering ,[SDE]Environmental Sciences ,Objective approach ,Position paper ,business ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,010606 plant biology & botany ,Food Science - Abstract
This Position Paper was prepared by members of the Task Force on Global Food Security of the International Society for Plant Pathology. An objective approach is proposed to the assessment of the potential of genetic modification (GM) to reduce the impact of crop diseases. \ud \ud The addition of GM to the plant breeder’s conventional toolbox facilitates gene-by-gene introduction into breeding programmes of well defined characters, while also allowing access to genes from a greatly extended range of organisms. The current status of GM crops is outlined. GM could make an additional contribution to food security but its potential has been controversial, sometimes because of fixed views that GM is unnatural and risky. These have no factual basis: GM technology, where adopted, is widely regulated and no evidence has been reported of adverse consequences for human health. \ud \ud The potential benefits of GM could be particularly valuable for the developing world but there are numerous constraints. These include cost, inadequate seed supply systems, reluctance to adopt unfamiliar technology, concern about markets, inadequacy of local regulatory systems, mismatch between research and growers’ needs, and limited technical resources. The lower cost of new gene-editing methods should open the practice of GM beyond multinational corporations. As yet there are few examples of utilization of GM-based resistance to plant diseases.\ud \ud Two cases, papaya ringspot virus and banana xanthomonas wilt, are outlined. In the developing world there are many more potential cases whose progress is prevented by the absence of adequate biosafety regulation. \ud \ud It is concluded that there is untapped potential for using GM to introduce disease resistance. An objective approach to mobilizing this potential is recommended, to address the severe impact of plant disease on food security.
- Published
- 2016