Wary of negative public reaction and
export market collapse, America has never pursued the
commercialisation of GM wheat.
However, the recent US Department of
Agriculture (USDA) decision that gene-edited crops are somehow not
genetically engineered [1], has opened the door to the development of
new-GM wheat.
Second in the pipeline* is a
'nutritionally-enhanced' wheat. The added 'nutrition' is extra fibre
which seems to be there to replace the fibre extracted during food
manufacturing processes. Paradoxically, high-fibre new-GM wheat
seems to be aimed at the health-conscious consumer, the sector least
likely to want it.
Early in the new-GM game, there was 'a
feeling' that GM-wary areas like the EU and Japan, would accept
gene-editing. This has turned out to be wishful thinking [2].
No information on the safety of new-GM
high-fibre wheat has been revealed. However, fibre is part of the
plant's complex carbohydrate metabolism and the potential for
unexpected, unhealthy GM-generated by-products is high. There is a
real risk of damage to human health, environmental disruption, and
increased crop susceptibility to disease and pests.
Despite GM wheat never having been
anywhere near commercialisation, field trials have been on-going
since 1998. In that time, there have been at least three GM wheat
contamination incidents in America, while Canada is just recovering
from a costly wheat import ban by Japan after rogue GM wheat was
found in a ditch in Alberta. Trials of this experimental wheat had
taken place in the early 2000s, at a location 300 kilometres distant
from the contaminated site. The cause of this gene escape is
unknown. Widespread gene flow from any new-GM variety is inevitable.
However, even without any safety
testing , commercialising any cultivar typically requires lengthy
trials and time to ramp up seed supplies,. The fibre-boosted GM
wheat isn't going to appear in shops any time soon.
OUR COMMENT
High-fibre novel wheat seems to be
another GM answer to a health problem caused by modern human food
production practice in the first place.
History has shown that the genetic
pollution of wheat, a staple crop, is inevitable and may be
crippling. Safety of the new-GM wheat with its disturbed
carbohydrate content is not even being considered.
Another food to watch out for
post-Brexit.
Background
[1] GMOs ARE NOT GMOs IN AMERICA -
September 2018
[2] COURT RULES: GENE EDITING IS GM -
September 2018
SOURCES:
- Mateusz Perkowski, High-fiber, gene-edited wheat cleared for commercialization, Capital Press 5.04.1
- Amanda Stephenson, The mysterious case of Alberta's rogue GMO wheat: Could it happen again? Calgary Herald, 30.07.18
CC photo conventional wheat: © pacoespinoza • photography on Flickr
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