13. Gene-edited organisms should be assessed for sustainability, ethics and societal impacts

A.I. Myhr; B.K. Myskja

13. Gene-edited organisms should be assessed for sustainability, ethics and societal impacts

In: Professionals in food chains

Authors:

A.I. Myhr

A.I. Myhr Genøk-Centre for Biosafety, SIVA Innovation centre, PB 6418, 9294 Tromsø, Norway.

Search for other papers by A.I. Myhr in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

and

B.K. Myskja

B.K. Myskja Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Faculty of Humanities, NTNU, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.

Search for other papers by B.K. Myskja in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 99–103

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-869-8_13

Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

€42.00€35.00 excl. VAT

Add to Cart

Redeem Access Token

A number of new animal and plant breeding techniques (NBTs) has been developed, such as the genome editing technique CRISPR/Cas9. Internationally it is debated if gene-edited organisms should be subjected to the same risk assessment requirements as GMOs. Sweden has decided that gene-edited plants with no foreign genetic element should not count as GMOs, arguing that they are similar to plants altered through conventional breeding or plant mutagenesis. This regulatory discussion is not decided yet in the EU, but we will here argue that even if gene-edited plants and animals are exempt from GMO risk assessment, an approval procedure should include a broad assessment of such plants and animals. We take our point of departure from the Norwegian Gene Technology Act (GTA) which states that risk assessment of GMOs should be supplemented by an assessment of the sustainability, ethical and societal impact prior to regulatory approval of the novel products. Even if gene-edited organisms are considered comparable to non-GMOs in terms of risks, the technology has impacts that calls for an assessment of the kind required in the GTA. With NBTs it may possible to develop plants that have increased drought and saline tolerance relevant for the developing world. Such gene-edited plants can have positive, stable long-term effects on environment, economic and social conditions, and hence be argued to contribute to sustainability. Conversely, the same plants may also have adverse long-term environmental effects. Social benefits are such that are good, or at least not harmful, for small scale producers and consumers, not merely for patent holders and industrial farming. Possible examples are blight resistant potatoes and virus resistant pigs. The assessment of ethical impact becomes increasingly important when dealing with powerful technologies such as genome editing. One example is the potential for developing virus free pigs to be used growing human organs or other alterations that increase the usefulness of animals for industrial production. Questions related to welfare and protection of integrity needs to be evaluated. A wide assessment as required by the GTA will ensure that the NBTs will be beneficial for society in general.

Citation Info

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share link with colleague or librarian

You can email a link to this page to a colleague or librarian:
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://brill.edhh.ma/abstract/book/9789086868698/BP000017.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

Professionals in food chains

E-Book ISBN:: 9789086868698

Publisher:: Wageningen Academic

Print Publication Date:: 13 Jun 2018

Subjects
- Life Sciences
  - General
  - Food & Health

Show Items

Metrics

	All Time	Past 365 days	Past 30 Days
Abstract Views	282	185	40
Full Text Views	3	2	0
PDF Views & Downloads	4	2	0

African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

Subjects

Authors

Open Access

Product Information

Company

Contact

13. Gene-edited organisms should be assessed for sustainability, ethics and societal impacts

Citation Info

Share link with colleague or librarian

Professionals in food chains

Table of Contents

Metrics

Metrics