KISR-ICGEB conducted: Workshop on risk assessment of GMOs

On Oct 12, 2010 0

A workshop on risk assessment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) was conducted by Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) and the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) from 3 to 7 October 2010 at KISR, Kuwait. Twenty-five participants from regulatory authorities of food safety and environment, research institutes and universities from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Syria, Jordan, Oman, Sudan and Libya and 7 resource persons from Kuwait, ICGEB, Iran, the Netherland, Belgium and the United Kingdom participated in this workshop. The main topics of the workshop included

· Introduction to risk assessment

· International guidelines for food and feed safety

· Activities of the ICGEB biosafety unit:

· Biotechnology status and activities in Kuwait

· Similarities and differences between traditional plant breeding and genetic engineering from safety point of view

· Risk assessment of GM food and feed

· Main food and feed challenges for the near east, GM crops being developed in the region and biosafety status of the countries in the region

· Environmental issues; problem formulation and risk evaluation:

· Hazard vs actual risks

· Bioethics as part of the decision making process

Case studies were also presented on:

· How to regulate? Specific regulatory systems as case studies (i.e USA, CANADA, EU)

· BT rice: main aspects to consider for the risk assessment. (Real example for participants)

· Gene flow: focusing on risk scenarios arising in the centre of origin/diversity of crops and their relatives

· Confined field trials vs. commercial release: biosafety consideration

· Lysine rich corn:

Dr. Behzad Ghareyazie, President of the Biosafety Society of Iran Executive director of the Iran Biotechnology Center (IRBIC) who served as a resource person in this workshop praised the scientific and technological advancements made by Kuwait, particularly in application of biotechnology for bioremediation and mass production of date palm through tissue culture. "I was pleased to see how fast is growing a small country with a relatively harsh environmental condition in science and technology in particular in biotechnology".

"It is well documented fact that all countries in this region even the single country prohibiting any production of GMOs are importing and consuming transgenic oil seeds (soy bean and canola) and corn from mega biotech crop producing countries such as the United States of America, Brazil Argentina and Canada" he said. He emphasized for the need of the countries in the region on the access to the technology, production of GM crops as well as the biosafety issues.

"We are concerned about biodiversity in our countries. In fact many things have started right in this part of the world; in the Fertile Crescent, the origin and center of civilization".

Emphasizing on the safety of the imported GMOs, he questioned: "why should then we say no to the technology and become a net importer and consumer of these products in this region? The world is moving fast. We in the region need to talk with each other in order to best use of the potentials and opportunities we collectively have".

Some of the lectures presented in this workshop will be made available at IRBIC website soon.