BMBF: New funding programme

New safety research projects on GM crops

(October 16, 2008) From 2008 to 2011 the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) will once again fund a large number of biosafety research projects. The main focus of the projects is to develop methods to prevent a spread of GM plants. Another focus is further research into the environmental impacts of genetically modified Bt maize.

Key focus: Limiting the dispersal ability of transgenic crops in oilseed rape and maize

When transgenic plants containing new or modified substances are to be used to produce functional foods or for the production of industrial or pharmaceutical materials, it is important that they do not spread uncontrollably. Biological systems are being developed and tested that are designed to limit the spread of GM plants.

A separate research focus is on limiting the spread of oilseed rape via volunteer rape. Rape seeds can survive for long periods in the soil, reappearing as volunteer rape in subsequent crops and leading to an unintentional spread of the plants. It is hoped that by breeding low-persistence rape lines, the volunteer problem can be reduced.

Focus: Ecological impacts of Bt maize

Research will be carried out on the environmental impacts of a new type of Bt maize which is resistant to its two main chewing pests, the European corn borer and the Western corn rootworm. Field trials will test whether the different Bt toxins in the Bt maize plants influence or increase each other’s effects, thereby leading to negative environmental impacts.

BMBF is putting eight million euros into the 23 research projects in this programme.

Further information:

• GMO Safety: BMBF discusses future biosafety research on GM plants. State Secretary Michael Thielen: "The role of the state is to make provisions for the future."
• Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Biological Safety Research