Country Reports GM Trees – a Finnish Expertise

Genetically modified crops have not yet become a topic in Finland, neither in research nor commercially. Basically, this is due to the lack of GM crops suitable for the Finnish climate. Another area of research on genetically modified plants, however, is the Finnish domain: forestry.

The Research Programme on Environmental, Societal and Health Effects of Genetically Modified Organisms (ESGEMO) is the largest research programme on GMOs in Finland. In its scientific work, it is focussed on GM trees, since they present the only suitable group of GM plants in Finland – and at the same time the only with commercial potential.

Assessment and Regulation of the Ecological Effects of GMOs in the Boreal Environment Assessment and Regulation of the Ecological Effects of GMOs in the Boreal Environment – ARGUE – is the title of one of these projects. ARGUE provides methods for the environmental risk assessment and the regulatory and social management of risks related to GMOs in the boreal environment. Therefore, ARGUE develops structures and systems of environmental risk assessment which also account for uncertainties. The scientists study how risks are identified and try to find premises for a "socially legitimate regulatory framework for gene technology".

Ecological interactions and secondary metabolomics of genetically modified (GM) forest trees

The second research project on GM trees studies genetically modified hybrid aspens and silver birches. Although GM forest trees have been produced since the late 1980s, few reports exist which focus on long term ecological effects. The specific goal of this project is to identify possible direct and indirect ecological effects of transgenes by means of "secondary metabolomics and metabolite profiling". This means biochemical studies of substances produced by the plant, which are not essential for growth and proliferation. The scientists also analyse whether changes in these substances cause changes in the tree's resistance to diseases or in symbiotic interactions with fungi.

Environmental Risks of Birch Genetically Modified to be Sterile

The transfer of the transgene is the most obvious environmental risk associated with genetically modified plants. The third ESGEMO project investigates whether sterile trees can be a solution for this problem. Sterile trees produce no pollen and seeds, thus not spreading transgenes to natural populations. Using silver birches genetically modified to produce no flowers, the researchers study how reliable this approach works in practice. They analyse, whether environmental influences affect the flowering behaviour and whether the transgene causes unexpected changes in the tree's composition. The scientists also monitor potential impacts on herbivores and other organisms feeding on birch products, and if there are any changes in the decomposition of the leaf litter.