Research in green genetic engineering is indispensable

(DFG/DLG). Science and business in Germany demand more reliable legal and political frameworks and a more open social climate in order to be able to better exploit the opportunities offered by green genetic engineering. With this objective, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) and the Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft (German Agricultural Society, DLG) released a joint memorandum on 13 May in Berlin, which brings the position of research into green genetic engineering in Germany back to centre stage. Research programmes carried out in this highly promising field were being more and more seriously affected by misguided political decisions, such as the current ban on growing genetically modified maize, and by the illegal destruction of field trials. "Scientists at universities, public research institutions and in medium-sized businesses therefore find themselves increasingly compelled to restrict their research projects in the area of green genetic engineering or to abandon them entirely. There is a danger that this will mean an important research direction in Germany will be lost," argue the DFG and the DLG.

The memorandum, a response to an initiative of the DFG Senate Commission on Substances and Resources in Agriculture and the DLG, calls emphatically for a change in current policy. "Politicians and society at large should have a strong interest in Germany also assuming a leading position in research into green genetic engineering again, so that it is able to fulfil its responsibilities in the international community." This is the only way to allow the enormous potentials of green genetic engineering to be exploited for supplying humanity with sufficient healthy foods, environmentally friendly energy generation and for overcoming climate change.

At the presentation of the memorandum the President of the DFG, Professor Matthias Kleiner, emphasised the significance of basic research for the utilisation of green genetic engineering. At the same time Kleiner expressed his support for more field trials. "In order to continue to take full advantage of the genetic potential of our crops, what is needed above all is basic research that can call on the entire repertoire of modern cultivation methods - not only in the laboratory, but also outdoors. In order to learn how plants behave under real conditions, field trials are indispensable," said the DFG President. Science carries a particular responsibility when it comes to the assessment of the opportunities and risks of green genetic engineering, and especially the release of genetically modified organisms, he continued. "This high level of responsibility is something our scientists are fully aware of, and they take it very seriously," Kleiner stressed. This sense of responsibility, however, must be matched by an equivalent amount of freedom. "Responsibility and freedom are inextricably linked in basic research." Freedom of research should not be allowed to fall victim to election campaigns; rather scientists should be encouraged in their freedom to do research and have their basic rights reinforced. The DFG President explicitly welcomed the "Round Table" proposed by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research on the science and policy aspects of green genetic engineering: "I hope that this will keep the discussion on a factual level and that the politicians responsible will follow the arguments of the scientific community on this issue."

DLG Präsident Carl Albrecht Bartmer, with a view to the continuous growth of the world population, referred to the necessity of increasing the productivity of agricultural land. This is an urgent requirement, in his view, because the fertile agricultural areas available worldwide could only be increased by an insignificant amount, and due to climatic effects their yield capacity would change. "We must learn the lessons of Lampedusa and face the challenge of global nutrition, even here in abundant Germany," emphasised the DLG President. Numeric and economic growth in the world population would also have an energy-related component. Biomass would create additional degrees of freedom in the sustainable energy mixture of the future. Also, industrial demand for raw materials based on plants would clearly increase. For Bartmer, these are all facts which are already triggering a challenging demand dynamic in themselves. All three aspects occurring together would clearly intensify the situation. "Shortages on world agricultural markets are therefore to be expected." The responsibility assumed by the utilisation of progress and innovation and by research funding are therefore of a geopolitical dimension. "Germany and Europe, privileged by their know-how, land and climate, but above all by a highly qualified and innovative agriculture and food industry, bear a special responsibility here," emphasised Bartmer.

The development biologist and Nobel Prize recipient for medicine, Professor Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, from Tübingen, expressed concern during the presentation of the memorandum over the consequences of current political decisions on green genetic engineering and research in Germany. In particular, the ban on the release of genetically modified maize sends "a frightening message". The basis of the release embargo is based upon unrealistic tests, the scientist argued. On the contrary, there had been numerous studies funded by the EU, the DFG and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research which had established that there was no threat to people or the natural environment from genetically modified maize. Now the fear is that many innovative researchers will turn their backs on Germany. "Research is international, and restrictions in this country certainly do not prevent progress worldwide, but in fact they shut German researchers as well as plant breeders out of international competition," underlined Nüsslein-Volhard: "The pioneering role of Germany in plant breeding, which represents a large amount of potential, and thereby capital of our country, is seriously endangered." In the opinion of the Nobel laureate, the current situation of green genetic engineering resembles that of genetic engineering in medicine 25 years ago. Even in this initial phase of "red" genetic engineering, many researchers had left Germany following irrational political decisions, and pharmaceutical companies had shifted jobs abroad. "In the meantime reason has broken out in the application of genetic engineering in medicine. But instead of learning from the mistakes, they are repeated," argued Nüsslein-Volhard.

"Germany is dependent on innovations and lives off high-technology products as well as the rapid transfer of research results from science to business." This point was highlighted by Dr. Arend Oetker. At the same time the president of the Donors´ Association for the Promotion of Science and Humanities made clear that in the "High-tech Strategy for Germany", innovation expertise from both business and science is combined. A faster transfer into practice and better products would be the result. Strategies for improving the position of Germany in relation to the international competition are crucial foundations for the country's economic and social prosperity. In his view, hindering the practical application of green genetic engineering and the reservations and fears stirred up by many politicians vis-à-vis green genetic engineering would present substantial obstacles to these demands for innovation. "Especially now, in times of the gravest economic crisis in 80 years, we stand emphatically against this position." With a view to the consumer benefits, products of green genetic engineering are under development that are predicted to come on to the market in the next ten years. These include, for example, improved nutrient compounds (proteins, amino acids, vitamins, etc.), the elimination of undesirable characteristics (allergens, bitter agents, toxins, etc.) as well as the improvement of shelf life/storage stability. For him, PR work with regard to the wider public is essential. Dr. Arend Oetker sees the necessity of a communication process appropriate to different target-groups in strengthening these relationships, which should begin in the schools and universities. This is essential in his view, so that innovations can be driven forward in all areas of research. "This is central to the security of the German economy, and to maintaining our prosperity."

A sufficient supply of healthy food for humanity, environmentally friendly energy production and overcoming climate change - those are the subjects that decisively determine future development on our planet. More and more people need to be supported by a finite land area. Without a sustainable increase in the productivity of usable agricultural land, we will not be able to master the challenges we face.

To enable a sustainable increase in the yield from agricultural land, a number of measures are necessary. An important starting point is progress in the cultivation of agricultural crop plants. Alongside the classic methods of plant breeding, modern techniques of green genetic engineering offer important potential for a sustainable increase in productivity.

We therefore cannot afford to forgo research in green genetic engineering. Research does, however, need a reliable framework so that those doing the research can take up their responsibility in the "research – development – innovation" chain, and so that a rational approach to the technology is possible.

Scientists at universities, public research institutions and medium-sized businesses find themselves increasingly compelled to restrict their research projects in the area of green genetic engineering or to abandon them entirely. There is a danger that this will mean an important research direction in Germany will be lost.

In 2008 alone, genetic engineering opponents illegally destroyed 25 fields and forced the abandonment of numerous research projects with genetically modified plants. The tendency has been on the increase for some years. With the destruction of field trials, not only is important basic scientific research on plants prevented, but also essential safety-related research in the field of green genetic engineering. These criminal offences are preventing research and development to an increasing extent.

Politicians and society at large should have a strong interest in Germany also assuming a leading position in research into green genetic engineering again, so that it is able to fulfil its responsibilities in the international community. To achieve this the following points form an essential prerequisite:

• Research needs a reliable legal and social framework. Political decisions and legal foundations should be based on scientifically sound risk/benefit assessment.
• Every strand of research needs an open-minded and critically supportive social climate so that inventive talent can be promoted and the challenges of the future can be met. This should apply also to research into green genetic engineering.
• Research on plants cannot be restricted to laboratories and greenhouses. This applies to basic research as much as to applied research. Whether new products are harmless and competitive can only be investigated under natural conditions in the outdoors. Also, quite fundamental botanical processes only can be understood if the relevance of the results obtained in the laboratory and greenhouse is tested in the natural environment.

The present decisions of politicians on the release of genetically modified maize, potatoes and barley are contradictory. They show that an unambiguous position based on factual arguments does not exist at present, and is urgently required.

The DFG and the DLG request the responsible decision makers in politics and society to support the points named above, to encourage science-based dialogue and to structure the framework in such a way that research can continue in freedom and responsibility.