Best practices for acceptability of GM crops field trials conclusions: lessons for Africa.

The ability to transfer information about the performance, safety, and environmental impacts of a genetically modified (GM) crop from confined field trials (CFTs) conducted in one location to another is increasingly gaining importance in biosafety regulatory assessment and decision-making. The CFT process can be expensive, time-consuming, and logistically challenging. Data transportability can help overcome these challenges by allowing the use of data obtained from CFTs conducted in one country to inform regulatory decision-making in another country. Applicability of transported CFT data would be particularly beneficial to the public sector product developers and small enterprises that develop innovative GM events but cannot afford to replicate redundant CFTs, as well as regulatory authorities seeking to improve the deployment of limited resources. This review investigates case studies where transported CFT data have successfully been applied in biosafety assessment and decision-making, with an outlook of how African countries could benefit from a similar approach.

The evolution of media reportage on GMOs in Ghana following approval of first GM crop.

Ghana's parliament in 2011 passed the Biosafety Act to allow for the application of genetically modified organism (GMO) technology in the country's agriculture. In a vibrant democracy, there have been extensive media discussions on whether GM crops will benefit or harm citizens. In June 2022, the state GMO regulator, the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), approved the country's first GM crop (Bt cowpea) for environmental release, declaring the crop does not present an altered environmental risk or a food/feed safety concern. This study identified 3 of the country's most vibrant digital news outlets and did a content analysis of all GMO stories reported 18 months pre- and post-approval to assess whether the approval changed the focus of GMO issues the media reports on. 91 articles were identified. The results show media reports on the likely impact of GMOs on the country's food security shot up after the approval. However, media reports on the possible health, sociocultural, and environmental impact of GMOs declined. We observe the media and the public appear interested in deliberations on how the technology could address or worsen food insecurity and urge agricultural biotechnology actors in Ghana to focus on that in their sensitization activities.

The Adoption of Genetically Modified Crops in Africa: the Public's Current Perception, the Regulatory Obstacles, and Ethical Challenges.

Genetically modified (GM) crops are the most important agricultural commodities that can improve the yield of African smallholder farmers. The intricate circumstances surrounding the introduction of GM agriculture in Africa, however, underscore the importance of comprehending the moral conundrums, regulatory environments, and public sentiment that exist today. This review examines the current situation surrounding the use of GM crops in Africa, focusing on moral conundrums, regulatory frameworks, and public opinion. Only eleven of the fifty-four African countries currently cultivate GM crops due to the wide range of opinions resulting from the disparities in cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. This review proposed that addressing public concerns, harmonizing regulations, and upholding ethical standards will improve the adoption of GM crops in Africa. This study offers ways to enhance the acceptability of GM crops for boosting nutrition and food security globally.

Immunoassays and Mass Spectrometry for Determination of Protein Concentrations in Genetically Modified Crops.

Quantifying protein levels in genetically modified (GM) crops is crucial in every phase of development, deregulation, and seed production. Immunoassays, particularly enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, have been the primary protein quantitation techniques for decades within the industry due to their efficiency, adaptability, and credibility. Newer immunoassay technologies like Meso Scale Discovery and Luminex offer enhanced sensitivity and multiplexing capabilities. While mass spectrometry (MS) has been widely used for small molecules and protein detection in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries (e.g., biomarkers, endogenous allergens), its use in quantifying protein levels in GM crops has been limited. However, as trait portfolios for GM crop have expanded, MS has been increasingly adopted due to its comparable sensitivity, increased specificity, and multiplexing capabilities. This review contrasts the benefits and limitations of immunoassays and MS technologies for protein measurement in GM crops, considering factors such as cost, convenience, and specific analytical needs. Ultimately, both techniques are suitable for assessing protein concentrations in GM crops, with MS offering complementary capabilities to immunoassays. This comparison aims to provide insights into selecting between these techniques based on the user's end point needs.

Drought-tolerant transgenic wheat HB4®: a hope for the future.

Drought-tolerant transgenic [genetically modified (GM)] HB4® wheat carrying the drought-responsive sunflower gene Hahb4 was first developed in Argentina in 2019 and has already been approved for marketing and consumption as food/feed in at least ten countries. It has also been approved in Argentina and Brazil for commercial cultivation.

The impact of 'framing' in the adoption of GM crops.

Genetically modified (GM) crops offer significant advantages in our crop improvement programs because they are created using a more targeted approach which is not possible in traditional breeding methods. Human benefit is one of the main objectives of crop improvement but the legal framework for the introduction of GM crops and the depiction and portrayal of GM crops in the media create barriers to these benefits. This article attempts to highlight the barriers to GM crop adoption particularly focusing on the idea of "framing" and the way GM technology is framed in the media. The resulting public health, economic, and ecological concerns about genetically modified plants, along with the reality of these misconceptions, are discussed with specific examples. Finally, we propose potential routes toward increased acceptance of GM crops.

Identification of T-DNA structure and insertion site in transgenic crops using targeted capture sequencing.

The commercialization of GE crops requires a rigorous safety assessment, which includes a precise DNA level characterization of inserted T-DNA. In the past, several strategies have been developed for identifying T-DNA insertion sites including, Southern blot and different PCR-based methods. However, these methods are often challenging to scale up for screening of dozens of transgenic events and for crops with complex genomes, like potato. Here, we report using target capture sequencing (TCS) to characterize the T-DNA structure and insertion sites of 34 transgenic events in potato. This T-DNA is an 18 kb fragment between left and right borders and carries three resistance (R) genes (RB, Rpi-blb2 and Rpi-vnt1.1 genes) that result in complete resistance to late blight disease. Using TCS, we obtained a high sequence read coverage within the T-DNA and junction regions. We identified the T-DNA breakpoints on either ends for 85% of the transgenic events. About 74% of the transgenic events had their T-DNA with 3R gene sequences intact. The flanking sequences of the T-DNA were from the potato genome for half of the transgenic events, and about a third (11) of the transgenic events have a single T-DNA insertion mapped into the potato genome, of which five events do not interrupt an existing potato gene. The TCS results were confirmed using PCR and Sanger sequencing for 6 of the best transgenic events representing 20% of the transgenic events suitable for regulatory approval. These results demonstrate the wide applicability of TCS for the precise T-DNA insertion characterization in transgenic crops.

The legal aspect of the current use of genetically modified organisms in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Many African nations place a high priority on enhancing food security and nutrition. However, unfavorable environmental conditions interfere with the achievement of food security in Africa. The production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) presents intriguing possibilities for improving food security on the continent. In Africa, countries in the same regions have different GMO usage policies and laws. While some nations are updating their laws and policies to allow GMOs, others are still debating whether they are worth the risk. However, there is still little information available regarding the most recent status of GMO applications in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The current review summarizes the state of GMO applications for enhancing food security in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Currently, Tanzania and Uganda do not accept GMOs, but Kenya does. This study can assist governments, academics, and policymakers in enhancing GMO acceptance for boosting nutrition and food security in their nations.

Empirical analysis on the impact of trust in government, purposes of GM crops, and farmers' expectations on the delayed commercialization of GM crops in China---Based on Xinjiang and Guangdong survey samples.

GM crops, as a widely researched and applied biotechnology, hold significant strategic and practical implications for promoting the commercialization of GM crops in China, driving agricultural industry upgrading, and fostering economic and social development. However, despite their potential benefits, the commercialization of GM crops in China has been consistently delayed. Therefore, this study aims to explore the trust relationship between the government and the public in the field of genetically modified organisms and the heterogeneous impacts generated at the production and consumption ends. We primarily focus on insect-resistant cotton and genetically modified papaya as representatives and base our research on survey data from Xinjiang and Guangdong. By employing factor analysis and establishing multiple Probit models with government trust, crop purposes, and farmer expectations as independent variables, and the commercialization of GM crops as the dependent variable, we conduct two sets of empirical analyses. The study finds that government trust has a more significant impact on consumer concerns about whether to consume GM products than on producers, who prioritize farmers' desire for agricultural product profitability. Age and education levels also influence the public's acceptance of planting GM crops, but the effects are not as significant as the core variables mentioned earlier. Based on this, we conclude that consumers and farmers have different positions and contradictions in the specific scenario of delayed GM commercialization in China. In this context, this paper argues that diversified strategies should be adopted to address the issue of commercialization of GM crops in China.

Recent Advances in Antibiotic-Free Markers; Novel Technologies to Enhance Safe Human Food Production in the World.

Crops that have been genetically modified (GM) include additional beneficial traits that present fresh approaches to boosting yield productivity and sustainable agriculture. Transformation and regeneration are the two main steps in the production of GM crops. Antibiotic resistance marker genes (ARMGs) must be used for selection because crops have very little ability to transform. Significant global concerns about the security of both human health and the environment have been raised by the use of ARMGs in the production of GM foods or for therapeutic purposes. A rise in antimicrobial resistance is the biggest danger, according to recent research. Due to a lack of information on alternate methods, ARMGs are still employed in the production of GM crops today. The creation of GM crops without ARMGs using alternative methods is crucial to addressing the safety issue. This review discusses current methods for producing GM crops free of ARMGs, or "clean-gene" technology. These methods' benefits and drawbacks are also discussed. One of them, positive selection by phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) system of different plants, has been optimized and subjected to full risk assessment and is more productive than conventional protocols that employ ARMGs. This information will be useful for enhancing breeding programs, producing safe human food, and increasing support for GM crops among the general public.

Genetically engineered crops for sustainably enhanced food production systems.

Genetic modification of crops has substantially focused on improving traits for desirable outcomes. It has resulted in the development of crops with enhanced yields, quality, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. With the advent of introducing favorable traits into crops, biotechnology has created a path for the involvement of genetically modified (GM) crops into sustainable food production systems. Although these plants heralded a new era of crop production, their widespread adoption faces diverse challenges due to concerns about the environment, human health, and moral issues. Mitigating these concerns with scientific investigations is vital. Hence, the purpose of the present review is to discuss the deployment of GM crops and their effects on sustainable food production systems. It provides a comprehensive overview of the cultivation of GM crops and the issues preventing their widespread adoption, with appropriate strategies to overcome them. This review also presents recent tools for genome editing, with a special focus on the CRISPR/Cas9 platform. An outline of the role of crops developed through CRSIPR/Cas9 in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030 is discussed in detail. Some perspectives on the approval of GM crops are also laid out for the new age of sustainability. The advancement in molecular tools through plant genome editing addresses many of the GM crop issues and facilitates their development without incorporating transgenic modifications. It will allow for a higher acceptance rate of GM crops in sustainable agriculture with rapid approval for commercialization. The current genetic modification of crops forecasts to increase productivity and prosperity in sustainable agricultural practices. The right use of GM crops has the potential to offer more benefit than harm, with its ability to alleviate food crises around the world.

Transgenic cotton expressing Cry1B protein has no adverse effect on predatory insect Propylea Japonica.

The lady beetle Propylea japonica is a dominant natural predator of insect pests in farmland ecosystems and an important non-target indicator insect for the environmental safety assessment of GM crops. The commercial cultivation of GM crops may cause P. japonica to frequently be exposed to the Bt protein environment. In this study, the biological characteristics, enzyme activity, and expression levels of detoxification and metabolism in P. japonica were studied after Cry1B protein treatment. No significant differences were observed in developmental duration, emergence rate, or body weight at different ages after feeding larvae 0.5 mg/mL of Cry1B protein compared with the control. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the activities of glutathione S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) after feeding 0.25 mg/mL and 0.5 mg/mL Cry1B protein. However, when the concentration of Cry1B protein increased to 1.0 mg/mL, the activities of the GST, CAT, and POD increased significantly. Compared with the control group, there were no significant differences in the expression levels of most detoxification metabolism related genes; only a few genes had changed expression levels at the individual concentrations (CYP345B1, CYP4Q2, CYP9F2, GST, and microsomal GST). Overall, these results suggest that Cry1B protein has little or no effect on the biological characteristics of P. japonica. Genes related to enzyme activity and detoxification are differentially expressed at high concentration stimulation. Therefore, this research suggests that the potential risks of Cry1B for the predator P. japonica are negligible.

Using field evaluation and systematic iteration to rationalize the accumulation of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in transgenic Camelina sativa.

The Brassicaceae Camelina sativa (gold of pleasure) is now an established niche crop and being used as a transgenic host for a range of novel seed traits. Most notable of these is the accumulation of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturates such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), fatty acids normally only found in marine organisms. As part of continued efforts to optimize the accumulation of these non-native fatty acids via seed-specific expression of algal genes, a new series of iterative constructs was built and introduced into Camelina. Seed fatty acid composition was determined, and the presence of EPA and DHA was confirmed. To provide an additional level of evaluation, full environmental release was carried out on selected events, providing a real-world gauntlet against which to assess the performance of these novel lines. Composition of the seed oil triacylglycerol was determined by mass spectrometry, allowing for conclusions as to the contribution of different activities to the final accumulation of EPA and DHA. Since these data were derived from field-grown material, they also represent a robust demonstration of the stability of the omega-3 LC-PUFA trait in Camelina. We propose that field trialling should be routinely incorporated in the plant synthetic biology 'design-build-test-learn' cycle.

History of Herbicide-Resistant Traits in Cotton in the U.S. and the Importance of Integrated Weed Management for Technology Stewardship.

This paper reviews the history of herbicide-resistant (HR) traits in U.S. cotton since the beginning, highlighting the shortcomings of each trait over time that has led to the development of their successor and emphasizing the importance of integrated weed management (IWM) going forward to ensure their long-term sustainability. Introduction of glyphosate-resistant cropping systems has allowed for expansion of no-till systems more reliant on herbicides, favored less diverse crop rotations, and heavily relied on a single herbicide mode of action (MOA). With repeated applications of glyphosate over the years, biotypes of glyphosate-resistant (GR) A. palmeri and other weeds became economically damaging pests in cotton production systems throughout the U.S. Moreover, the reported cases of weeds resistant to different MOA across various parts of the United States has increased. The dicamba- (XtendFlex®) and 2,4-D-resistant (Enlist®) cotton traits (with stacks of glyphosate and glufosinate resistance) were introduced and have been highly adopted in the U.S. to manage HR weeds. Given the current rate of novel herbicide MOA discovery and increase in new HR weed cases, the future of sustainable weed management relies on an integrated approach that includes non-herbicidal methods with herbicides to ensure long-term success.

Genetically modified crop regulations: scope and opportunity using the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing approach.

Global demand for food is increasing day by day due to an increase in population and shrinkage of the arable land area. To meet this increasing demand, there is a need to develop high-yielding varieties that are nutritionally enriched and tolerant against environmental stresses. Various techniques are developed for improving crop quality such as mutagenesis, intergeneric crosses, and translocation breeding. Later, with the development of genetic engineering, genetically modified crops came up with the transgene insertion approach which helps to withstand adverse conditions. The process or product-focused approaches are used for regulating genetically modified crops with their risk analysis on the environment and public health. However, recent advances in gene-editing technologies have led to a new era of plant breeding by developing techniques including site-directed nucleases, zinc finger nucleases, and the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) that involve precise gene editing without the transfer of foreign genes. But these techniques always remain in debate for their regulation status and public acceptance. The European countries and New Zealand, consider the gene-edited plants under the category of genetically modified organism (GMO) regulation while the USA frees the gene-edited plants from such type of regulations. Considering them under the category of GMO makes a long and complicated approval process to use them, which would decrease their immediate commercial value. There is a need to develop strong regulatory approaches for emerging technologies that expedite crop research and attract people to adopt these new varieties without hesitation.

Farmers' attitudes towards GM crops and their predictors.

BACKGROUND: Genetically modified (GM) crops have become a controversial global issue since their commercialization in 1996. However, despite technological advancements, only a few studies have investigated farmers' attitudes towards GM crops in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aims to analyse such attitudes and their determining factors. A validated questionnaire was distributed to farmers in the Cameron Highlands, Pahang (n = 176). SPSS software was used to analyse the descriptive statistics of the farmers' attitudes to GM crops, while SmartPLS software was used to determine the predictors. RESULTS: Descriptive analysis shows that the farmers claimed to have a high level of self-efficacy, and perceived GM crops as possessing high benefits which translate into a highly positive attitude towards GM crops. However, at the same time, they rated GM crops as involving moderate risks and would incur moderate costs to farm, as well as acknowledging a low level of support from the government. The structural equation model (SEM) analysis demonstrates that five factors have been identified as direct predictors of attitude to GM crops: government support (ß = 0.364, P < 0.001), perceived costs (ß = -0.282, P < 0.01), perceived risks (ß = -0.227, P < 0.01), perceived benefits (ß = 0.205, P < 0.01) and perceived self-efficacy (ß = 0.199, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study contributes to the existing knowledge and provides empirical support in explaining the factors that influence farmers' decisions to adopt GM crops and have significant implications for the future development of agro-biotechnology in Malaysia and in other developing countries. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Evaluation and application of an efficient plant DNA extraction protocol for laboratory and field testing.

Nucleic acids in plant tissue lysates can be captured quickly by a cellulose filter paper and prepared for amplification after a quick purification. In this study, a published filter paper strip method was modified by sticking the filter paper on a polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC) sheet. This modified method is named EZ-D, for EASY DNA extraction. Compared with the original cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) method, DNA extracted by EZ-D is more efficient in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification due to the more stable performance of the EZ-D stick. The EZ-D method is also faster, easier, and cheaper. PCR analyses showed that DNA extracted from several types of plant tissues by EZ-D was appropriate for specific identification of biological samples. A regular PCR reaction can detect the EZ-D-extracted DNA template at concentration as low as 0.1 ng/µL. Evaluation of the EZ-D showed that DNA extracts could be successfully amplified by PCR reaction for DNA fragments up to 3000 bp in length and up to 80% in GC content. EZ-D was successfully used for DNA extraction from a variety of plant species and plant tissues. Moreover, when EZ-D was combined with the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method, DNA identification of biological samples could be achieved without the need for specialized equipment. As an optimized DNA purification method, EZ-D shows great advantages in application and can be used widely in laboratories where equipment is limited and rapid results are required.

Assessing the life cycle of pests, Diaphania pulverulentalis (Hampson) and Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green, reared on transgenic mulberry.

The study aims at investigating the growth and development of two common pests in mulberry namely the leaf roller (Diaphania pulverulentalis) and mealy bug (Macconellicoccus hirsutus), reared on transgenic mulberry plants in comparison with the wild type plants V1, a ruling variety. Both the pests completed normal life cycle on all the four different transgenic plants (Ip::HVA1, Cp::HVA1, Cp::BCH1, Cp::osmotin and Ip::osmotin) expressing three different transgenes (HVA1, BCH1 and osmotin) in the presence of the marker gene NPTII. There was no significant difference in the incubation period of the eggs, growth of first to fifth instar larvae and total larval period of the leaf roller reared on transgenic and non-transgenic mulberry. The pre-pupal, pupal, adult stages and adult fecundity also did not differ. The variations in the duration of the different nymphal instars, and their total duration was not significant in the case of mealy bug, when reared on the transgenics. The adult longevity and total life span of female mealy bugs, and the pupal period and total life span of the male bugs were on par with those reared on the wild type plants. The study indicates that the life cycle of both the pests, which are common in a mulberry ecosystem, were not affected by feeding on any of the transgenic mulberry plants at any stage of their growth and development.

Update of Argentina's Regulatory Policies on the Environmental Risk Assessment.

The Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) of genetically modified (GM) crops in Argentina is carried out by the National Advisory Commission on Agricultural Biotechnology (CONABIA) and the Innovation and Biotechnology Coordination (CIyB). Both have a large experience with this assessment, since 1991, when CONABIA was created. The continuous support to biotechnology as a state policy and as part of the decision to encourage developers in the regulatory process has helped make progress in the revision of the regulations. The experience gained during the last 30 years and the worldwide scientific advances supported the bases to update the regulatory framework. Focusing on the biosafety strengthening and the improvement of the applicant's experience in the GM crops evaluation process, during 2020 and 2021, the ERA went through a reviewing process. Some important modifications were made, such as (i) the assessment of stacked GM crops with focus on the possible interactions between transgenes and the expression products, (ii) the strengthening of the ERA taking into account the transportability of data and conclusions from the Confined Field Trials (CFTs), (iii) the adoption of Familiarity and History of Safe Use (HOSU) concepts on the risk assessment of the expression products, (iv) the special considerations for the unintended effects of insertional sites, and (v) as a post commercial release of GM crops, the Insect Resistance Management Plan (IRMP) was reformulated. These novel approaches enhance the ERA; they make it more efficient by applying the science criteria and the accumulated experience and scientific bibliography on the topic.

Evaluation and application of an efficient plant DNA extraction protocol for laboratory and field testing / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Nucleic acids in plant tissue lysates can be captured quickly by a cellulose filter paper and prepared for amplification after a quick purification. In this study, a published filter paper strip method was modified by sticking the filter paper on a polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC) sheet. This modified method is named EZ-D, for EASY DNA extraction. Compared with the original cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) method, DNA extracted by EZ-D is more efficient in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification due to the more stable performance of the EZ-D stick. The EZ-D method is also faster, easier, and cheaper. PCR analyses showed that DNA extracted from several types of plant tissues by EZ-D was appropriate for specific identification of biological samples. A regular PCR reaction can detect the EZ-D-extracted DNA template at concentration as low as 0.1 ng/μL. Evaluation of the EZ-D showed that DNA extracts could be successfully amplified by PCR reaction for DNA fragments up to 3000 bp in length and up to 80% in GC content. EZ-D was successfully used for DNA extraction from a variety of plant species and plant tissues. Moreover, when EZ-D was combined with the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method, DNA identification of biological samples could be achieved without the need for specialized equipment. As an optimized DNA purification method, EZ-D shows great advantages in application and can be used widely in laboratories where equipment is limited and rapid results are required.