THE RELEASE OF TRANSGENIC PLANTS FROM CONTAINMENT, AND THE MOVE TOWARDS THEIR WIDESPREAD USE IN AGRICULTURE

The use of transgenic plants in breeding makes it possible to utilise a wide variety of novel genes from unrelated plants, microbes and anim als. Because of the diversity of genes that have now become available for modifying crop plants, it is agreed internationally that there sho uld be a risk assessment before transgenic plants are grown outside th e laboratory or glasshouse. Various aspects are considered in a risk a ssessment including any non-target effects of the transgene, changes i n plant persistence and invasiveness, and the possibility of movement of the transgenes to wild populations by cross pollination. It is gene rally argued that the need for risk assessment and regulation should b e determined by an analysis of certain products of transformation, rat her than a risk assessment being required for all plants modified by t he process of transformation. A possible consequence of considering th e product only, however, could be that some of the products of convent ional breeding may need to be assessed by the risk assessment procedur es developed for transgenic plants. There are discussions with interes t groups on the use of transgenic plants in the environment and in foo d products. It is likely that some form of labelling will be required for certain foods containing ethically-sensitive genes. There is littl e doubt that transgenic plants will make a significant contribution to agriculture in the coming decades. Developments in the patenting of g enes, release regulations, food labelling, consumer reaction etc., wil l influence the rate of progress and should be considered in the strat egic planning of plant breeding programmes.