CRISPR/Cas9-modified plants

 CRISPR/Cas9-modified plants

Crispr/cas 9 is a simple and efficient method to modify organisms. NGOs like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth criticize this application. That humanity does not know enough to understand this complex science to use GMOs safely. They argue that crispr/cas9 reduces species diversity, gene transfer between species, effects on non-target species. Another important point is the control of farmers by large corporations and the fear of increased use of harmful pesticides [1]. However, some think that the ethical question is more important than the safety of the environment and they don't think you should play "God." [1].

In Switzerland, GMOs are prohibited in agriculture. This means that they may not be planted [2]. However, shops may sell approved and labelled GMOs for food [3]. In Switzerland, soya and maize are currently the most permitted, as well as two vitamins, two rennet ferments and two processing additives for use in foodstuffs [3]. For example, the situation is different for the European Union. Some GMO foods are legal to be planted but under very strict conditions [4]. In the EU, food is only labelled if it contains more than 0.9% GMOs [5]. In Germany it would be legal but since 2012 no GMO modified plant has been bred there [5].

In Switzerland, GMOs are defined as living organisms (plants, animals, bacteria, etc.) whose genetic material has been altered by a non-natural mechanism. According to this definition, crispr/cas9 is a GMOs and consequently prohibited in Switzerland for modified plants. [2].

In my opinion, GMOs are not widely tolerated in Switzerland. Most people do not trust this technique. This is my conclusion, as more and more organic food has been sold in Switzerland in recent years [6]. If the Swiss look at organic food it will probably be very difficult to sell GMO food. As long as the effects of GMOs are not fully understood, the Swiss people will never tolerate them. I think Crispr/cas9 is very interesting and very valuable for science. But I would not eat GMO food. If you can change the genes, you can also manipulate the food to become addicted. Big companies can take advantage of this to make more profit. I trust in science but not in the big companies.

Sources :

[1] David Julian McClements April 2019, Food Biotechnology: Sculpting Genes with Genetic Engineering pp. 261-286

[2] Bundesamt für Landwirtschaft Dezember 2018, GVO in der Landwirtschaft,  https://www.blw.admin.ch/blw/de/home/nachhaltige-produktion/gentechnologie.html

[3] Bundesamt für Lebensmittelsicherheit und Veterinärwesen März 2020, Bewilligung von gentechnisch veränderten Organismen (GVO), https://www.blv.admin.ch/blv/de/home/lebensmittel-und-ernaehrung/rechts-und-vollzugsgrundlagen/bewilligung-und-meldung/gentechnisch-veraenderte-organismen-gvo.html

[4] Food Safety - European Commission, GMO legislation, https://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/gmo/legislation_en

[5] Lebensmittel in Deutschland grundsätzlich gentechnikfrei 2020, https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/lebensmittel-in-deutschland-grundsaetzlich-gentechnikfrei-348862

[6] Bio-Konsum wächst in der ganzen Schweiz, April 2018, https://blog.bio-suisse.ch/2018/04/bio-konsum-wachst-in-der-ganzen-schweiz.html