New GMOs Escape Current Regulations

Crispr-Cas9 and Talen; new technologies, able to modify genes in a slightly different way that traditional GMOs, have emerged. According to the creators of these technologies, they are claimed to be more "precise" than commonly used technologies. However, they still artificially modify the genome of organisms; which may still lead to unintended consequences. While the creators may use euphemistic language to describe the new methods of gene modification, such as "new plant breeding techniques", it should still be noted that these are synthetic processes.

Since the definitions of what constitutes a genetically modified organism vary, these new technologies are not subject to current regulations that have been established in the United States regarding GMOs. Proponents of the new technologies claim that these methods are different that conventional GMOs. Opponents are against the technologies, since they still modify the genes of the organisms.

The new technologies are prohibited under the organic standards, established by the National Organics Standards Board (NOSB) of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), as voted in November. The board clearly defined a GMO as any organisms that has had its genetic material altered by biotechnology - as it should be. However, according to biotechnology and policy expert Micheal Rodemeyer, federal law defines GMOs as the product of using DNA from different organisms, and that could not be found in nature.

Calyxt, a Minnesota-based biotechnology company, has adopted the new technology, Talen, in an effort to remove a gene from soybean oil to have less trans fat. Calyxt has also been able to remove a gene in potatoes that regulates the degradation of sugar, providing the potato with a longer shelf life. While Calyxt anticipates to begin selling its seeds to farmers, other manufacturers using the technologies have already placed these food-like products on the market.

The FDA has not regulated food crops produced using these new technologies. The Non-GMO Project, a nonprofit organization that verifies and labels non-GMO foods in America, considers foods produced using these new technologies as GMOs.

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References

MacIsaac, T. (2017). GMO 2.0: A New Kind of Modified Food Escapes Regulation. The Epoch Times. Retrieved 20 May 2017, from http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/2245656-gmo-2-0-a-new-kind-of-modified-food-escapes-regulation/