34-4 |
Safety assessment of biotech fruits and vegetables |
K. REDENBAUGH, Seminis Vegetable Seeds, 37437 State Hwy. 16, Woodland, CA 95695 Several biotech fruits and vegetables have been commercialized since Calgene introduced the first biotech crop, the Flavr Savr tomato in May 1994. These also include Asgrow’s virus-resistant squash and zucchini, DNA Plant Technology’s Endless Summer tomato, and Cornell University’s virus-resistant papaya. Monsanto’s virus-resistant potato and Syngenta’s Bt sweet corn also fit in the category of biotech fruits and vegetables. China has also introduced biotech products, including virus-resistant tomatoes and sweet peppers. Biotechnology opponents claim that either no safety tests have been done or not enough testing has occurred. However, this is not at all the case. Despite intense scrutiny, there have been no documented food safety, feed safety, or environmental problems. This talk will present details on safety assessments done for biotech crops and the status of commercialization of biotech fruits and vegetables. Of significant importance will be a discussion of how increasing regulatory costs will likely prevent many (if not most) biotech fruit and vegetable products from being commercialization. This prognosis may be mediated by the development of an IR-4 type deregulation and registration program, such as what currently is being done for pesticide registrations for minor crops.
Session 34, Biotechnology to improve quality of fruits and vegetables: Potential, safety and consumer acceptability
|