process is still ongoing and new information provided by partners or GE tree research identified by WRM –and checked with country partners- is being continuously added to country information sheets. We welcome any A country by country overview additional information. Please contact [email protected] with any WRM Briefing, November 2008 further details.
What follows is a short summary of the situation in those countries Research on genetically engineered trees is being –or has been- where GE tree research has been detected, with links to the carried out in a number of countries, but the public is either unaware information sheets produced on all those countries: about this or has been led to believe that this is a positive scientific development for the “improvement” of trees.
People in those countries were never been asked to give their free, Australia prior and informed consent to such dangerous research. For that to be possible, the first necessary step was to be adequately informed, Information on GE tree research in this country is unclear. However, but that has never happened. In order to try to fill that information one fact is known: research is or has been carried out on GE gap in an understandable manner, in 2004 WRM and Friends of the eucalyptus aimed at faster growth, “improved” wood quality and Earth jointly published “Genetically modified trees: the ultimate sterility. Although CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial threat to forests” (Chris Lang) and in 2007, WRM published the Research Organisation) discontinued its research in 2003 –which short briefing “Transgenic trees”. included glasshouse eucalyptus trials- little is known about the work being carried out at two universities –Melbourne and Adelaide- and As a follow up, WRM has been carrying out a collaborative effort even less about research by Ensis (a “a collaboration agreement with a number of organizations in countries having GE tree research between CSIRO and New Zealand’s Scion”). In any case, it is in order to have a clear picture about the current situation, trying to important to underscore that Australia is the most dangerous country respond to questions such as Where? What for? By who? With for carrying out research on GE eucalyptus, given that these trees are who’s support? Under what legal framework? Who is opposing? native to Australia. Any accidental release of pollen from GE eucalyptus –for instance, those manipulated for sterility- could The present briefing is the result of such effort and provides easily contaminate and threaten the future of the country’s forest sufficient information for concerned organizations and individuals in ecosystems. the relevant countries to involve themselves in the issue. The http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/Australia.html
GE tree research - A country by country overview - WRM Briefing, November 2008 1 Belgium Celulose, International Papel do Brasil, Jarcel Celulose, Celulose Nipo-Brasileira, Klabin/Riocell, Veracel Celulose, Lwarcel Celulose The world’s first release of genetically modified trees was a field e Papel, Rigesa Celulose, Papel e Embalagens, Votorantim Celulose trial of herbicide resistant GM poplars established in Belgium in e Papel and Zanini Florestal, among other; 2) Conselho de 1988. Research is currently being carried out by the Flanders Informações sobre Biotecnologia (CIB), whose associates include – Institute for Biotechnology, now trying to modify the lignin content among many other- Arborgen, BASF, Bayercropsciences, Cargill, of poplars for easier ethanol production. As a result of a strong Dow Agrosciences, DuPont, Monsanto, Nestlé, Syngenta Seeds. A campaign –led by Greenpeace- authorization for a field trial was number of field trials have been approved and implemented, mostly refused in May 2008. However, Belgian academics are collaborating in the State of Sao Paulo (São Simão, Mogi Guaçú, Itararé, Itatinga, with Southampton University researchers involved in GE poplars in Brotas, Angatuba, Santa Cruz das Palmeiras, Borebi, Altinópolis, the UK. The research team, which includes academics from France, Luiz Antônio, Avaí, Guararema, Taquarivaí, Paranapanema), while is also seeking locations for field trials in Belgium. there is one in Minas Gerais (Coimbra), and another in Rio Grande http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/Belgium.html do Sul (Eldorado). http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/Brazil.html
Brazil Canada Research in this country is exclusively centred on eucalyptus, manipulated for faster growth, reduction and modification of lignin In Canada, there have been one or two field trials in any given year for cellulose production, “improvement” of the quality of the timber since 1997. At present there is one open-air trial of a genetically and herbicide tolerance. Those carrying out the research include engineered poplar at the Laurentian Forestry Centre in Quebec. Past corporations such as International Paper do Brasil, Suzano Bahia Sul research has involved poplar species, White Spruce (Picea glauca) Papel e Celulose, Alellyx Applied Genomics, ArborGen, Monsanto, and Black Spruce (Picea mariana). Genetic engineering was aimed as well as the Federal Universities of Viçosa and Rio Grande do Sul. at herbicide resistance (poplar), resistance to spruce budworm However, many more corporations are providing support to this (White Spruce) and genetic research with use of marker genes research under two groupings: 1) Project “Genolyptos”, funded by a (Black Spruce). The trees from those past research were cut down in consortium of pulp and paper companies including Aracruz 2006. Organized resistance to GE trees is quite strong in this Celulose, Celmar Indústrias de Celulose e Papel, Bahia Sul
GE tree research - A country by country overview - WRM Briefing, November 2008 2 country, which may explain the reluctance of government to officials from the Chinese Academy of Forestry, “both encourage further research. commercialized species are female poplars with altered fertility”. http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/Canada.html However, in 2004, Xue Dayuan of the Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science told the China Daily that genes from the GM poplars had already appeared in natural varieties growing nearby. Chile http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/China.html
Much research is being carried out in this country, but very little information is available on its results and even less on whether there Denmark are or not any field trials. Research is focused on manipulating radiata pines (resistance to pine shoot moth and to pitch canker A Danish team led by Dr Jens Find is working on genetic fungus) and eucalyptus (faster growth, higher cellulose content in manipulation of Nordmann Fir (Abies nordmanniana) to obtain wood, increased resistance to cold). Those carrying out the research Christmas trees resistant to insects and whose needles don't drop off. include GenFor (a joint venture between Canada’s Silvagen, US’s A test of these GE trees has been established in Copenhagen's Interlink and Fundación Chile) and Consorcio Genómico Forestal, Botanical Gardens. Support to this research is being provided by the that operates in the University of Concepción’s Biotechnology New Zealand Institute of Forest Research. Centre in the Bio Bio Region. Research is supported by the main http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/Denmark.html plantation companies (Forestal Arauco and Forestal Mininco), by the state’s Forestry Institute INFOR and by the Universities of Concepción, Austral and Frontera. http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/Chile.html Finland
Tree species being manipulated include hybrid aspen (Populus) and China silver birch (Betula pendula). A field trial belonging to the Finnish Forest Research Institute with Silver birch was destroyed in June China is the only country in the world to have commercially 2004. All of the nearly 400 seedlings planted in the fenced and released GE trees. Well over one million insect resistant GM poplars locked site of 2000 square meters were broken off or ripped from the have been planted in China since 2002. No records are kept of where ground. In 2004, three Finnish environmental NGOs (the Union of the trees are planted or how many have been planted. According to Ecoforestry, the People´s Biosafety Association, and Friends of the
GE tree research - A country by country overview - WRM Briefing, November 2008 3 Earth Finland) launched an international campaign against GE trees. Anhalt, 2002 – 2004) (5), Helbra and Großörner (Sayony-Anhalt, There is currently one field trial of non-flowering silver birch being 2003 – 2005). The University of Tübingen is also involved in GE carried out at by the University of Joensuu. research on poplar. http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/Finland.html http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/Germany.html
France Indonesia
Research is being carried out by government institutions. INRA The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) is working in partnership (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique) is manipulating a with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences (JSPS) in hybrid poplar, focusing on producing trees with less lignin content genetic engineering of Acacia mangium and Sengon for the production of ethanol and for the production of paper. There (Paraserianthes falcataria) for increased CO2 fixation by trees. This is one field trial of genetically modified poplars at Saint Cyr en Val Japanese-led joint project resulted in the production of 750 GE (Loiret). CIRAD (Centre de coopération internationale en recherche Acacia mangium and 400 GE Sengon trees in Indonesia. Some 130 agronomique pour le développement) is focusing on GE rubber trees Mangium and 30 Sengon trees are being kept at the Serpong for enhancing the production of rubber, in collaboration with “public Botanical Garden. The whereabouts of the other seedlings is research organizations” in Thailand. Additionally, French academics unknown. are collaborating with Southampton University researchers involved http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/Indonesia.html in GE poplars in the UK. http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/France.html Israel
Germany A company called CBD Technologies is involved in GE research on Poplar, Eucalyptus and Pine (Pinus halepensis). The aims are to In 1996 the Federal Research Centre for Forestry and Forest achieve faster growth, increased cellulose content and improved Products in Grosshansdorf started the first deliberate release trial of fiber properties. The company has field trials in the US (poplars), genetically modified aspens, which obtained approval for a further Israel (eucalyptus, poplar and pine) and Brazil (eucalyptus), and is trial in 2000. Two deliberate releases with poplars were granted to planning to have a field trial in Thailand. In Brazil, CBD the University of Freiburg. They took place in Helbra (Saxony- Technologies is associated with pulp and paper company Suzano, in
GE tree research - A country by country overview - WRM Briefing, November 2008 4 a project to increase the growth rate of eucalyptus trees. CBD and Research Center. Field trials of eucalyptus trees have been Suzano plan to set up a joint company to market their GE eucalyptus implemented at the University of Tsukuba’s Gene Research Center following the completion of their field trials. Although no details are and at Oji Paper's Forestry Research Institute in Kameyama, Mie available, the Hebrew University, Institute of Plant Sciences and Prefecture. From 1998 to 2001, Oji Paper estabished a field trial of Agriculture is also involved in GE tree research. GM eucalyptus in Vietnam. http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/Israel.html http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/Japan.html
Japan New Zealand
Genetic manipulation is being performed on several trees: Research in this country has focused on radiata pine and Norway Eucalyptus, Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), Poplar, Acacia spruce, aimed at herbicide tolerance, flowerless trees and wood mangium and Sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria). The aims are easier to pulp. In June 2008, Scion cut down the last radiata pine diverse: salt-tolerant and acidic soil tolerant eucalyptus, male trees of its field trial, when the trees were eight-year old and thus sterility in Japanese cedar to avoid pollen-related allergies, reduced having reached an age where they could become reproductive and lignin content and increased CO2 fixation by trees. A number of produce heritable material. Although there now appear to be no field universities are jointly working with major pulp and paper trials of GE trees, it is important to note that Scion has signed a corporations. The University of Tsukuba is working with Nippon research agreement with GE tree research company ArborGen, Paper Industries on GE eucalyptus. Gifu University works in owned by International Paper, MeadWestvaco and Rubicon. This partnership with Oji Paper, also on eucalyptus. The Universities of means that GE tree research will continue. However, opposition is Utsunomiya, Kyoto, Nagoya, Tokyo and Shimane participate in the growing and is headed by two organizations: GE-Free New Zealand JSPS-LIPI Program carried out by the Japan Society for the in food & environment (Rage Inc.), and the Soil and Health Promotion of Sciences (JSPS) and the Indonesian Institute of Association. The latter carried out a campaign for the Scion GE tree Sciences (LIPI). This Japanese-led project produced 750 GE Acacia trial to be stopped and the trees to be removed. Following a different mangium and 400 GE Sengon trees in Indonesia. Some 130 approach, in January 2008, someone got into Scion's GE tree Mangium and 30 Sengon trees are being kept at the Serpong experiment site and damaged 19 trees. Botanical Garden. The whereabouts of the other seedlings is http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/NZealand.html unknown. Research on GE Japanese cedar is being carried out by the Forest Experiment Station, Toyama Forestry and Forest Products
GE tree research - A country by country overview - WRM Briefing, November 2008 5 Sweden Thailand
Tree species being manipulated include poplar, eucalyptus and France’s CIRAD (Centre de coopération internationale en recherche spruce and the aims are to obtain trees having early flowering, faster agronomique pour le développement) is jointly working with some growth, increased fibre length, wood easier to pulp (with more easily undisclosed Thai “public research organizations” on rubber trees for extracted lignin content) and easier hydrolysis of the sugar polymers higher latex production and to allow callus growth recovery, with for subsequent production of ethanol. Research is being carried out reduced browning and sustained GUS activity. It is unknown if there by the Umeå Plant Science Centre and by SweTree Technologies are any field trials of these trees in Thailand. GE rubber tree (SweTree Technologies was formed in 1999 as a joint initiative of research receives public support from the Charoen Pokphand group, the Foundation of Technology Transfer –Innovationsbron- in Umeå one of the country’s largest business empires, which has stated that and the company Woodheads AB. Innovationsbron aims to profit by “it is confident that the government will give the go-ahead for the commercialising Swedish research and innovation. Woodheads AB cultivation of GM rubber in the future.” was formed to handle the intellectual property from 44 researchers at http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/Thailand.html the Umeå Plant Science Centre and the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm). It is interesting to note that three Swedish forestry companies (Sveaskog, Bergvik Skog and Holmen) United Kingdom are part-owners of SweTree Technologies. http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/Sweden.html Research on GE trees in the past included field trials of herbicide- resistant eucalyptus (carried out by Shell and now discontinued) and poplar (destroyed by protesters in 1999). The only existing field trial Taiwan -carried out by researchers from Abertay University in Dundee- is composed of elm trees genetically modified for resistance to Dutch The only information publicly available is that the Taiwan Forestry Elm disease. The elm field trial is being carried out in "a controlled Research Institute is collaborating with the US North Carolina State environment" “somewhere in Dundee”. The scientists developing University in genetically modifying eucalyptus to achieve more CO2 them fear "terrorism" by protesters and will not disclose precisely uptake by these trees. where they are or give details of the numbers. Southampton http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/Taiwan.html University researchers are involved in GE poplars are carrying out the research with academics from France and Belgium and are seeking locations in Britain and Belgium for field trials. The
GE tree research - A country by country overview - WRM Briefing, November 2008 6 application for a field trial has not yet been approved by the relevant authorities. http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/UK.html
USA
This is the country with the largest number of field trials - over 350 outdoor test plots of GE trees- the largest number of companies and universities carrying out research, the largest number of tree species being manipulated, the largest number of traits being genetically modified and almost certainly receiving the largest amount of funding for research. On the other hand, opposition is growing stronger and a number of organizations are carrying out a coordinated campaign against GE trees. Another type of opposition expressed itself in March 2001, when Oregon State University (OSU) students and alumni targeted three GE test sites of Poplar and Cottonwood trees. They ringbarked or cut down 90% of the trees at OSU's site at the Peavey Arboretum. At OSU's tract near Half Moon Bend of the Willamette River they eliminated 60% of the trees. Every tree was cut down in one test plot at OSU's Agricultural Experiment Station in Klamath Falls. In all, over 1200 GE research trees were destroyed. http://www.wrm.org.uy/subjects/GMTrees/USA.html
GE tree research - A country by country overview - WRM Briefing, November 2008 7