H2020
Europeo
ExpectedOutcome:The successful proposal will be in line with the European Green Deal priorities and the farm to fork strategy for a fair healthy and environmentally friendly food system, as well as with the EU's climate ambition for 2030 and 2050. The farm to fork strategy aims to accelerate the transition to sustainable farming and food systems. It recognises the role that new innovative techniques may play in increasing sustainability, provided they are safe for consumers and the environment while bringing benefits for society as a whole. In addition, one of the strategy´s main priorities is to ensure traceability and authenticity, and to enhance transparency. In this context, the successful proposals should contribute to ensuring traceability and authenticity, enhancing transparency and promoting innovation in the area of new genomic techniques.
Although existing detection methods may be able to detect even small alterations in the genome, this is sometimes not sufficient to confirm the presence of a genetically modified organism/product (GMO) regulated under Directive 2001/18/CE or Regulation 1829/2003, as the same alteration(s) could have been obtained by con...
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ExpectedOutcome:The successful proposal will be in line with the European Green Deal priorities and the farm to fork strategy for a fair healthy and environmentally friendly food system, as well as with the EU's climate ambition for 2030 and 2050. The farm to fork strategy aims to accelerate the transition to sustainable farming and food systems. It recognises the role that new innovative techniques may play in increasing sustainability, provided they are safe for consumers and the environment while bringing benefits for society as a whole. In addition, one of the strategy´s main priorities is to ensure traceability and authenticity, and to enhance transparency. In this context, the successful proposals should contribute to ensuring traceability and authenticity, enhancing transparency and promoting innovation in the area of new genomic techniques.
Although existing detection methods may be able to detect even small alterations in the genome, this is sometimes not sufficient to confirm the presence of a genetically modified organism/product (GMO) regulated under Directive 2001/18/CE or Regulation 1829/2003, as the same alteration(s) could have been obtained by conventional breeding, which is not subject to the GMO legislation.
The existing approaches for the detection of GMOs cannot be applied in all cases. Various products obtained with new genomic techniques, as defined by European Commission, Joint Research Centre 2021[1], do not contain targets (e.g., promoters/terminators for screening purposes or event-specific sequences) on which GMO detection is largely based.
The challenge to identify certain genetically modified products is not always related to the available methodologies, but rather to the difficulty to differentiate against non-regulated products.
Some of the above mentioned challenges have been identified by recent literature[2] and the European Network of GMO Laboratories (ENGL) report of 26 March 2019 (JRC116289) which, referring to gene editing derived plant products, concluded that validation of an event-specific detection method and its implementation for market control will be feasible only for products carrying a known DNA alteration that has been shown to be unique.(i.e. the alteration should be specific for the gene edited organism/product). The same consideration might apply for cisgenesis applications combined with gene editing. Under the current circumstances, market control will fail to detect unknown genome-edited plant products. The report notes that several issues regarding the detection, identification and quantification of genome-edited products will require further consideration, as its findings are currently based on theoretical assessments.
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
Reliable detection methods to address the challenges described;Development and validation of detection tools for enforcement authorities as well as for developers and agri-food operators;Empower enforcement authorities, developers and agri-food operators for the authenticity and traceability of products obtained through new genomic techniques;Enable informed consumer choices by enhancing transparency and traceability across the food chain;Enable innovation in the food system linked to new genomic techniques.
Scope:Proposals are expected to contribute to the development and validation of detection methods of products obtained through new genomic techniques, including all of the following activities:
Examine innovative ways and/or specific markers that would allow for distinction between products resulting from new genomic techniques subject to the GMO legislation and products that are not subject to the GMO legislation. This should not only entail the detection of specific mutations, but also of other markers in the genome that are specific for the genotype containing the mutation/s. The methods should be able to distinguish between identical mutations obtained through different techniques;Development and validation of reliable detection methods including when possible quantification. Such methods could focus on products with known mutations (i.e. DNA sequence known) or on products with unknown mutations;The proposed detection methods should focus on a wide applicability of all or a subgroup of products, allowing for a screening approach. These methods should be assessed on pure products as well as on mixtures typical of food or feed products in the market. Proposals should always include plant-based products and may include also animal and/or microorganisms-based products.The proposal could also focus on the detection of unintended mutations or insertions (foreign DNA, CRISPR-Cas sequences, etc);The proposals could also include digital/virtual/AI modelling aspects along with the detection methods alternatives;The development and validation of standardized methodologies and the contribution to future standardisation processes is encouraged. Proposals are encouraged to cooperate with actors such as the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) Knowledge Centre for Food Fraud and Quality, which provides expertise in food science, authenticity and quality of food supplied in the EU. Proposals could also foresee the involvement of the European Network of GMO Laboratories (ENGL).
Activities are expected to achieve TRL 4-5 by the end of the project. Proposals should define clearly the TRL starting point for each involved technology and the plan to reach more advanced TRL.
Applicants should seek synergies and capitalise on the results of past and ongoing research projects (including projects under the same topic) in the areas of food and feed chain traceability and new genomic techniques. Therefore proposals should include a dedicated task, appropriate resources and a plan on how they will collaborate with other projects funded under e.g. the topic HORIZON-CL6-2021-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-08. In order to achieve the expected outcomes, international cooperation is encouraged.
Specific Topic Conditions:Activities are expected to achieve TRL 4-5 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.
[1] New genomic techniques : state-of-the-art review 2021, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/710056
[2] Genome-Edited Plants: Opportunities and Challenges for an Anticipatory Detection and Identification Framework. 2021. Alexandra Ribarits, Michael Eckerstorfer, Samson Simon and Walter Stepanek. Foods 2021, 10(2), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10020430; Detection of genome edits in plants—from editing to seed. 2021. Raymond D. Shillito, Sherry Whitt, Margit Ross, Farhad Ghavami, David De Vleesschauwer, Katelijn D’Halluin, Annelies Van Hoecke, Frank Meulewaeter. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant 57:595–608. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11627-021-10214-z
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