Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis of the descent showed that the genetic feature is well transferred to the poste
English version The Institute for Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA), on the 12th of March 2010, submitted to the National Biosafety Agency (ANB) an application to seek permission for purpose of seeds importation and scientific field and lab experimentations on the genetically modified cowpea "Bt-cowpea" resistant to Maruca vitrata Fab..
ANB, after appreciating the Previous Conclusive Technical Opinion of the National Scientific Committee for Biosafety (CSNB), approved through the ministerial order 2010-413 /MESSRS/SG/ANB of November 15, 2010, the importation of seeds, and through the ministerial order 2010-412 /MESSRS/SG/ANB of November 15, 2010, the field and laboratory experimentations of genetically modified cowpea (Bt-cowpea) resistant to Maruca vitrata Fab., under conditions specified in this previous conclusive technical opinion.
SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION
Bt-cowpea, genetically modified by insertion of gene Cry1Ab (1869 bp) derived from the kurstaki HD1 lineage of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), is resistant to Maruca vitrata Fab., one of the main depredators of cultivated and wild cowpea. Bt-cowpea was genetically modified through a transformation mediated by Agrobacterium. It expresses the gene Acry1Ab and it is toxin Bt present in the tissues of the plant that confer it its resistance to Maruca. Toxin Bt is specific for insects Lepidoptera and has no toxicity for the pollinators (hymenoptera), the mammals (including human being), and birds.
The genetic modification Bt-cowpea has undergone is intended neither for its allelopathic feature, nor the dormancy, viability, germinability of its seeds. It is also not aimed to modify the pollens and seeds dispersal, nor vegetative reproduction. There is also no foreseen undesirable side effect.
The genetic modification does not confer competitive advantages to Bt-cowpea over the other species. The only advantage is the resistance to Maruca, which might turn out to be a competitive advantage for Bt-cowpea in an area where Maruca is present.
7
About genes transfer to the environment, the inserted genetic feature is very stable in the transformed lines. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis of the descent showed that the genetic feature is well transferred to the posterity after self-pollination of the flowers. For the transfer to the wide environment (not lineage only), some spontaneous living forms, elsewhere in Africa, are allogams (cross-pollinating), but in Burkina Faso, the wild types are mainly autogams (self-pollinating). A study conducted in 2003 on wild population showed an average crossing rate of 3.5%, with a maximum of 9% in a population in Dionkoudougou. This rate is highly reduced (less than 1%) when the genotypes are not mixed (as in wild population) but grown in alternating lines or adjacent plots. Many insects are attracted by cowpea flowers but only big-sized bees of the genus Xylocopa or the Megachilidae family are able to move the reproductive organs and thus transport pollens. Thus, in theory, pollens can be transported over many km but in practice, in the majority of cases, the transport is limited to short distances (less than 30 m) (Fatokun and Ng, 2007). Moreover, even if every cowpea’s flower is visited at least once by a pollinator, the self-pollination which starts during the night leads to very low rates of crossing.
In this projected experiment, the transgenic plants will be surrounded by many concentric rows of untransformed plants (non-transgenic plants). No cowpea cultivation will be allowed at less than 100 m from the experimentation. All these measures will contribute to limit gene transfer to the environment.
The overall goal of the present project experimentation on Bt-cowpea is to mitigate the food crisis by improving the productivity of cowpea through popularization of Bt-cowpea resistant to Maruca vitrata Fab., one of the main depredators of cultivated and wild cowpea. Toxicity studies have not yet been conducted on the protein Cry1Ab in Bt-cowpea. However, the proteins expressed by the two genes (Cry1Ab et nptII) implicated in the genetic modification, in the case of other genetically modified plants such as maize, were declared harmless for the environment, humans and animals, in some countries of the OCDE organization. These two proteins have no effect on the nutritive value and the physiology of the transformed plant.
8
DECISION OF THE NATIONAL COMPETENT AUTHORITY
Because of the aforementioned, the National Biosafety Agency (ANB) authorized: 1. through the ministerial order 2010-413/MESSRS/SG/ANB of November 15, 2010, the importation of 300 grams of seeds of twelve (12) lines of transgenic cowpea (709A, 710B, 711B2, 708A, 808B1, 162B2, 716F, 717B, 715A, 152D, 155A, 720D) resistant to Maruca vitrata Fab. 2. through the ministerial order 2010-412/MESSRS/SG/ANB of November 15, 2010, the experimentation on Bt-cowpea, during the agricultural season 2011-2012. The National Biosafety Agency required that the experimentation be conducted under a level 2 biosafety greenhouse, instead of confined field which was seen as not totally safe. The trial was also subjected to the following conditions: (i)
INERA shall provide the National Biosafety Agency (ANB), within two (02)
weeks from the date of receipt of the aforementioned ministerial orders, with:
(ii)
complementary information on the innocuousness of the gene Acry1Ab
the results of the preliminary studies on Bt cowpea in Porto Rico and in Nigeria,
the toxicity level,
the graph for the experimental setup,
the details of actions plan in case of emergency related to the planned activities. INERA shall plan for all the necessary to ensure the safety of the imported
materials in accordance with national and international rules and standards. Specifically, INERA shall:
Notify to ANB, at least seven (7) days in advance, the first importation of seeds; this shall be a written notification giving the following information: the nature of the seeds, the date of sending, the expected arrival date, the means of transport and the full address of the transport company, the full address of the receiver of the package and the emergency plan in case of unintentional dissemination, and the cost of the actions in the emergency plan.
Import the seeds using waterproof and air-tight containers and, clearly write on the accompanying papers and the package the following notice: “this package contains transgenic seeds and is being sent to (address of the receiver)”.
Show the package to the customs office
Pay the custom duty 9
Withdraw the package only when permission has been granted from the custom office
Make sure that the necessary measures have been taken to prevent unintentional dissemination during unloading and transport to the final receiver.
Respect all other conditions for developing, utilizing, and disseminating GMO in the country.
(iii)
Respect all other legal rules relevant to importation in Burkina Faso. INERA shall pay to ANB the control and inspection fees before importing the
seeds. INERA shall also pay to ANB the control and inspection fees (of the experimental site) before seeding. (iv)
INERA is subjected to the following safety rules:
Respect the planned experimental design
Notify to ANB all modifications the experimental protocol will be subject to.
Notify to ANB, at least fourteen (14) days in advance, the seeding and harvest dates.
Collect data on food safety
Use waterproof and air-tight containers for harvesting, transport and conservation of seeds.
Burn leftover seeds and harvest residue under the supervision of an usher and members of ANB.
Present the result of the experiment on Bt cowpea resistant to Maruca vitrata Fab.
The National Biosafety Agency (ANB) shall be the one to ensure the compliance with the requirements contained in the Previous Conclusive Technical Opinion. Specifically, ANB shall periodically proceed to the control and inspection of the safety measures and evaluate the environmental impacts throughout the duration of the experiment.
Under law n°005-2006/AN of march 17, 2006 regulating safety regimes in biotechnology
matters
in
Burkina
Faso,
and
decreet
n°2004-
262/PRES/PM/MECV/MAHRH/MS of June 18, 2004 defining the national rules in biotechnology safety matters, the National Scientific Committee for Biosafety (CSNB), found the experimental protocol and the other safety measures (to be followed) to be in compliance
10
with the rules and laws ensuring the safety of the environment, agriculture, human and animal health.
Reférences bibliographiques Fatokun CA, Ng Q, 2007 - Outcrossing in cowpea. J. Food Agric. Environ. 5-3/4: 334338. Joung K. and Côté J. C., 2000. Une analyse des incidences environnementales de l’insecticide microbien Bacillus thuringiensis. Bulletin technique no. 29. Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada.
Le Comité Scientifique National de Biosécurité
11
