Introduction & Background
The Principles of Organic Agriculture exclude methods of genetic engineering of life forms. This includes genetic sequences and organisms produced through “New Genomic Techniques” (NGTs) as well as older forms of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). Nonetheless, we exist in an era of genetic disruption wrought by these technologies that pose a serious threat to organic, agroecological, and regenerative producers worldwide.
IFOAM – Organics International therefore resolved at its 2017 General Assembly (New Delhi, India) to meet this challenge through three main avenues:
- Increase the diversity, quality, and availability of seed and other genetic resources that have been developed through appropriate methods – as explained in the Position Paper Compatibility of Breeding Techniques in Organic Systems.
- Protect all links of organic value chains from contamination by or pollution from GMOs, NGTs, and the like.
- Engage the mainstream paradigm toward policies, practices, and consumer awareness that brings greater regulation and control to release of products of genetic engineering to the environment and inclusion in the food supply. Read our Global Safety & Risk Assessment Protocol for New Genomic Technologies.
Monitoring GM Databases to Protect Your Organic Value Chains
Organic value chains can protect their integrity by assuring that products and sources of genetic engineering are effectively excluded from their operations. The IFOAM Seeds Platform aims to help organic, agroecological, regenerative, and other like-minded actors meet this challenge by offering easy links to information sources that track and monitor products of genetic engineering. The following databases are publicly available:
The IFOAM Seeds Platform also maintains its own list of Newest Commercialized GMOs to supplement these databases, when it learns of new varieties allowed to be marketed for food/agriculture purposes, and which may not yet be included in the larger databases. This intelligence is not always easy to obtain! We welcome your suggestions to add data or identify inaccuracies in this list; please email us: seeds[at]ifoam.bio.
Disclaimer
Maintaining a complete, exhaustive and up-to-date list of GMOs is a huge challenge, due to the fast evolution of the sector and differences in regulations among countries. The Seeds Platform recommends checking all databases as a way to cross-reference and corroborate information. Despite the wealth of information provided by the links on this web page, this is not a guarantee of completeness or accuracy and the IFOAM Seeds Platform denies any responsibility for consequences of use of the information provided herein.
Work With Us!
The more eyes and ears devoted to meeting this challenge, the broader the benefit. Do you have new data? New sources? Corrections? Requests? Suggestions? Ideas for collaboration? Please contact us: seeds[at]ifoam.bio
Laboratory Detection of NGTs
Visit the Darwin Project.
Additional News Sources