In December 2005 the Swiss Federal Council commissioned the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) to launch the research program “Benefits and risks of the release of genetically modified plants”. This took place shortly after the Yes vote in the referendum petition for a five-year moratorium on genetic engineering. On 7 June 2006 the SNF issued an invitation to tender for NFP 59(1).

According to the SNF, its purpose is to contribute to making the public discussion surrounding genetically modified plants (GMP), which is characterized by scepticism, more objective by scientifically well-founded knowledge. Although research in this field is excluded from the moratorium, it is regarded as important by the majority both of critics and supporters of the technology.

Switzerland is a suitable place for interdisciplinary research

The research promotion institution’s press release further states that extensive research programs on the release of genetically modified plants are being undertaken in the USA and in Europe as well as in China and India. However, it says there is still a need to check the extent to which the knowledge about the benefits and risks of GMP release obtained in such programs abroad is applicable to Switzerland.

The SNF quotes three reasons for this: firstly a systematic assessment of the data collected abroad and to a limited extent also in Switzerland is difficult and remains incomplete, furthermore important information and knowledge is not easily accessible. In addition, agreement regarding procedural standards for biological safety research with GMP also seems to be rather restricted. Secondly, research projects up to now have focused mainly on questions relating to the risks of GMP; correspondingly less attention was paid to efforts to highlight the potential benefits or advantages of this new technology. Thirdly, because of its ecological diversity, small-scale farming, cultural differences in the perception of GMP and its specific political structures, Switzerland is a particularly suitable place for interdisciplinary research in this complex subject area.

According to the implementation plan that has just been published, the concrete objectives pursued by the interdisciplinary program are as follows: it aims to study the applications of plant biotechnology that might be appropriate for Switzerland. In addition it intends to assess the legal-administrative framework for GMP in Switzerland and to develop procedural standards for risk research and monitoring.

ETH carried out a well-known field experiment with genetically modified wheat in Lindau. Further release trials in Switzerland are expected in the context of the new National Research Program 59. large

Accordingly the research is subdivided into four areas: the principal theme “Plant biotechnology and the environment”, which accounts for 50 % of the program, involves mainly biological, ecological and health aspects. For example the intention is to study the conditions under which GMPs can be used as bioreactors in the non-food area, e.g. for pharmaceutical active ingredients. The social, economic, ethical, educational, legal and political question that are raised in Switzerland in connection with GMP make up about 20% of the program in the second principal theme “Political, social and economic aspects”. Principal theme 3, “Risk assessment, risk management and the decision process" in relation to the release of GMP, accounts for 5-10% of the NFP. Finally, “Overview and synthesis studies” to evaluate existing research results and knowledge make up the content of the 4th principal theme, which again makes up 5-10% of the NFP.

Release experiments are also expected

The invitation to tender for the NFP 59 project, which has access to a global credit of 12 million Swiss francs, continues until August 2006. The planned start of research is April 2007. In this connection, release experiments are explicitly expected from the spring of 2008 onwards. Completion of the NFP 59 is expected in the spring of 2011. The President of the program’s management group is Dirk Dobbelaere of the University of Bern. ETH Zurich is represented on this committee by Josef Zeyer of the Institute for Terrestrial Ecology. Thomas Bernauer of the ETH Center for Comparative and International Studies, acting as its Research Council’s delegate, will present the applications to the management group for approval or rejection.

Because of the great political significance of the subject, and the many interest groups, the SNF intends to make special efforts to communicate the progress and results of the program. In particular, a communications platform is planned starting in early 2007. In addition an interim report on the results of the research program is to be presented at the end of 2009, one year before the expiry of the Moratorium.