FP5 funds European network on GM food crops
ENTRANSFOOD, a European network of stakeholders in research on genetically modified food crops has been established with assistance from the European Community. It aims to deal with the problems raised by new scientific knowledge on genetics. The thematic network will deal with the problems related to food safety and market introduction of genetically modified (GM) foods. It is coordinated by the State Institute for quality control of agricultural products (RIKILT), in the Netherlands, and financed through the European Commission's Quality of life and management of living resources programme, under the Fifth Framework programme. Some 45 specialists from 11 EU countries attended the network's first meeting earlier this year. Over the course of two days, they developed initial work programmes to critically assess: - safety testing of GM food; - detection of unintended effects as a consequence of genetic modification; - gene transfer to man/animal of newly introduced genes; - traceability and quality assurance of GM food and ingredients. ENTRANSFOOD will also produce position documents and review papers on literature data and on new knowledge gained in the running EU RTD projects financed through the AIR, FLAIR, FAIR and Fifth Framework programmes. Over the next three years, the network aims to help develop suitable research strategies which will enable scientists to determine the safety of GM food, while focusing especially on improving existing methods. It also hopes to develop efficient detection methods for GM foods and ingredients to make traceability of GM products possible throughout the food chain. ENTRANSFOOD will also conduct critical analyses of aspects related to gene transfer and allergy, and it aims to improve communication to users' organisations on food safety and to help inform policy making on GM organisms.
Countries
Netherlands