Environmental Risk Assessment and Confinement of Genetically Engineered Trees with an Emphasis on Vegetative Reproduction.

Confined field trials and regulation of genetically engineered plants

Varietal trial of a non-transgenic experimental material generated from modern or traditional plant breeding methods can be tested in any region that suits the respective crop without any confinement. However, a transgenic experimental material developed following genetic engineering (GE) requires its testing in confinement to assess its safety as human food/commercial use/animal feed or to determine its impact on ecology and environment. Given the gravity of impact, a genetically engineered crops are developed following, several guidelines, rules, Acts, framed by the countries involved in transgenic research. One such guideline in the Indian context is “Guidelines for Research in Transgenic Crops, 1998” and international guidelines in India are abstracted from Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Cartagena protocol. These guidelines set out rules and procedures to regulate genetically engineered (GE) crop field trials. In India there are regulatory bodies from the ministry level to local level (districts and research institution) that execute, monitor and authorise the use of GE plants or animals. The GE crop/are raised in “confined field trials” (CFT) with the objectives to collect data on its potential threat to environment, impact as feed and food of livestock and human respectively. In India CFTs are conducted on a case-by-case basis; no generalised protocols are applied to all types of GE crops under trial. While the regulation of GE crops is “process” based and “product” based in European Union (EU) and USA respectively.  

Edible insect farming and the risk of biological invasions: a global trait-based assessment.

Insect farming is promoted as a sustainable alternative to traditional livestock, offering substantial reductions in land, water, and feed use while generating fewer greenhouse gas emissions. However, the escape or release of farmed insects into non-native environments may create significant biological invasion risks, with consequences for biodiversity, human well-being, and economies. This study provides the first systematic assessment of the ecological characteristics influencing the likelihood of edible insects becoming invasive, and identifies species not yet reported as invasive that could present risks if farmed outside their native ranges. We evaluated 1,030 species (943 native and 88 introduced) spanning six insect orders (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, and Blattodea) in a multidimensional functional space. Our analyses highlight the importance of both larval and adult diet breadth, macroecological factors such as temperature and humidity, and native-range distribution size as predictors of invasion potential. Using machine learning, we identified species with high invasive risk, with Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, and Hymenoptera being the groups most likely to become invasive. By combining ecological variables with predictive modeling, this work provides a framework for invasion risk assessment and delivers practical guidance to support sustainable insect farming while minimizing ecological threats.

Environmental risk assessment for genetically modified microalgae.

Advances in genomic techniques have great potential to accelerate the development of the microalgal sector and to address key challenges related to upscaling. Genetically modified microalgae (GMM) can exhibit enhanced biomass productivity, increased accumulation of valuable biocompounds, or express other beneficial traits compared to their non-modified counterparts. However, the application of GMM and their associated cultivation methods may lead to unintentional release, potentially affecting adjacent ecosystems. Here we apply a problem formulation approach to support the environmental risk assessment of novel GMM relative to their wild-type counterparts. We focus on potential effects on ecosystem services provided by natural microalgae communities. We present plausible pathways to harm through which GMM could exert adverse effects and formulate relevant research questions to evaluate the likelihood of each step within these pathways. Existing knowledge on the hazards associated with invasiveness, gene transfer and toxicity of GMM is compiled and discussed. Together, these elements provide a practical framework for identifying relevant hazards and guiding data generation to support environmental risk assessments of GMM.

Gene Editing in Forest Tree Breeding for Stress Resistance: From Mechanisms to Future Prospects.

This review synthesises the fundamental principles and limitations of multiple gene-editing technologies, with a particular emphasis on CRISPR systems (Cas9, Cas12, and Cas13), in the specific context of woody perennial biology, and highlights how synergising CRISPR technologies with multi-omics, genomic selection, and high-throughput phenomics can accelerate the development and application of climate-resilient woody perennials.

Unlocking nature's vault: Innovative tools for plant genebanks

Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) are material containing useful genetic variation in plant species, including their weedy and wild relatives. Collections of PGR are mined for useful traits as needed to respond to new biotic and abiotic stresses; incorporate new nutritional, yield, or value‐added traits; and create new markets or industries. PGR are also useful to identify genes encoding traits of interest; serve as training populations for new breeding methodologies such as genomic selection that integrate the latest genomic data with new statistical modeling; and underpin evolutionary and taxonomic studies. The genebanks of the USDA ARS National Plant Germplasm System have experienced progress and challenges in applying such tools and technologies to PGR maintenance and creation of data that will increase their utility. These tools include high‐throughput genotyping and phenotyping technologies that could be used by breeders to unlock their genetic potential, and to more efficiently and effectively manage the collections. Examples of these technologies used on PGR of the USDA ARS Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research Unit are presented, as are genebank success stories of entries that were used to create new breeding lines and cultivars to solve a problem faced by US farmers. Finally, current challenges and opportunities in PGR management and utilization are offered.

Climate-driven niche tracking and genomic resilience shape future distribution of a widespread agricultural weed