Certification for gene-edited forests. Strauss, S. H., Boerjan, W., Chiang, V., Costanza, A., Coleman, H., Davis, J. M., Lu, M., Mansfield, S. D., Merkle, S., Myburg, A., Nilsson, O., Pilate, G., Powell, W., Seguin, A., & Valenzuela, S. Science, 365(6455):767–768, August, 2019. Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science Section: Letters
Certification for gene-edited forests [link]Paper  doi  abstract   bibtex   2 downloads  
Forest certification bodies were established to provide consumers with confidence that they are purchasing sustainably sourced wood products. Over 500 million hectares of forests, or about 13% of global forest area, are certified under the largest certification systems ([ 1 ][1]–[ 3 ][2]). However, certification bodies have consistently excluded all genetically engineered or gene-edited (GE) trees from certification, including from field research on certified lands that is essential for understanding local benefits and impacts ([ 4 ][3]). We, leading forest biotechnology scientists from around the world, with the support of more than 1000 globally diverse signatories to a recent detailed petition ([ 5 ][4]), call for all forest certification systems to promptly examine and modify these policies. Forests face mounting stresses posed by invasive pests and climate change ([ 6 ][5]). Given the growing need for sustainable and renewable forest products and the increasing precision and safety record of biotechnologies, we believe that GE trees can make a substantial contribution to management of certified forests. To face the challenges of forest health, carbon sequestration, and maintenance of other ecological services, we must use all available tools. GE tree research should be allowed immediately on certified land, and GE trees proven by research to provide value should eventually be allowed in certified forests. A variety of current biotechnologies—including grafting, in vitro propagation, breeding, hybridization, and cloning—have made tremendous impacts on tree health and productivity ([ 7 ][6]). Newer forms of biotechnology, specifically gene editing, can make substantial further contributions to forest management. Traits that have shown great promise based on field trials of GE trees are highly diverse and include those related to productivity, wood quality, pest and stress resistance, protection of endangered species, and reproductive control ([ 8 ][7]). Research results also suggest that there are no hazards unique to GE methods compared with conventional breeding; rather, it is the value and novelty of the specific traits imparted and how they interact with conventional breeding that are germane to safety and economic assessments ([ 9 ][8], [ 10 ][9]). Instead of categorically excluding GE methods, each application of GE technology should be evaluated on its individual merits based on the trait and its mechanism. Democratic and stakeholder-driven processes generally govern certification agencies in sustainable forest management systems. However, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) recently extended the GE tree ban through 2022 via editorial updates ([ 11 ][10]), an internal procedure that did not meet the standards of a rigorous, science-based, democratic, and transparent process. We urge in-depth discussion and decisions on this issue at the PEFC annual stakeholder meeting on 3 October and at the Forest Stewardship Council general assembly on 8 October. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently completed an in-depth study on forest health and biotechnology, concluding that the potential benefits are numerous and rapidly increasing ([ 12 ][11]). Our forests are in dire need of assistance, and GE trees hold tremendous potential as a safe and powerful tool for promoting forest resilience and sustainability. 1. [↵][12]FAO, Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015 (2015); [www.fao.org/3/a-i4793e.pdf][13]. 2. PEFC (\textlesshttps://pefc.org/\textgreater). 3. [↵][14]Forest Stewardship Council, Facts and Figures (\textlesshttps://fsc.org/en/page/facts-figures\textgreater). 4. [↵][15]1. S. H. Strauss, 2. A. Costanza, 3. A. Séguin , Science 349, 794 (2015). [OpenUrl][16] 5. [↵][17]Committee of Scientists, Petition in Support of Forest Biotechnology Research (2019); \textlesshttp://biotechtrees.forestry.oregonstate.edu/petition\textgreater. 6. [↵][18]1. S. Trumbore, 2. P. Brando, 3. H. Hartmann , Science 349, 814 (2015). [OpenUrl][19] 7. [↵][20]1. T. L. White, 2. W. T. Adams, 3. D. B. Neale , Forest Genetics (Cabi International, 2007). 8. [↵][21]1. S. Chang et al ., In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. Plant. 54, 341 (2018). [OpenUrl][22] 9. [↵][23]1. C. Walter, 2. M. Fladung, 3. W. Boerjan , Nat. Biotechnol. 28, 656 (2010). [OpenUrl][24][CrossRef][25][PubMed][26] 10. [↵][27]1. V. Viswanath, 2. B. R. Albrectsen, 3. S. H. Strauss , Tree Genet. Genomes 8, 221 (2012). [OpenUrl][28] 11. [↵][29]PEFC, “Editorial updates to chain of custody standard (PEFC ST 2002:2013)” (2016); [www.pefc.co.uk/news_articles/editorial-updates-to-chain-of-custody-standard-pefc-st-2002-2013][30]. 12. [↵][31]National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Forest Health and Biotechnology: Possibilities and Considerations (2019); [www.nap.edu/catalog/25221/forest-health-and-biotechnology-possibilities-and-considerations][32]. [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #ref-3 [3]: #ref-4 [4]: #ref-5 [5]: #ref-6 [6]: #ref-7 [7]: #ref-8 [8]: #ref-9 [9]: #ref-10 [10]: #ref-11 [11]: #ref-12 [12]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [13]: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4793e.pdf [14]: #xref-ref-3-1 "View reference 3 in text" [15]: #xref-ref-4-1 "View reference 4 in text" [16]: \openurl\?query=rft.jtitle%253DScience%26rft.volume%253D54%26rft.spage%253D341%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [17]: #xref-ref-5-1 "View reference 5 in text" [18]: #xref-ref-6-1 "View reference 6 in text" [19]: \openurl\?query=rft.jtitle%253DScience%26rft.volume%253D8%26rft.spage%253D221%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [20]: #xref-ref-7-1 "View reference 7 in text" [21]: #xref-ref-8-1 "View reference 8 in text" [22]: \openurl\?query=rft.jtitle%253DIn%2BVitro%2BCell.%2BDev.%2BBiol.%2BPlant.%26rft.volume%253D54%26rft.spage%253D341%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [23]: #xref-ref-9-1 "View reference 9 in text" [24]: \openurl\?query=rft.jtitle%253DNature%2Bbiotechnology%26rft.stitle%253DNat%2BBiotechnol%26rft.aulast%253DWalter%26rft.auinit1%253DC.%26rft.volume%253D28%26rft.issue%253D7%26rft.spage%253D656%26rft.epage%253D658%26rft.atitle%253DThe%2B20-year%2Benvironmental%2Bsafety%2Brecord%2Bof%2BGM%2Btrees.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1038%252Fnbt0710-656%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F20622831%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [25]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1038/nbt0710-656&link_type=DOI [26]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=20622831&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fsci%2F365%2F6455%2F767.2.atom [27]: #xref-ref-10-1 "View reference 10 in text" [28]: \openurl\?query=rft.jtitle%253DTree%2BGenet.%2BGenomes%26rft.volume%253D8%26rft.spage%253D221%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [29]: #xref-ref-11-1 "View reference 11 in text" [30]: http://www.pefc.co.uk/news_articles/editorial-updates-to-chain-of-custody-standard-pefc-st-2002-2013 [31]: #xref-ref-12-1 "View reference 12 in text" [32]: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/25221/forest-health-and-biotechnology-possibilities-and-considerations
@article{strauss_certification_2019,
	title = {Certification for gene-edited forests},
	volume = {365},
	copyright = {Copyright © 2019 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. http://www.sciencemag.org/about/science-licenses-journal-article-reuseThis is an article distributed under the terms of the Science Journals Default License.},
	issn = {0036-8075, 1095-9203},
	url = {https://science.sciencemag.org/content/365/6455/767.2},
	doi = {10/gjcsp9},
	abstract = {Forest certification bodies were established to provide consumers with confidence that they are purchasing sustainably sourced wood products. Over 500 million hectares of forests, or about 13\% of global forest area, are certified under the largest certification systems ([ 1 ][1]–[ 3 ][2]). However, certification bodies have consistently excluded all genetically engineered or gene-edited (GE) trees from certification, including from field research on certified lands that is essential for understanding local benefits and impacts ([ 4 ][3]). We, leading forest biotechnology scientists from around the world, with the support of more than 1000 globally diverse signatories to a recent detailed petition ([ 5 ][4]), call for all forest certification systems to promptly examine and modify these policies.

Forests face mounting stresses posed by invasive pests and climate change ([ 6 ][5]). Given the growing need for sustainable and renewable forest products and the increasing precision and safety record of biotechnologies, we believe that GE trees can make a substantial contribution to management of certified forests. To face the challenges of forest health, carbon sequestration, and maintenance of other ecological services, we must use all available tools. GE tree research should be allowed immediately on certified land, and GE trees proven by research to provide value should eventually be allowed in certified forests.

A variety of current biotechnologies—including grafting, in vitro propagation, breeding, hybridization, and cloning—have made tremendous impacts on tree health and productivity ([ 7 ][6]). Newer forms of biotechnology, specifically gene editing, can make substantial further contributions to forest management. Traits that have shown great promise based on field trials of GE trees are highly diverse and include those related to productivity, wood quality, pest and stress resistance, protection of endangered species, and reproductive control ([ 8 ][7]). Research results also suggest that there are no hazards unique to GE methods compared with conventional breeding; rather, it is the value and novelty of the specific traits imparted and how they interact with conventional breeding that are germane to safety and economic assessments ([ 9 ][8], [ 10 ][9]). Instead of categorically excluding GE methods, each application of GE technology should be evaluated on its individual merits based on the trait and its mechanism.

Democratic and stakeholder-driven processes generally govern certification agencies in sustainable forest management systems. However, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) recently extended the GE tree ban through 2022 via editorial updates ([ 11 ][10]), an internal procedure that did not meet the standards of a rigorous, science-based, democratic, and transparent process. We urge in-depth discussion and decisions on this issue at the PEFC annual stakeholder meeting on 3 October and at the Forest Stewardship Council general assembly on 8 October.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently completed an in-depth study on forest health and biotechnology, concluding that the potential benefits are numerous and rapidly increasing ([ 12 ][11]). Our forests are in dire need of assistance, and GE trees hold tremendous potential as a safe and powerful tool for promoting forest resilience and sustainability.



1.  [↵][12]FAO, Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015 (2015); [www.fao.org/3/a-i4793e.pdf][13].
2.  PEFC ({\textless}https://pefc.org/{\textgreater}).
3.  [↵][14]Forest Stewardship Council, Facts and Figures ({\textless}https://fsc.org/en/page/facts-figures{\textgreater}).
4.  [↵][15]1.   S. H. Strauss, 
    2.   A. Costanza, 
    3.   A. Séguin
    
    , Science 349, 794 (2015).
    
    [OpenUrl][16]

5.  [↵][17]Committee of Scientists, Petition in Support of Forest Biotechnology Research (2019); {\textless}http://biotechtrees.forestry.oregonstate.edu/petition{\textgreater}.
6.  [↵][18]1.   S. Trumbore, 
    2.   P. Brando, 
    3.   H. Hartmann
    
    , Science 349, 814 (2015).
    
    [OpenUrl][19]

7.  [↵][20]1.   T. L. White, 
    2.   W. T. Adams, 
    3.   D. B. Neale
    
    , Forest Genetics (Cabi International, 2007).
    
    

8.  [↵][21]1.   S. Chang et al
    
    ., In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. Plant. 54, 341 (2018).
    
    [OpenUrl][22]

9.  [↵][23]1.   C. Walter, 
    2.   M. Fladung, 
    3.   W. Boerjan
    
    , Nat. Biotechnol. 28, 656 (2010).
    
    [OpenUrl][24][CrossRef][25][PubMed][26]

10. [↵][27]1.   V. Viswanath, 
    2.   B. R. Albrectsen, 
    3.   S. H. Strauss
    
    , Tree Genet. Genomes 8, 221 (2012).
    
    [OpenUrl][28]

11. [↵][29]PEFC, “Editorial updates to chain of custody standard (PEFC ST 2002:2013)” (2016); [www.pefc.co.uk/news\_articles/editorial-updates-to-chain-of-custody-standard-pefc-st-2002-2013][30].
12. [↵][31]National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Forest Health and Biotechnology: Possibilities and Considerations (2019); [www.nap.edu/catalog/25221/forest-health-and-biotechnology-possibilities-and-considerations][32].

 [1]: \#ref-1
 [2]: \#ref-3
 [3]: \#ref-4
 [4]: \#ref-5
 [5]: \#ref-6
 [6]: \#ref-7
 [7]: \#ref-8
 [8]: \#ref-9
 [9]: \#ref-10
 [10]: \#ref-11
 [11]: \#ref-12
 [12]: \#xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text"
 [13]: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4793e.pdf
 [14]: \#xref-ref-3-1 "View reference 3 in text"
 [15]: \#xref-ref-4-1 "View reference 4 in text"
 [16]: \{openurl\}?query=rft.jtitle\%253DScience\%26rft.volume\%253D54\%26rft.spage\%253D341\%26rft.genre\%253Darticle\%26rft\_val\_fmt\%253Dinfo\%253Aofi\%252Ffmt\%253Akev\%253Amtx\%253Ajournal\%26ctx\_ver\%253DZ39.88-2004\%26url\_ver\%253DZ39.88-2004\%26url\_ctx\_fmt\%253Dinfo\%253Aofi\%252Ffmt\%253Akev\%253Amtx\%253Actx
 [17]: \#xref-ref-5-1 "View reference 5 in text"
 [18]: \#xref-ref-6-1 "View reference 6 in text"
 [19]: \{openurl\}?query=rft.jtitle\%253DScience\%26rft.volume\%253D8\%26rft.spage\%253D221\%26rft.genre\%253Darticle\%26rft\_val\_fmt\%253Dinfo\%253Aofi\%252Ffmt\%253Akev\%253Amtx\%253Ajournal\%26ctx\_ver\%253DZ39.88-2004\%26url\_ver\%253DZ39.88-2004\%26url\_ctx\_fmt\%253Dinfo\%253Aofi\%252Ffmt\%253Akev\%253Amtx\%253Actx
 [20]: \#xref-ref-7-1 "View reference 7 in text"
 [21]: \#xref-ref-8-1 "View reference 8 in text"
 [22]: \{openurl\}?query=rft.jtitle\%253DIn\%2BVitro\%2BCell.\%2BDev.\%2BBiol.\%2BPlant.\%26rft.volume\%253D54\%26rft.spage\%253D341\%26rft.genre\%253Darticle\%26rft\_val\_fmt\%253Dinfo\%253Aofi\%252Ffmt\%253Akev\%253Amtx\%253Ajournal\%26ctx\_ver\%253DZ39.88-2004\%26url\_ver\%253DZ39.88-2004\%26url\_ctx\_fmt\%253Dinfo\%253Aofi\%252Ffmt\%253Akev\%253Amtx\%253Actx
 [23]: \#xref-ref-9-1 "View reference 9 in text"
 [24]: \{openurl\}?query=rft.jtitle\%253DNature\%2Bbiotechnology\%26rft.stitle\%253DNat\%2BBiotechnol\%26rft.aulast\%253DWalter\%26rft.auinit1\%253DC.\%26rft.volume\%253D28\%26rft.issue\%253D7\%26rft.spage\%253D656\%26rft.epage\%253D658\%26rft.atitle\%253DThe\%2B20-year\%2Benvironmental\%2Bsafety\%2Brecord\%2Bof\%2BGM\%2Btrees.\%26rft\_id\%253Dinfo\%253Adoi\%252F10.1038\%252Fnbt0710-656\%26rft\_id\%253Dinfo\%253Apmid\%252F20622831\%26rft.genre\%253Darticle\%26rft\_val\_fmt\%253Dinfo\%253Aofi\%252Ffmt\%253Akev\%253Amtx\%253Ajournal\%26ctx\_ver\%253DZ39.88-2004\%26url\_ver\%253DZ39.88-2004\%26url\_ctx\_fmt\%253Dinfo\%253Aofi\%252Ffmt\%253Akev\%253Amtx\%253Actx
 [25]: /lookup/external-ref?access\_num=10.1038/nbt0710-656\&link\_type=DOI
 [26]: /lookup/external-ref?access\_num=20622831\&link\_type=MED\&atom=\%2Fsci\%2F365\%2F6455\%2F767.2.atom
 [27]: \#xref-ref-10-1 "View reference 10 in text"
 [28]: \{openurl\}?query=rft.jtitle\%253DTree\%2BGenet.\%2BGenomes\%26rft.volume\%253D8\%26rft.spage\%253D221\%26rft.genre\%253Darticle\%26rft\_val\_fmt\%253Dinfo\%253Aofi\%252Ffmt\%253Akev\%253Amtx\%253Ajournal\%26ctx\_ver\%253DZ39.88-2004\%26url\_ver\%253DZ39.88-2004\%26url\_ctx\_fmt\%253Dinfo\%253Aofi\%252Ffmt\%253Akev\%253Amtx\%253Actx
 [29]: \#xref-ref-11-1 "View reference 11 in text"
 [30]: http://www.pefc.co.uk/news\_articles/editorial-updates-to-chain-of-custody-standard-pefc-st-2002-2013
 [31]: \#xref-ref-12-1 "View reference 12 in text"
 [32]: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/25221/forest-health-and-biotechnology-possibilities-and-considerations},
	language = {en},
	number = {6455},
	urldate = {2021-06-07},
	journal = {Science},
	author = {Strauss, Steven H. and Boerjan, Wout and Chiang, Vincent and Costanza, Adam and Coleman, Heather and Davis, John M. and Lu, Meng-Zhu and Mansfield, Shawn D. and Merkle, Scott and Myburg, Alexander and Nilsson, Ove and Pilate, Gilles and Powell, William and Seguin, Armand and Valenzuela, Sofia},
	month = aug,
	year = {2019},
	pmid = {31439790},
	note = {Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Section: Letters},
	pages = {767--768},
}
Downloads: 2
About
Documentation
Keywords
Search
Users
Terms and Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Sitemap
© BibBase.org 2021