Far-Reaching Deleterious Impacts of Regulations on Research and Environmental Studies of Recombinant DNA-Modified Perennial Biofuel Crops in the United States

Posted: 30 Jul 2013

See all articles by Drew L. Kershen

Drew L. Kershen

University of Oklahoma - College of Law

Date Written: October 1, 2010

Abstract

Regulatory restrictions have increased in recent years on organisms produced using recombinant DNA and asexual gene transfer, a process commmonly called genetic engineering or genetic modification. Regulatory agencies have raised special concerns and required additional scrutiny for perennial grasses and woody plants of interest for biofuels; these plants have incomplete domestication, invasive capabilities, and the ability to mate with wild or feral relatives. Regulations on these plants require extremely stringent containment through all phases of research and development, regardless of the source of the gene, the novelty of the trait, or the plants' anticipated economic or environmental benefits. We discuss the extent to which these requirements conflict with the realities of practical crop breeding, and prevent meaningful agronomic and environmental studies, thus hampering-and in most cases, precluding-the use of recombinant DNA breeding methods for perennial crop improvement. We propose regulatory reforms to better balance benefit and risk and remove unnecessary barriers to agronomic evaluations and environmental studies.

Keywords: transgene, poplar, switchgrass, genetically engineered organisms, genetically modified organisms

Suggested Citation

Kershen, Drew L., Far-Reaching Deleterious Impacts of Regulations on Research and Environmental Studies of Recombinant DNA-Modified Perennial Biofuel Crops in the United States (October 1, 2010). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2017709

Drew L. Kershen (Contact Author)

University of Oklahoma - College of Law ( email )

300 Timberdell Road
Norman, OK 73019
United States
405-325-4784 (Phone)
405-325-0389 (Fax)

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