Workshop on the Safety Assessment of Food Derived from Genetically Engineered Plants

The Agriculture & Food Systems Institute collaborated with DuPont Pioneer, Biotech Consortium India Limited and Estel Consult Ltd. to create a two phased workshop focused on the safety assessment of foods derived from genetically engineered plants. Phase I was held in New Delhi, India from May 19-23. Phase II was held at DuPont’s Stine Haskell Research Center in Newark, Delaware, USA from September 15-19.

These workshops were part of a strategic program of capacity building by the Agriculture & Food Systems Institute that focused primarily on the technical training of three critical stakeholder groups: (1) regulators and scientists from the public sector who are called upon to conduct safety assessments of foods derived from genetically engineered (GE) plants on behalf of national biosafety committees; (2) public sector scientists engaged in product development; and (3) scientists from public institutions that are functioning as contract research organizations to provide testing services for public sector product developers. Participants traveled from seven different countries, including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Paraguay.

Goals

• Establish a baseline understanding of the concepts and principles of food safety assessment
• Observe and understand the processes of acute and subchronic toxicity testing
• Build a community of practice.

Outcomes

The phased approach of these workshops was designed to give participants time to process the learnings from Phase I and apply them in practice in their own organizations before reuniting for Phase II. Trainees came back for Phase II with a strong foundation for the more advanced technical discussions on toxicity testing that took place. This approach sought to increase knowledge, enhance technical competence and develop a network of scientists and regulators around the world.

• Participants shared that their knowledge and understanding of safety assessments of foods derived from GE plants increased from a rating of “fair” prior to the workshop to a rating of “very good” after attending the workshop.
• 89% of participants who responded to the survey have been able to apply what they learned during the workshop to their work.
• 78% of participants have shared the workshop materials with colleagues.
• 45% have used the information presented in the workshop to prepare guidelines, regulations and policies.

To read the outcomes from a similar two-phased, food/feed safety program we conducted in Indonesia in 2017, click here.