Environmental Applications of GM Microorganisms: Tiny Critters Posing Huge Challenges for Risk Assessment and Governance

Abstract

In recent years, the interest in developing genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs), including GMMs developed by genome editing, for use in the environment has significantly increased. However, the scientific knowledge on the ecology of such GMMs is severely limited. There is also little experience at the hands of regulators on how to evaluate the environmental safety of GMMs and on how to assess whether they provide sustainable alternatives to current (agricultural) production systems. This review analyzes two different GMM applications, GM microalgae for biofuel production and nitrogen-fixing GM soil bacteria for use as biofertilizers. We assess the challenges posed by such GMMs for regulatory environmental risk assessment (ERA) against the background of the GMO legislation existing in the European Union (EU). Based on our analysis, we present recommendations for ERA and the monitoring of GMM applications, and in particular for the improvement of the existing EU guidance. We also explore whether existing approaches for technology assessment can provide a framework for the broader assessment of GMM applications. To this end, we recommend developing and implementing an evidence-based sustainability analysis and other methods of technology assessment to support decision making and to address broader societal concerns linked to the use of GMM applications in the environment.

Keywords: ERA; GM biofertilizer; GM microalgae; GMM; TA; biosafety; environmental risk assessment; genetically modified microorganisms; governance; monitoring; sustainability assessment; technology assessment.

Figure 1

Possible pathways to harm resulting from unintended or unavoidable exposure of natural habitats with GM microalgae used for biofuel production.

Figure 2

Possible pathways to harm resulting from the intended exposure of agricultural soils and the unintended and unavoidable exposure of natural habitats with GMMs from biofertilizer products. (AMR: antimicrobial resistance; HGT: horizontal gene transfer).

Figure 3

Number of topical publications per year (n = 155).

Figure 4

Topical split within the analyzed sample of publications (n = 135).