Biotech Approaches to Overcome the Limitations of Using Transgenic Plants in Organic Farming

Luca Lombardo and Samanta Zelasco
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Luca Lombardo: Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Italian National Research Council, 80055 Portici, Italy
Samanta Zelasco: Olive Growing and Olive Oil Industry Research Centre, Agricultural Research Council, 87036 Rende, Italy

Sustainability, 2016, vol. 8, issue 5, 1-7

Abstract: Organic farming prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) inasmuch as their genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. In actual fact, there is a conventional identity between GMOs and transgenic organisms, so that genetic modification methods such as somatic hybridization and mutagenesis are equalized to conventional breeding. A loophole in this system is represented by more or less innovative genetic engineering approaches under regulatory discussion, such as cisgenesis, oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, and antisense technologies, that are redefining the concept of GMOs and might circumvent the requirements of the GMO legislation and, indirectly, of organic farming.

Keywords: organic farming; cisgenesis; genome editing; GMO regulations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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