Plant Molecular Farming Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is plant molecular farming?

The researchers define the PMF in a number of ways. In accordance with Canadian definitions of plants with novel properties (PNT), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has a working definition was adopted as follows:

"The use of plants to produce in agriculture, rather than presented biomolecules of food, feed and fiber. Plants with novel properties that produce scientific, medical and industrial biomolecules of interest, such as plants and crops grown biomolecules.
Q. How else could these products made?

Before the development of recombinant DNA technology in the 1970s, protein drugs were available in very limited quantities, for example, human cadavers were the source of human growth hormone and insulin to treat diabetes was collected from slaughtered pigs.

Many pharmaceutical proteins and industrial enzymes produced by genetically modified bacteria since the 1970s.
Q. Is that all vaccines and therapeutic proteins can be produced from plant molecular farming?

Although many therapeutic No "can" made in the systems of plant molecular farming to ensure that profitable production of safe and functional, others are good, such a system suited to production. In some cases, the molecules can not be synthesized in many plant tissues. In other cases, while the costs of the production of plant molecular farming are generally lower than other systems of production and the cost of restoring the functional products can be too high. In still other cases, the risks to human health, animal and environmental protection be regarded as unacceptable.
Q. Is there plant molecular farming in Canada today?

There is no plant molecular farming in Canada today, and none planned in the near future. However, a number of organizations have authorized studies of the PNT for Molecular Farming carried out in laboratories and greenhouses and in a limited number of tests fieldwork limited. The CFIA expects that developers seek approval for the commercial production of plants for molecular farming in three five years ago.
Q. plants are used for molecular farming without danger to the environment?

to raise additional PNT molecular farming concerns in PNT for food, feed or fiber, because their products are likely to affect the physiology of humans, animals or wild animals, which can be swallowed accidentally are.

CFIA evaluators carefully and thoroughly assess the potential impact of all plants with novel properties, including those used for molecular farming, before those products are approved or restrict the field trials for research or to open for release into the environment. This assessment takes into account the possible impact of the PNT on wildlife and other non-target organisms.

PNT can be regarded as dangerous for the environment, when the novelty of the system makes it more like a weed exist in non-agricultural habitats. When the novelty of the production of molecular farming, no increase of weed control is to be expected.

PNT can also be dangerous for the environment if the new character may also other plants of the same or related species are considered to be transferred. A number of mechanisms such as male sterility can be used to reduce gene flow through cross-pollination

Field trials of closed plants in Canada, including those for molecular farming are limited in size, number and be managed under strict conditions and conditions affecting the escape of the VCN or its pollen. See also the area covered by the Directive 2000-07 Guidelines for the environmental release of plants with novel properties in the confined field trials in Canada.

There are no plants for molecular farming is the release of pre-approved commercial or open custody in the environment.
Q. Are there human health of plants used for molecular farming?

Some plants can be used for molecular farming produce compounds (eg drugs) that affect human health. Effects on human health from accidental ingestion or contact with employees or others may be unknown. Some of these plants have been field tests in Canada under restricted conditions that the material is not carried out supplies in the food or feed guarantee. Occupational and bystander exposure and taken into account in the approval of field trials.

There are no plants for molecular farming are currently in commercial production or authorized release into the environment in Canada. At the request of the parties, the development of guidelines CFIA is currently available for the release of the pre-commercial plant molecular farming that strict measures to ensure the plant material not supplied in the food or feed offer animal and plant material to avoid potential negative effects on the health of workers and bystanders not released into the environment.
Q. What is the CFIA requirements for plant molecular farming?

The Plant Biosafety Office (PBO) is responsible for assessing the PNT, including those used for molecular farming. All products undergo PNT evaluation process steps before release into the environment is not allowed.

Before PNT's can be considered for commercial production in Canada, it must undergo limited field test to gather information about potential impact on Canada's environment and biological diversity. (See rules of the Directive 2000-07 Guidelines for the environmental release of plants with novel properties in the confined field trials in Canada.) In issuing the permit limited field trials, CFIA evaluators carefully the possible consequences of the PNT on wild animals and other organisms nontarget. To mitigate the potential negative impact on the environment, the conditions and terms of the CFIA is limited to the field tests imposed under:

1st PNT reproductive isolation from all other similar plants

2nd Plants and plant material from the experimental area is not allowed to escape to other environments

3rd No material from the test site the food or animal

4th The test site must be open to inspectors of the Agency at any time

5th After the probationary period should not the website with the same or a closely related species for a specified period, can depend on the biology of plants of the test (for example, a study of rape, rape will be planted or related species within the test site for three be planted years after the end of the field trial)

6th The tests can can do more than one hectare and not more than five tests of PNT in a province in a given year will be achieved.