Russian scien- tists say they need to master gene-editing technologies to contribute to Russian food security strengthening.
Mounting GMO fears If successful, the experiment, in theory, could pave the way to swift commercialisation of the new technology. However, the scientists would need to overcome the law prohibiting breed- ing of genetically modified animals in Russia first, and even this offers no guarantee that the new technology would be in demand among milk farmers. The most recent opinion poll held by the Russian Public Opin- ion Research Center showed that as many as 66% of Russians are confident that all genetically modified products pose dangers to consumer health. The majority of Russian custom- ers appear to believe that the big international food giants, promoting GMO products, are hiding information about their negative impact on consumers. In contrast, only 20% of responders claimed that, in their opinion, all GMO products were harmless. The new research has been released against the backdrop of what looks like a new anti-GMO campaign launched by the Russian authorities. During the past few years, the Russian veterinary watchdog Rosselhoznadzor has been strengthen- ing control over the presence of GMOs in imported products, regularly banning imports from the countries found not fully complying with the Russian veterinary regulations. On 18 May, the Russian veterinary watchdog Rosselhoznad- zor prohibited the import of feed additives from Germany after a routine inspection revealed GMO residues in a batch of supplied products. Russia banned the import of feed
38 ▶ DAIRY GLOBAL | Volume 8, No. 3, 2021
additives from Spain and the US earlier this year and from the Netherlands in late 2020, in each case also citing GMO fears. As a consequence, the Russian National Feed Union claims that Russia might be on the verge of an acute shortage of some feed additives. Rosselhoznadzor restricted import sup- plies despite strong protests voiced by feed additive import- ers and pet food companies, who warned about a shortage of some crucial products on the domestic market.
No chimeras anticipated In this context, Russian scientists have to dismiss concerns re- lated to their new technology. “By developing genetic engi- neering technologies, we do not intend to outsmart nature. We use its natural mechanisms to achieve the goal,” Krivo- nogova says, explaining that mutations are the normal thing for evolution, and the only focus of the new study is to get them under control. “In the natural process of maturation of germ cells, there are usually many more changes in the DNA. Children are not born as clones. Changes in the genome are provided by nature itself. Parental chromosomes exchange different structural regions for creating a new combination,” Krivonogova adds. “The main thing is that all embryo cells have the same geno- type, then there will definitely be no chimeras. For this, well-proven, clear technologies are needed that guarantee the result. We did not stop at the first embryo; the research continues,” she says.
PHOTO: TATARSTAN DAIRY UNION
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