Assessment of genetically modified sugar beet KWS20-1 (application GMFF-2023-14732)

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Biotechnology
• Genetics and Molecular Biology
• Food and Feed Safety

Background:

• Genetically modified (GM) sugar beet KWS20-1 was developed to enhance herbicide tolerance.
• This modification involved introducing expression cassettes for cp4 epsps, dmo, and pat genes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the safety of GM sugar beet KWS20-1 for food and feed.
• To evaluate potential risks associated with the genetic modification, introduced proteins, and compositional changes.

Main Methods:

• Molecular characterization and bioinformatic analyses.
• Agronomic, phenotypic, and compositional analyses comparing GM and conventional sugar beet.
• Safety assessment of introduced proteins (CP4 EPSPS, DMO, PAT) for toxicity and allergenicity.
• Environmental risk assessment focusing on horizontal gene transfer and biogeochemical cycles.

Main Results:

• Molecular and bioinformatic data did not indicate further safety assessment needs.
• Pectin in roots was the only compositional difference requiring additional evaluation, with no safety concerns identified.
• No safety concerns were identified regarding the toxicity or allergenicity of the introduced proteins.
• Consumption of food and feed from KWS20-1 sugar beet poses no nutritional concern for humans or animals.
• Environmental risk assessment found no safety concerns regarding gene transfer or interactions with biogeochemical cycles.

Conclusions:

• Genetically modified sugar beet KWS20-1 is as safe as its conventional counterpart and non-GM reference varieties.
• No post-market monitoring of food/feed is deemed necessary.
• The genetic modification does not alter the overall safety profile of sugar beet KWS20-1 for food and feed.
• Potential environmental impacts were assessed and found to pose no safety concerns.