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Ryerson researchers noted for identifying an emerging global conservation issue

April 22nd, 2019

Each year, Trends in Ecology & Evolution names 15 emerging priority topics that may have major effects on the future conservation of global biodiversity, but that currently have low awareness within the conservation community. This year's summary, "A Horizon Scan of Emerging Issues for Global Conservation in 2019," recognizes a team of researchers that includes three members of Ryerson's Department of Chemistry and Biology as identifying one of those priority topics.

The paper "Potential for novel production of omega-3 long-chain fatty acids by genetically engineered oilseed plants to alter terrestrial ecosystem dynamics," published in Agricultural Systems in July 2018, is a collaboration between Ryerson Faculty of Science members Dr. Michael T. Arts, Dr. Lesley G. Campbell and then-Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Stefanie M. Colombo, now at Dalhousie University, as well as Dr. Eric J. Murphy of the University of North Dakota and Dr. Sara L. Martin of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The authors discuss the potential negative downstream effects of genetically engineered (GE) oilseed crops (e.g. GE canola and GE camelina) that produce the omega-3, long-chain, fatty acids, EPA and DHA.

Interest in omega-3 fats is high, as they are known for their positive effects on cardiovascular and neurological health, which has led to various health institutions recommending a minimum daily intake. Because these GE plants offer a land-based source of EPA and DHA (which is more usually obtained by consuming seafood, and/or fish or algae oil), they would significantly reduce our dependency on wild fisheries and provide another source for consumption (either indirectly through their addition to fish feed used in aquaculture industries or directly through the consumption of oil derived from GE plants). Overall, if approved for widespread commercial use, these plants would increase the accessibility of omega-3 fats, enhancing the sustainability of our aquatic resources and benefiting human health.

But there may be a potential cost to the terrestrial ecosystems. This is because EPA and DHA are not found in terrestrial plants, so the introduction of these two bioactive compounds via GE-oilseeds may fundamentally change the biochemistry of our planet – especially if the trait escapes cultivation. "There are also potential cascading effects on insects that eat these crops and subsequently on their higher-order consumers, such as bats and birds, " says Arts. "For example, butterflies fed on experimental diets containing EPA and DHA developed wing deformities. Another potential difficulty flagged by the research team is that the inclusion of EPA and DHA in the fat profile of oilseeds proportionally reduces the availability of another shorter-chain omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid, and which is known to be essential for the health of insects. The concern is that novel crops such as GE oilseeds may have unintended and irrevocable consequences on animals, especially insects and their predators."

As the downstream ecological and evolutionary effects are not yet understood, the authors conclude that GE oilseed crops such as these require greater research and policy attention in order to mitigate potentially negative outcomes and maximize the benefits. The group that annually identifies the top emerging global conservation issues for Trends in Biology & Evolution agrees.

Made up of experts in futures research and horizon scanning, advisors to policy makers, researchers, and practitioners of conservation, the Trends group begins each year's review with a long list of diverse topics that may impact biodiversity. Through a process of collating, scoring, shortlisting and rescoring, a final catalogue of 15 issues surfaces. The authors note that this year, many topics raised are associated with novel agricultural technologies, reflecting an intersection between rising food demands and advances in biotechnology.

"The 2019 horizon scan highlights the concern we share as researchers that genetically engineered oilseed crops that offer greater nutritional value for us may also offer significant risks to biodiversity by changing ecological and physiological relationships in other species that cohabit ecosystems where these crops may, in the not-too-distant future, be grown at commercially-relevant scales," says Arts.

More information:
Stefanie M. Colombo et al. Potential for novel production of omega-3 long-chain fatty acids by genetically engineered oilseed plants to alter terrestrial ecosystem dynamics, Agricultural Systems (2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2018.03.004

Provided by Ryerson University

Citation: Ryerson researchers noted for identifying an emerging global conservation issue (2019, April 22) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://sciencex.com/wire-news/317374943/ryerson-researchers-noted-for-identifying-an-emerging-global-con.html
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