GM Soy – New Upcoming Genetically Modified Soybeans Require Intelligent Analysis Scopes
New Tests and Strategies Have to be Used
Apr 2020. In recent years, new genetically modified (GM) soybeans have been increasingly approved and commercialised. This also includes GM soybean events that cannot be detected by classic screening methods. In order to detect these events, new tests and strategies have to be used in the analysis of soy containing products. For example, the herbicide-tolerant GM soybean events DAS-44406-6, DAS-81419-2 and DAS-68416-4 are not detected by a classical screening using the elements CaMV 35S promotor, NOS terminator and FMV promotor.
Global Cultivation Situation of Genetically Modified Plants
The main GM crops that are being commercially cultivated are soy, cotton, corn and canola. The global planting of GM soy was 95,9 million hectares in 2018, this corresponds to approx. 78% of the world's soybean acreage in 2018. The cultivation of GM soybeans dominates in the main soy producing countries. In 2018, GM soy in the USA, Brazil and Argentina accounted for over 90% of the respective soy cultivation area. The EU produces only small amounts of soybeans itself and imports soybeans and soybean meal mainly from South and North America.
The dominant cultivation of GM soy in these important producing countries is increasingly leading to GMO traces in raw materials, food and animal feed. Quantitative methods, which allow making assessments regarding the possible labelling requirements or the marketability, are therefore an essential part of GMO analysis strategies.
Newly Developed Quantitative Method
In order to limit the number of quantitative tests required – and thus the resulting costs – while the number of GM soybean events is increasing, quantifications using screening targets are getting increasingly important. With the newly developed quantitative method of the proven CsVMV/PAT(SYN) screening, a screening quantification is now available which can reliably quantify the herbicide-tolerant GM soybeans DAS-44406-6, DAS-81419-2 and DAS-68416-4.
Continuous Improvement of our Analysis Strategies
The Eurofins GM soy detection packages, as well as the corresponding strategies of analysis, are continuously updated to cover the commercialised and/or approved GM soybean events. This ensures the reliable detection of all important events, including those that do not contain the common screening elements, e.g. DAS-44406-6 soybean, which is already cultivated in North America and Brazil.
With its competence centre for GMO analysis, Eurofins offers a comprehensive analytical spectrum for the qualitative and quantitative detection of GM soy. In case of more complex sample types, we can compile individual analysis strategies that also take into account special customer and import requirements (e.g. Turkey).
Do you Have Questions About Genetically Modified Organisms or about our Analytical Methods?
Our expert Ulf Rathjens will be happy to personally answer your questions on the current approval and cultivation situation as well as recommended analytical strategies for your products.
