Disponible uniquement en anglais et espagnol.
WRM information sheets on GE tree research
First posted: 1 August 2008
Last update: August 2014
Tree species being manipulated:
- Pine (Pinus radiata)
- Eucalyptus ( globulus)
Aim of genetic manipulation
- resistance to pine shoot moth (Ryacionia buoliana) (2)
- resistance to the pitch canker fungus (Fusarium circinatum) in pines (5)
- resistance to fungus (Mycosphaerella) that attacks Eucalyptus leaves (6)
- faster growth (eucalyptus) (1)
- higher cellulose content in wood (Eucalyptus globulus) (2) – second generation biofuels (10)
- increased resistance to cold (Eucalyptus globulus) (7)
- more efficient water consumption and resistance to drought in eucalyptus (10)
Those carrying out the research:
- GenFor: a joint venture between Cellfor (Canada), Interlink (USA) and Fundación Chile (2)
- Consorcio Genómica Forestal S.A (operates in the University of Concepción’s Biotechnology Centre in the Bio Bio Region) (2)
- VitroGen S.A. (7)
Those who provide support to research:
- INFOR - Forestry Institute (part of the Ministry of Agriculture) ()
- Fundación Chile (Chile Foundation), supported by the Chile government and BHP Billiton (9)
- Universities of Concepción (2), Austral (8) and Frontera (6)
- Bioforest (controlled by Bosques Arauco) (8).
- Forestal Arauco supports the Consorcio Genómica Florestal (2, 11)
- Forestal Mininco supports the Consorcio Genómico Florestal (2, 11)
- CEFOR (empresa de la Universidad Austral) (9)
- CORMA (6)
- DEMEGEN Inc (6)
Regulatory framework for research and field trials:
- An Advisory Committee on the Release of GMOs (Comisión Asesora de Liberación de Transgénicos - CALT), headed by the Agricultural Service (SAG), establishes the biosecurity requirements for transgenic crops in Chile (3)
Organizations opposing GE trees:
- Red por un Chile libre de Transgénicos (4)
Sources:
- http://www.wrm.org.uy/oldsite/bulletin/126/Brazil_Chile.html
- http://wrm.org.uy/books-and-briefings/genetically-modified-trees-the-ultimate-threat-to-forests/
- http://www.eumed.net/cursecon/ecolat/cl/srn-transg.htm
- http://www.ecosistemas.cl/1776/article-71418.html
- http://www.genomicaforestal.cl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11&Itemid=18#
- http://www.ufro.cl/laboratorio/hongos.html
- http://www.ufro.cl/prensa/doc/2004/Mayo/31-06/31mayo%20-austral%20Campo%20Sure%F1o-%20Vitrogen%20tiene%20su%20propia%20verdad.pdf
- http://www.mapuexpress.net/content/publications/print.php?id=84
- http://www.kaosenlared.net/america-latina-sp-1870577476/al/chile/90693-chile-%C3%A1rboles-transg%C3%A9nicos-el-nuevo-y-nefasto-impulso-de-la-industria-forestal
- http://www.genomicaforestal.cl/proyectos
- http://piensachile.com/2014/06/arboles-transgenicos-el-nuevo-y-nefasto-impulso-de-la-industria-forestal