Germany: University Giessen announces the planting of transgenic barley

The Justus Liebig University Giessen wants to plant transgenic barley on an experimental field-site, Fankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung posted on April 26.

This would be the first time in Germany that such plants were planted outside of a laboratory, said professor Karl-Heinz Kogel on Monday in Giessen. It is expected that enough seed for about 5000 plants will be sown on a 12 square meter area.

There is no danger of the spread of transgenic plants. This project of the Institute of Phytopathology and of Applied Zoology of the University Giessen is called “Biosafety” and is supported by the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety.

The scientists want to find out whether or not the transgenic plants have a detrimental effect upon beneficial soil fungi. Two barley varieties will be planted: one of which contains an additional gene which makes the plants resistant to pathogens.

The second barley variety has an enzyme which allows it to be used as chicken feed. “It is out of the question that the barley variety spreads, or ends up in the food chain via animals”, emphasized Kogel. The pollen of these plants cannot be dispersed by airborne means, and apart from that, barley is a self-pollinating plant and is fertilized only by its own pollen.

Transgenic plants would have the advantage that they would require less fertilizer and would need to be treated with less pesticides than conventional barley. This is positive not only for the environment but also means less work for the farmers. “I think that public debate on genetic technology will slowly become more rational”, said Kogel.

Apart from Giessen two other test-sites in the state of Hessen have been registered at the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection for sowing of transgenic plants: in Weilmuenster and Hammersbach. Transgenic corn will be sown at both sites. Environmentalist, locals and farmer unions are protesting due to concern over incalculable risks.

E-malt.com, the global information source for the brewing and malting industry professionals. The bi-weekly E-malt.com Newsletters feature latest industry news, statistics in graphs and tables, world barley and malt prices, and other relevant information. Click here to get full access to E-malt.com. If you are a Castle Malting client, you can get free access to E-malt.com website and publications. Contact us for more information at marketing@castlemalting.com .