NASEM Study Statement of Task Examine the potential use of - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

NASEM Study Statement of Task  Examine the potential use of biotechnology for mitigating threats to forest tree health  Identify the ecological, economic, social implications of deploying biotechnology in forests  Develop a research agenda to address knowledge gaps about its application  Focus on trees - at least two cases that consider the use of biotechnology to protect a tree species from an insect and/or disease that has negative consequences for forest health 1 United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Overview Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Mission – To protect the health and value of American agriculture and natural resources  APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) forest pest mitigation, research, and outreach  APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Service (BRS) biotech regulatory framework  APHIS BRS regulation of genetically engineered (GE) trees and other organisms and biotech approaches that could impact forest health  APHIS BRS evaluation process for deregulation  How APHIS could use this study to support regulatory and non-regulatory approaches that better support forest health. 2 United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

APHIS PPQ Forest Pest and Disease Programs Examples Non-native, wood-boring beetles: USDA APHIS https://www.aphis.usda. PPQ EAB gov/aphis/resources/pes ts-diseases/asian- longhorned-beetle  Asian Longhorned Beetle  Emerald Ash Borer  >15 hardwoods at risk  16 native ash species at risk Other forest pests: Forest diseases:   Pine Shoot Beetle European Larch Canker   Gypsy Moth Sudden Oak Death https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases 3 United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Emerging Pests and Diseases of Concern to APHIS PPQ  Sirex woodwasp • Threat to native pine forests in northeast US • Research with a nematode biocontrol agent https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/ea/downloads/SirexEA-final-northeast.pdf  Ambrosia beetles & Shot hole borers • Mostly polyphagous weevils • Tunnel mostly into stressed trees and cultivate fungi • Fungi can cause vascular tissue disease e.g. Redbay Laurel wilt http://www.plantheroes.org/polyphagous-shot-hole-borer; http://plantheroes.org/redbay-ambrosia-beetle  Rapid O’hia Death • Fungal disease of ʻōhiʻa trees in Hawaii • >90% mortality in 3 yrs. http://www.plantheroes.org/rapid-%C5%8Dhia-death ; https://cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/rod/TheDisease.aspx 4 United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

APHIS Biotech Regulation Related to Forest Health USDA APHIS  Laws • Plant Protection Act of 2000: ‒ Consolidated from Plant Quarantine Act (PQA), Federal Plant Pest Act (FPPA), and Noxious Weed Act.  Biotechnology Regulations - 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 340 • Regulated Article: ‒ Organism has been altered or produced through GE, and ‒ The organism is produced using plant pests (i.e. as a donor, recipient or vector) or ‒ There otherwise is a reason to believe the organism is a plant pest. 5 United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

What does APHIS BRS regulate?  Authorizations are required for regulated articles for: • Viable GE plants or parts, pests, or pathogens for… • Interstate movement or Importation, and • Release (confined trials) - permits to 3 yrs., renewable Photo: USDA Plants Database  BRS authorizations are not required if: • a petition for nonregulated status is granted or • if a GE organism falls outside the scope of 7 CFR part 340. View Letters at - https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/biotechnology/am-i- regulated/regulated_article_letters_of_inquiry/regulated_article_letters_of_inquiry  PPQ authorizations may still apply www.aphis.usda.gov 6 United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

BRS Regulated Releases of GE Forest Trees Common Name Timespan Common Traits - Pest Resistance or Other Relevant Total of Permits Traits Acres American Chestnut 2003 - 2017 Fungal resistance : Chestnut blight, Phytophthora 79 American Elm 2004 - 2014 Fungal resistance : Dutch Elms disease, Elm Yellows 5 Eucalyptus 2002 – 2020 Cold tolerance, Altered fertility, lignin, growth rate 1149 Persimmon 1999 - 2013 Insect resistance , cold tolerance, drought tolerance 5 Pine - Loblolly, 1993 - 2017 Insect resistance : Lepidoptera; Altered growth rate, fertility, 693 Monterey, hybrids terpene & lignin biosynthesis, wood quality Poplars (Black & 1989 - 2017 Fungal and Insect Resistance ; Herbicide and Stress 1043 Eastern Resistance; Drought tolerance; Altered lignin, biomass, wood Cottonwood, development, fertility; Root sucker inhibition; Aspen, Hybrids) Phytoremediation Sweetgum 1995 - 2017 Altered growth rate, lignin biosynthesis, plant development, 40 and fertility; herbicide tolerance Walnut 1990 - 2016 Insect resistance : Lepidoptera, Pathogen resistance : 28 Phytopthora, Crown gall; and Altered polyphenol oxidase 7 United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Confinement of GE Forest Tree Field Trials and Adaptive Management  Confinement eliminates or minimizes inadvertent escape and persistence of GE traits/organisms, and  Limits potential adverse impacts to plant health, environment, T&E spp.  Permit conditions, inspections, and reporting requirements are used to avoid, report, and mitigate potential confinement breaches or impacts.  Permit conditions  Flexible, implementable, enforceable and risk-based  Allow for collection of meaningful data to inform adaptive management  Consider many factors, e.g. plant biology, outcrossing, persistence, GE trait, trial site, land use history, ecological interactions, management 8 United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Challenges Unique to GE Forest Tree Trials Challenging Characteristics of American Pinus spp. Poplar spp. GE Forest Tree Trials Chestnut (Loblolly) Medium to Long- lived tall perennial Y Y Y Juvenile period 8-10 Yrs >12-50 Yrs 4-15 Yrs Prolonged reproductive stage Y Y Y Long distance pollen dispersal N Y Y Mostly outcrossing – gene flow possible Y (low) Y Y Prolific seed production N Y Thousands Y Millions Long distance seed dispersal N N Y Miles Vegetative Reproduction stump sprouts N root suckers Environmentally significant interactions, Habitat, nuts Habitat for Riparian birds, wildlife, protected species, hydrology endangered communities spp. Greater Public Interest Y Y Y 9 United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

GE Tree Poplar Field Trial Challenges Suckers emerge Suckers emerge Suckers where roots outside the can survive were dug out . deer fence . herbicide sprays USDA APHIS photos USDA APHIS 10 United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Other Unique Challenges and Opportunities Guiding Question (3) What other unique challenges and opportunities are posed by the development of a genetically engineered product for a non-commercial, public good such as forest health? Possibilities include: • Soft funding sources to cover research and regulatory obligations • Public trust and engagement in the process • Partnerships and Cooperative agreements  APHIS can use this information to look for opportunities to address these challenges during the development phase. 11 United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Evaluations for Unconfined Release Petition Process for Nonregulated Status  Petition Evaluation - Comprehensive scientific review • Crop biology and taxonomy • Genotypic and phenotypic differences • Field test reports for APHIS authorized releases • Data and publications relevant to a determination • Plant Pest Risk Assessment (PPRA) - (Plant Protection Act) • Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) - (National Environmental Policy Act; NEPA) • Biological Assessment (BA) - (Endangered Species Act) 12 United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Potential for Biotechnology to Improve Forest Health Guiding Questions (1) What is the current state of the science regarding the potential for using genetic engineering and similar technologies in trees to improve forest health? (4) What research is needed to fill knowledge gaps about developing and using genetic engineering as a tool to protect forest health? Possible considerations (also relevant to APHIS PPRAs): • GE tree biology and traits to improve forest health • GE tree pests, pathogens, symbionts, or biocontrol agents • New techniques e.g. gene drives or targeted gene editing, deletions, or silencing • Specificity, efficacy and durability of resistance traits or pest suppression • Variability and prevalence of pest, pathogen, host and environmental interactions • Off-target effects • Impacts on agricultural practices and IPM approaches • Geneflow and weediness impacts from inheriting the engineered trait 13 United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service