USA, Japan and China, - scientific cooperation to ensure the safe use of novel food ingredients derived from gene technology.

The safety of novel food ingredients produced by modern biotechnology has been a concern raised by many consumers, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and scientists. Thus, the need for careful risk assessment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) int ended for food and feed is recognized in the national laws and regulatory agencies in virtually all countries. Moreover, international standard setting agencies including FAO´s Codex Alimentarius and international treatises such as the United Nations Conv ention for Biodiversity´s (CBD) Cartagena Biosafety Protocol specify risk assessment of GMOs. The biological risk assessment is science-based and conducted to ensure the safe use of GMOs as food and feed sources. Here, we apply for funding that will subse quently lead to RCN applications that seek to: i) establish a scientifically robust and comprehensive research program with the aim to produce important knowledge and data collections to support the safe introduction of GMOs and exclude possible unintend ed health and environmental effects, ii) facilitate scientific excellence and international, shared competence building from the long-term collaborations established under future RCN projects (and with the intention to seek matching funding from funding sources available exclusively to the collaborating partners) iii) contribute to research on food safety issues of high global interest, and thus to improve the scientific basis for the implementation of the UN CBD´s Cartagena Protocol on biosafety. - This application is in line with the applicant?s international strategies and priorities. A statement and prioritized list of applications will be provided by the applicants administration/institution. - This application will enable a full-length project app lication to be developed jointly between the applicant and the 3 collaborating partners. The measurable outcome will be a project application to the Research Councils regular program, 2007, including PhD fellows.