Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2025
Authors
Monica Sanden Eirill Ager-Wick Johanna Eva Bodin Nur Duale Anne-Marthe Ganes Jevnaker Kristian Prydz Volha Shapaval Ville Erling Sipinen Tage ThorstensenAbstract
The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) has assessed an application for approval of the genetically modified maize DAS1131 for food and feed uses, import and processing in the EU. In accordance with an assignment specified by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) and the Norwegian Environment Agency (NEA), VKM assesses whether genetically modified organisms (GMOs) intended for the European market can pose risks to human or animal health, or the environment in Norway. VKM assesses the scientific documentation regarding GMO applications seeking approval for use of GMOs as food and feed, processing, or cultivation. The EU Regulation 1829/2003/EC (Regulation) covers living GMOs that fall under the Norwegian Gene Technology Act, as well as processed food and feed from GMOs (dead material) that fall under the Norwegian Food Act. The regulation is currently not part of the EEA agreement or implemented in Norwegian law. Norway conducts its own assessments of GMO applications in preparation for the possible implementation of the Regulation. In accordance with the assignment by NFSA and NEA, VKM assesses GMO applications during scientific hearings initiated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), as well as after EFSA has published its own risk assessment of a GMO, up until EU member countries vote for or against approval in the EU Commission. The assignment is divided into three stages. (link) Genetically modified maize DAS1131 DAS1131 is a genetically modified maize developed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens -mediated transformation. Maize DAS1131 plants contain the transgenes cry1Da2 and dgt-28 epsps which encode the protein Cry1Da2 and the enzyme DGT-28 EPSPS, respectively. Cry1Da2 provides resistance to certain susceptible Lepidopteran (order of butterflies and moths) pests and the enzyme DGT-28 EPSPS provides tolerance to glyphosate-based herbicides. VKM has assessed the documentation in application GMFF-2021-1530 and EFSA's scientific opinion on genetically modified maize DAS1131. VKM concludes that the applicant's scientific documentation for the genetically modified maize DAS1131 is satisfactory for risk assessment, and in accordance with EFSA guidelines for risk assessment of genetically modified plants for food or feed uses. The genetic modifications in maize DAS1131do not indicate an increased health or environmental risk in Norway compared with EU countries. EFSA's risk assessment is therefore sufficient also for Norwegian conditions. As no specific Norwegian conditions have been identified regarding properties of the genetically modified maize DAS1131, VKM's GMO panel has not performed a complete risk assessment of the maize. About the assignment: In stage 1, VKM shall assess the health and environmental risks of the genetically modified organism and derived products in connection with the EFSA scientific hearing of GMO applications. VKM shall review the scientific documentation that the applicant has submitted and possibly provide comments to EFSA. VKM must also consider: i) whether there are specific Norwegian conditions that could give other risks in Norway than those mentioned in the application, ii) whether the Norwegian diet presents a different health risk for the Norwegian population should the GMO be approved, compared to the European population, and iii) risks associated with co-existence with conventional and/or ecologic production of plants for GMOs seeking approval for cultivation. Relevant measures to ensure co-existence must also be considered. In stage 2, VKM shall assess whether comments from Norway have been satisfactorily answered by EFSA. In addition, VKM shall assess whether comments from other countries imply need for further follow-up. (...)
Authors
Monica Sanden Eirill Ager-Wick Johanna Eva Bodin Nur Duale Kristian Prydz Volha Shapaval Tage ThorstensenAbstract
The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) has assessed an application for approval of soy leghemoglobin produced from genetically modified Komagataella phaffii for food uses in the EU. In accordance with an assignment specified by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) and the Norwegian Environment Agency (NEA), VKM assesses whether genetically modified organisms (GMOs) intended for the European market can pose risks to human or animal health, or the environment in Norway. VKM assesses the scientific documentation regarding GMO applications seeking approval for use of GMOs as food and feed, processing, or cultivation. The EU Regulation 1829/2003/EC (Regulation) covers living GMOs that fall under the Norwegian Gene Technology Act, as well as processed food and feed from GMOs (dead material) that fall under the Norwegian Food Act. The regulation is currently not part of the EEA agreement or implemented in Norwegian law. Norway conducts its own assessments of GMO applications in preparation for the possible implementation of the Regulation. In accordance with the assignment by NFSA and NEA, VKM assesses GMO applications during scientific hearings initiated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), as well as after EFSA has published its own risk assessment of a GMO, up until EU member countries vote for or against approval in the EU Commission. The assignment is divided into three stages. Soy leghemoglobin produced from genetically modified Komagataella phaffii This application is submitted to gain authorisation for the use of soy leghemoglobin (the liquid preparation is referred to as “LegH Prep”) produced from genetically modified Komagataella phaffii (yeast) as a flavouring (“meaty taste”) in meat analogue products that will be marketed in the European Union (EU). Soy leghemoglobin is intended for addition to meat analogue products that are for use in foods such as burgers, meatballs, and sausages. Komagataella phaffii-strain employed in the production of soy leghemoglobin contains genetic modifications which allow it to express this protein. Following fermentation, the cells are lysed, and the soy leghemoglobin is concentrated by physical means. The soy leghemoglobin is delivered in a liquid preparation (LegH Prep) that is standardised to contain up to 9% soy leghemoglobin on a wet weight basis and a soy leghemoglobin protein purity of at least 65%. The remainder of the protein fraction in the LegH Prep is accounted for by residual proteins from the Komagataella phaffii production strain. These residual proteins are all endogenous to Komagataella phaffii as the gene coding for the expression of soy leghemoglobin is the only gene from a different organism. VKM has assessed the documentation in application EFSA-GMO- NL-2019-162 and EFSA's scientific opinion for the use of soy leghemoglobin produced from genetically modified Komagataella phaffii. The scientific documentation provided in the application is adequate for risk assessment, and in accordance with the EFSA guidance on risk assessment of genetically modified microorganisms for use in food or feed. The VKM GMO Panel does not consider leghemoglobin from genetically modified Komagataella phaffii to imply potential specific health risks in Norway, compared to EU-countries. The EFSA opinion is adequate also for Norwegian considerations. Therefore, a full risk assessment was not performed by VKM. About the assignment: (...)
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
Chocolate spot (CS), caused by Botrytis fabae, is one of the most destructive fungaldiseases affecting faba bean (Vicia faba L.) globally. This study evaluated 33 fababean cultivars across two locations and over 2 years to assess genetic resistance andthe effect of fungicide application on CS progression. The utility of unmanned aerialvehicle–mounted multispectral camera for disease monitoring was examined. Signif-icant variability was observed in cultivar susceptibility, with Bolivia exhibiting thehighest level of resistance and Louhi, Sampo, Vire, Merlin, Mistral, and GL Sunriseproving highly susceptible. Fungicide application significantly reduced CS severityand improved yield. Analysis of canopy spectral signatures revealed the near-infraredand red edge bands, along with enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and soil adjustedvegetation index, as most sensitive to CS infection, and they had a strong negativecorrelation with CS severity ranging from −0.51 to −0.71. In addition, EVI enabledearly disease detection in the field. Support vector machine accurately classified CSseverity into four classes (resistant, moderately resistant, moderately susceptible, andsusceptible) based on spectral data with higher accuracy after the onset of diseasecompared to later in the season (accuracy 0.75–0.90). This research underscores thevalue of integrating resistant germplasm, sound agronomic practices, and spectralmonitoring for effectively identification and managing CS disease in faba bean
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Emmanuel O. Anedo Dennis Beesigamukama Benson Mochoge Nicholas K. Korir Solveig Haukeland Xavier Cheseto Moses Nyongesa Patrick Pwaipwai Sevgan Subramanian Abdou Tenkouano Betty Kibaara Chrysantus M. TangaAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Linn Fenna Groeneveld Oksana Bekkevold Trond Bergskås Martin Linkogel Cord Luellmann Marit AlmvikAbstract
Regulatory bodies aim to protect consumers from harmful substances. The use of certain antibiotics is prohibited in food-producing animals in the EU due to their potential detrimental effects on humans. Among these are nitrofuran antibiotics, which degrade rapidly so that their metabolites are used as markers in screening for their illegal use. The use of one metabolite, semicarbazide (SEM), as a marker for detecting the antibiotic nitrofurazone, has been criticized due to the many pathways it can be formed by and its natural occurrence in some food items. A recent change in the reference point of action (RPA) for SEM, as stated in Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1871, due to a reassessment of sensitivity of the analyses, poses a problem for the export of heather honey in Norway. Norwegian heather honey seems to exceed the lowered RPA in numerous cases. Here we show that Norwegian heather honey samples, but not polyfloral ‘summer’ honey samples from the same hives, contain SEM. The simplest explanation for the demonstrated pattern is a natural source of SEM in heather honey, not the use of a banned antibiotic. Based on our results, we propose that an exception to the EU regulation should be added, exempting heather honey derived from Calluna vulgaris unless other nitrofurans or their metabolites are found together with SEM.
Authors
Jarkko Hantula Malin Elfstrand Anne-Maarit Hekkala Ari Hietala Juha Honkaniemi Maartje Klapwijk Matti Koivula Juho Matala Jonas Rönnberg Juha Siitonen Fredrik WidemoAbstract
• Damage from wind, snow, spruce bark beetle, and large pine weevil are likely to be less severe in CCF than in RF. However, the conversion of RF to CCF may briefy expose stands to windthrow. • Browsing by large herbivores on saplings may limit regeneration of tree species other than spruce in continuous cover forestry and reduce tree species diversity, but alternative silvicultural practices may also increase forage availability in the feld and shrub layer. Browsing damage outcomes for saplings in CCF are diffcult to predict. • For many types of damage in CCF, substantial knowledge gaps complicate the assessment of damage risk.
Authors
Glenn P. Svensson Hanh Huynh Ann-Kristin Isaksson Line Beate Lersveen Myhre Christer Löfstedt Sigrid Mogan Elisabeth Öberg Marja Rantanen Nina Trandem Olle AnderbrantAbstract
No abstract has been registered