Developments outside the Netherlands: Switzerland

Dear all
On 2 decembre 2005 the Swiss Federal Council ratified the National Research Programme (NRP) 59 "Benefits and Risks of the Deliberate Release of Genetically Modified Plants". The Swiss Academy of Sciences with the Swiss Biodiversity Forum and the Forum for Genetic Research was among the initiators of the Programme.
We would like to inform you that the public call for projects is now running: Deadline for pre-proposals is 31 August 2006.

The NRP 59 examines the benefits and risks of genetically modified plants (GM plants) under the ecological, social, economic, legal and political conditions of Switzerland. Its goals are to:
(a) contribute to the identification and development of plant biotechnology applications that are conducive to achieving Swiss agricultural and environmental policy goals;
(b) assess the present legal and administrative framework for GM plants, as well as the associated risk-assessment, risk-management, and decision-making processes;
(c) develop procedural standards for risk research and monitoring that are geared to the Swiss context.

The programme has four main research topics:
1. Plant biotechnology and the environment
2. Social, economic, and political aspects
3. Risk-assessment, risk-management and decision-making processes
4. Synthesis and overview studies

Deadline for the submission of pre-proposals: 31 August 2006

Kind regards

Daniela Pauli