Genetically modified and edited Saccharomyces cerevisiae approved in Brazil: an analysis of the role of the National Technical Commission on Biosafety (CTNBio) in innovation in the fermentation industries
Name: YOLANDA ARAUJO MOREIRA
Publication date: 18/12/2024
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| ADRIANA MADEIRA ALVARES DA SILVA | Examinador Interno |
| ADRIANA MARCIA NICOLAU KORRES | Examinador Externo |
| ANTONIO ALBERTO RIBEIRO FERNANDES | Coorientador |
| PATRICIA MACHADO BUENO FERNANDES | Presidente |
Summary: This study presents an analysis of genetically modified and edited Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts that were approved in Brazil by the National Technical Commission on Biosafety. The main objective was to investigate the contribution of these modifications to the Brazilian industrial and economic innovation context. The research was conducted using a qualitative and documentary methodology, analyzing CTNBio data on the commercial release of S. cerevisiae between 2009 and 2024. The work highlights the regulatory impact of CTNBio, which oversees the safe use of genetically modified and edited organisms. The results indicate a significant growth in the use of genetically modified yeast, with the main focus on its use in the fuel ethanol sector, representing 77% of applications. In the food and pharmaceutical industries, the use of GM yeast has generated important advances, increasing the competitiveness of the Brazilian bioindustry, reflecting the contribution of biotechnology to industrial sustainability. The increasing efficiency in CTNBio's regulatory processes through normative resolutions has simplified the approval procedures. Based on strict biosafety criteria and the precautionary principle, this approach ensures that these advances are implemented safely, minimizing environmental and public health risks. It is concluded that CTNBio plays a fundamental role in encouraging innovation, ensuring that technological advances follow strict biosafety guidelines that strengthen the Brazilian economy in key sectors of the bioindustry.
