Julius Kuhn-Institut Bundesforschungsinstitut fur Kulturpflanzen

Country: Germany

Web: http://www.julius-kuehn.de/

The Julius Kühn-Institut, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants (JKI) is both a Federal Authority in its own right and a Federal Research Centre under the jurisdiction of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). JKI’s official tasks are defined by the German Plant Protection Act and the Gene Technology Act. The 17 institutes within JKI are involved in several fields of agronomic research (basic to applied). JKI has branches at 11 locations in Germany with approx. 1200 staff members including about 250 scientists.

The department Institute for Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology (SB): The activities of the Institute SB focus on the assessment of, and research on new biotechnological methods applied to plants, including genetic modification. SB is involved in the authorization of the deliberate release and placing on the market of GM organisms. SB is providing advice for political decisions by BMEL. The recommendations are based on own research and a comprehensive knowledge of literature including continuous analysis and reviewing of biosafety data.