CABI Book Chapter

Environmental impact of genetically modified crops.

Description

This book, containing 20 chapters, addresses the major concerns of scientists, policy makers, environmental lobby groups and the general public regarding the controversial issue on environmental impact (e.g. on soil and water ecology and nontarget organisms) of transgenic crops, from an editorially neutral standpoint. While the main focus is on environmental impact, food safety issues for both hum...

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Chapter 9 (Page no: 199)

Impact of genetically modified crops on pollinators.

Evaluating the potential for genetically modified (GM) crops to have a negative impact on pollinating insects has long been recognized as an important part of risk assessment of such plants. Extensive field experience with commercial GM crops, bred for herbicide tolerance or insect resistance using Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crystal (Cry) toxin genes, has shown no deleterious effects on pollinators. Many other insecticidal GM plants, not yet commercialized, have been studied to see if they could be hazardous to bees. Of these, only some of the protease inhibitors and lectins could present dose-dependent hazards to bees if there were realistic routes for sufficiently high exposure. A good understanding of crop pollination biology is essential for adequately assessing risks of GM plants to pollinators. In addition, information on crop pollination will aid the study of transgene flow since pollinators could play a role in the transfer of transgenes from GM plants to non-GM crops or wild relatives.

Other chapters from this book

Chapter: 1 (Page no: 3)	Transgenic crops and their applications for sustainable agriculture and food security. Author(s): Christou, P. Capell, T.
Chapter: 2 (Page no: 23)	Environmental benefits of genetically modified crops. Author(s): Edwards, M. G. Poppy, G. M.
Chapter: 3 (Page no: 42)	Developing a 21st century view of agriculture and the environment. Author(s): Pimentel, D. Paoletti, M. G.
Chapter: 4 (Page no: 61)	Environmental risk assessment. Author(s): Tencalla, F. G. Nickson, T. E. Garcia-Alonso, M.
Chapter: 5 (Page no: 74)	Insect resistance to genetically modified crops. Author(s): Tabashnik, B. E. Carrière, Y.
Chapter: 6 (Page no: 101)	Resistance management of transgenic insect-resistant crops: ecological factors. Author(s): Raymond, B. Wright, D. J.
Chapter: 7 (Page no: 115)	Herbicide-tolerant genetically modified crops: resistance management. Author(s): Owen, M. D. K.
Chapter: 8 (Page no: 165)	Impact of insect-resistant transgenic crops on aboveground non-target arthropods. Author(s): Romeis, J. Meissle, M. Raybould, A. Hellmich, R. L.
Chapter: 10 (Page no: 225)	Impact of genetically modified crops on soil and water ecology. Author(s): Wheatley, R.
Chapter: 11 (Page no: 240)	Biodiversity and genetically modified crops. Author(s): Ammann, K.
Chapter: 12 (Page no: 265)	Potential wider impact: farmland birds. Author(s): Whittingham, M. J.
Chapter: 13 (Page no: 278)	Safety for human consumption. Author(s): Phipps, R. H.
Chapter: 14 (Page no: 296)	Biofuels: Jatropha curcas as a novel, non-edible oilseed plant for biodiesel. Author(s): Kohli, A. Raorane, M. Popluechai, S. Kannan, U. Syers, J. K. O'Donnell, A. G.
Chapter: 15 (Page no: 327)	European commercial genetically modified plantings and field trials. Author(s): Ortego, F. Pons, X. Albajes, R. Castañera, P.
Chapter: 16 (Page no: 344)	Monitoring Bt resistance in the field: China as a case study. Author(s): He, K. L. Wang, Z. Y. Zhang, Y. J.
Chapter: 17 (Page no: 360)	Current status of crop biotechnology in Africa. Author(s): George, D.
Chapter: 18 (Page no: 383)	Agriculture, innovation and environment. Author(s): Ferry, N. Gatehouse, A. M. R.

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