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 18 (Page no: 383)

Agriculture, innovation and environment.

Approximately 10.3 million farmers in 22 countries grew biotech (genetically modified) crops in 2006. Yet this technology remains one of the most controversial agricultural issues of current times. Many consumer and environmental lobby groups believe that genetically modified (GM) crops will bring very little benefit to growers and to the general public and that they will have a deleterious effect on the environment. The human population is currently 6 billion and it is predicted to increase to 9-10 billion in the next 50 years. This is at a time when food and fuel are competing for land and climate change threatens to compromise current resources. It is, and will continue to be, a priority for agriculture to produce more crops on less land. From the dawn of agriculture, humans have modified their environment. Landscapes are shaped to suit our needs and the plants we grow as crops are engineered to our tastes and requirements. Throughout history food production has kept pace with population growth as a result of our innovative abilities, but it did so at a cost. Future agricultural production should not degrade the environment as it has in the past, it must become more sustainable. Will the adoption of biotech crops help to meet this challenge?

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: 9 (Page no: 199)	Impact of genetically modified crops on pollinators. Author(s): Malone, L. A. Burgess, E. P. J.
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.

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