image: This is a GMO maize field between Timisoara and Sannicolau Mare in Romania. The plains of the Banat is used for agriculture for centuries -- for several years in the Romanian part for field trials with GMO plants. (The signs were obscured for privacy.) view more
Credit: Tilo Arnhold/UFZ
This release is available in German.
The authors of this paper propose a framework for a European-wide network for systematic GMO impact assessment. This network aims at improving the regulatory system by enhancing and harmonizing the environmental risk assessment process and post-market environmental monitoring of GM crops in the EU.
In Europe there are many concerns about adverse environmental effects of GM crops, and the opinions on the outcomes of environmental risk assessments (ERA) differ largely. GM crop safety testing and introduction studies among the regulatory system are insufficiently developed. Therefore the proposed framework aims at improving the regulatory system.
Specific elements of the network are a) methodologies for both indicator and field site selection for GM crop ERA and PMEM, b) an EU-wide typology of agro-environments, c) a pan-European field testing network using GM crops, d) specific hypotheses on GM crop effects, and e) state-of-the art sampling, statistics and modelling approaches. Involving actors from various sectors the network will address public concerns and create confidence in the ENSyGMO results , write a team of scientists in the open access journal BioRisk.
Publication:
Graef F, Römbke J, Binimelis R, Myhr AI, Hilbeck A, Breckling B, Dalgaard T, Stachow U, Catacora-Vargas G, Bøhn T, Quist D, Darvas B, Dudel G, Oehen B, Meyer H, Henle K, Wynne B, Metzger MJ, Knäbe S, Settele J, Székács A, Wurbs A, Bernard J, Murphy-Bokern D, Buiatti M, Giovannetti M, Debeljak M, Andersen E, Paetz A, Dzeroski S, Tappeser B, van Gestel CAM, Wosniok W, Séralini G-E, Aslaksen I, Pesch R, Maly S, Werner A (2012): A framework for a European network for a systematic environmental impact assessment of genetically modified organisms (GMO). BioRisk 7: 73-97. doi: 10.3897/biorisk.7.1969
http://www.pensoft.net/journals/biorisk/article/1969/abstract/a-framework-for-a-european-network-for-a-systematic-environmental-impact-assessment-of-genetically-modified-organisms-gm
The research was supported by the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Agriculture of the State of Brandenburg.
Information:
Dr. Frieder Graef
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Institute of Land Use Systems (ZALF)
Phone: 033432-82-162
http://www.zalf.de/de/forschung/institute/lse/mitarbeiter/graef/Seiten/default.aspx
sowie u.a.
PD Dr. Klaus Henle
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)
Phone: 0341-235-1270
http://www.ufz.de/index.php?de=1868
or via
Tilo Arnhold (UFZ-Pressestelle)
Phone: 0341-235-1635
http://www.ufz.de/index.php?de=640
Links:
EU regulation for GMO:
http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/gmo/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/gmo/authorisation/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/gmo/monitoring/index_en.htm
and
http://www.bfn.de/0301_gentechnik.html
http://www.bfn.de/0301_risiko.html
Journal
BIORISK – Biodiversity and Ecosystem Risk Assessment