Workshop on the Environmental implications of genetically modified plants with insect resistance genes, Berne, 29-30 September 2000
The second workshop to be organised within the framework of the ESF AIGM Programme, on the Environmental implications of genetically modified plants with insect resistance genes, took place in Berne, Switzerland, on 29-30 September 2000. The workshop examined the consequences for agriculture and the environment of transgenic insect protected crops and the future requirements for risk assessments and monitoring.
Background
The recent commercial availability of transgenic crops will have many potential benefits for agriculture and environment. These benefits must be carefully balanced with unwanted side effects on non-target organisms such as beneficial insects and plants in agricultural and natural ecosystems.
Crop plants are being transformed with genes to produce insect toxins and anti-feedant chemicals. For example, the expression of Bt-endotoxins by crop plants seems to be a convincing strategy in pest management which is being widely deployed in USA and elsewhere. Effects on non-target organisms are expected to be minimal in comparison to spray application of insecticides, since only the crop feeding insects will be targeted. But are such strategies as straight forward as announced? What implications could be expected and how can insect resistance genes be deployed in ways that minimise their impact on insect ecology?
Gene flow between GM crops may produce admixtures of transgenes which are complimentary, synergistic or inhibit activity against both target and non-target organisms. The agricultural consequences of synergistic effects have had little study so far.
This workshop brought together researchers balancing benefits and examining the environmental impacts of the deployment of GM crops with insect resistance genes with scientists working to understand the complex interactions determining farmland and non-farmland ecology. The objectives were:
- to determine which target and non-target insect groups are likely to be directly affected by GM crops,
- what net benefit and harm is likely to accrue from these changes,
- what measures should be taken to protect the sustainable use of beneficial toxins in plant protection, and
- to establish working groups on special aspects of insect protected plants.
Venue
Botanical Garden of the University of Berne.
Workshop organisers
Organiser:
- KlausAmmannE-Mail
- University of BernBotanical GardenBernSwitzerland
Co-organiser:
- DetlefBartsch
- RWTHDept of Biology VAachenGermany
