Genetically Modified Plants and “Non-Target” Organisms:

One of the main concerns for a possible adverse environmental effect due to the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops is the threat to the biodiversity in the receiving environments where such plants will be cultivated. In particular, animal biodiversity could be at risk if organisms that come in contact with GM plants and/or their products are harmed. In any ecosystem, including agro-ecosystems, hundreds of species are sustained in food webs, above and below ground, based on cultivated plants as the main primary producers. Therefore, numerous species at higher trophic levels can come in contact with plant metabolites either directly or indirectly. GM crops developed to control insect pests are purposefully hazardous to certain pest species considered to be the target of these new plant varieties (e.g. Cry toxin-expressing GM plants). All other organisms active in the agro-ecosystem and in adjacent habitats are not intended to be harmed by these GM plants and, as a consequence, can operationally be defined as non-target organisms (NTO). In this review the state of the art concerning possible effects of GM crop plants on NTOs is summarised according to the ecological role these organisms play in agro-ecosystems. This criterion is also suggested as a pathway for evaluating possible adverse effects on NTOs when GM crops are being considered for release into a new receiving environment or for the release of new GM events into well-characterised receiving environments. The idea underlining this proposal is that in heavily human-managed ecosystems, such as agro-ecosystems, the preservation of functional biodiversity is an important protection goal in ecological terms, but it is also paramount for the sustainability of agriculture. Riassunto Una delle principali preoccupazioni in merito ad un possibile effetto ambientale negativo dovuto alla coltivazione di piante geneticamente modificate (GM) è la minaccia per la biodiversità negli ambienti dove queste piante verranno coltivate. In particolare, la biodiversità animale potrebbe essere a rischio se gli organismi che vengono a contatto con le piante GM e/o con i loro prodotti sono danneggiate. In ogni ecosistema, inclusi gli agro-ecosistemi, centinaia di specie vengono sostenute all'interno di reti alimentari, nel sopra e nel sottosuolo, basate sulle piante coltivate quali principali produttori primari. Pertanto, numerose

Acta Agriculturae Serbica, 2013

Biotechnology alongside the introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops is constantly providing new opportunities for increasing crop productivity and tackling problems in agriculture, such as diseases, pests and weeds, abiotic stress and nutritional limitations of stopple food crops. Crops possessing new traits enabling the use in pharmaceutical production are also being generated. As GM crops are being introduced into various locations with different ecosystems, agriculture, biodiversity and agriculture practice, a scientifically based understanding of the environmental effects of GM crops cultivation would assist decision markers worldwide in ensuring environmental safety and sustainability. The main important environmental assessment of GM crops deals with their putative invasiveness, vertical and/or horizontal gene flow, effects on biodiversity and the impact on other products. These investigations are all highly interdisciplinary and complex. This paper deals with some of ...

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are those into whose genome a foreign well-characterized DNA from a different source (plant, animal or microorganism) has been stably inserted. Transgenic plants are a recognized ex- ample. Scientists genetically modify plants to: increase post-harvest life, resist biotic and abiotic stresses, improve plant nutrient qualities and use them as biofactories in pharmaceutical and vaccine production. For that reason, both transgenic plant cultivation and its public acceptance are growing faster than we had ever imagined. To date, there are around 52 million hectares with GM crops covering the world and the figures are expected to increase. Nevertheless, possible side effects surrounding the current massive planting of transgenic plants has created great public anxiety. The main alarm is related to their effects on the environment and on the preservation of biodiversity. In addition, the sanitary risks and others that could be classified as beyond tec...

Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, 2007

Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Belgrade, 2010

Genetically modified (GM) crops and biotechnology are providing new opportunities for increasing crop productivity and tackling agriculture problems, such as diseases, pests and weeds, abiotic stress and nutritional limitations of staple food crops. As GM crops are being adopted in various locations with different ecosystems, a scientifically based understanding of the environmental effects of cultivations of GM crops would assist decision makers worldwide in ensuring environmental safety and sustainability. In this paper are discussed some of the most important problems related to the GM crops into the environment such as: plant protection, hybridisation, ecological effects of HRCs, gene flow, biodiversity, stress, ecological risks (ERA), effects on the soil ecosystem etc.

2006

We outline a methodology to assess directly the potential harms posed by genetically modified (GM) crops to non-target organisms and biological diversity. The essential components include: 1) a risk endpoint selection process, 2) a process relying on risk hypotheses to guide the characterization of exposure, adverse effects and risk, and 3) a dynamic and adaptive tiered process. Significant properties of the methodology include: 1) it relies on all available scientific information, 2) it relies first on qualitative information and methods and proceeds to quantitative approaches only as necessary, 3) it is structured in a way to overcome the lack of information common in developing countries, and 4) it attends to the special needs of highly biodiverse countries

Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association, 2017

Modern agriculture provides the potential for sustainable feeding of the world's increasing population. Up to the present moment, genetically modified (GM) products have enabled increased yields and reduced pesticide usage. Nevertheless, GM products are controversial amongst policy makers, scientists and the consumers, regarding their possible environmental, ecological, and health risks. Scientific-and-political debates can even influence legislation and prospective risk assessment procedure. Currently, the scientifically-assessed direct hazardous impacts of GM food and feed on fauna and flora are conflicting; indeed, a review of literature available data provides some evidence of GM environmental and health risks. Although the consequences of gene flow and risks to biodiversity are debatable. Risks to the environment and ecosystems can exist, such as the evolution of weed herbicide resistance during GM cultivation. A matter of high importance is to provide precise knowledge and...

Neotropical Entomology, 2002

Efeitos Ambientais de Culturas Geneticamente Modificadas Resistentes a Insetos RESUMO-Cultivares transgênicas de várias culturas estão sendo utilizadas em escala comercial em muitos países. A área dedicada ao cultivo com plantas transgênicas resistentes às pragas em todo o mundo alcançou 13 milhões de hectares em 2001. As cultivares transgênicas proporcionam benefícios, mas também apresentam riscos potenciais. As avaliações do seu impacto no ambiente são conduzidas antes da sua aprovação para uso comercial, como requerido pelas normas de biossegurança. Nesta revisão, serão discutidas as conseqüências ecológicas potenciais do uso comercial na agricultura de cultivares geneticamente modificadas que apresentam resistência aos insetos-pragas. Também serão discutidos os impactos ambientais causados pelas mudanças nas práticas agrícolas, identificando-se falhas e oportunidades de pesquisa, considerando-se essa nova ferramenta tecnológica. Os comentários e análises serão baseados no conhecimento atual que se tem dos riscos e beneficios do uso de cultivares resistentes a insetos, geneticamente modificadas, dentro do contexto dos programas de manejo integrado de pragas tradicionais. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Planta transgênica, Bacillus thuringiensis, organismo não-alvo, fluxo gênico, biossegurança ABSTRACT-Transgenic crops are currently being cultivated on a commercial scale in many countries. The area devoted to transgenic pest resistant varieties worldwide reached 13 million hectares in 2001. These varieties offer valuable benefits but also pose potential risks. Assessments of their impact on the environment are conducted before they are approved for commercial use, as required by the regulatory biosafety frameworks. In this review, we discuss the potential ecological consequences of the commercial use in agriculture of genetically modified insect resistant crops. We also discuss the impacts caused by the change in agricultural practices, and attempt to identify gaps and possible opportunities for research, considering this new technological tool. We based our analysis and comments on the current knowledge of the risks and benefits of these genetically modified insect resistant crops, within the context of traditional insect management strategies.

2009