148 research outputs found

    Field decomposition of transgenic Bt maize residue and the impact on non-target soil invertebrates

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    Genetically modified Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) maize (Zea mays L.) expressing Cry toxins against various target pests is now grown on more than 16 million hectares worldwide, but its potential effects on the soil ecosystem need to be further investigated. In an 8-month field study, we investigated the effects of Bt maize expressing the Cry1Ab protein on both the soil community and maize residue decomposition. We used litterbags with three different mesh sizes (20, 125, and 5,000ÎŒm) to investigate potential effects of different soil organism groups on the decomposition processes. Litterbags were incorporated into the soil in fall into a field that had previously been planted with non-Bt maize and subsamples were removed monthly. The dry weight of the remaining residue was measured for all bags. Bt and non-Bt maize decomposed similarly in large mesh bags, which allowed the whole soil organism community to enter and interact with each other. In contrast, Bt maize decomposed significantly faster than non-Bt maize at some sample dates in winter in bags with small and medium mesh sizes. At the end of the experiment in late spring, however, there was no significant difference in the amount of maize plant residues remaining for any of these three mesh sizes. Additionally, soil organisms from bags with the largest mesh size were identified. The most frequent taxa extracted were collembolans (Isotomidae, Tullbergiidae, Entomobryidae), mites (Gamasina, Oribatida), and annelids (Enchytraeidae). Three of these taxa were extracted in higher numbers from non-Bt than Bt residue (Tullbergiidae, Gamasina, Enchytraeidae), while there was no difference in the number of individuals extracted for the remaining three taxa. Our results do not show major changes in the decomposition of Bt maize residue and in the composition of the soil organism community. However, further studies are needed that assess the impact of the continuous release of Cry1Ab via root exudates and plant biomass on the soil ecosyste

    Environmental risk assessment of genetically modified plants - concepts and controversies

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    Background and purpose: In Europe, the EU Directive 2001/18/EC lays out the main provisions of environmental risk assessment (ERA) of genetically modified (GM) organisms that are interpreted very differently by different stakeholders. The purpose of this paper is to: (a) describe the current implementation of ERA of GM plants in the EU and its scientific shortcomings, (b) present an improved ERA concept through the integration of a previously developed selection procedure for identification of non-target testing organisms into the ERA framework as laid out in the EU Directive 2001/18/EC and its supplement material (Commission Decision 2002/623/EC), (c) describe the activities to be carried out in each component of the ERA and (d) propose a hierarchical testing scheme. Lastly, we illustrate the outcomes for three different crop case examples. Main features: Implementation of the current ERA concept of GM crops in the EU is based on an interpretation of the EU regulations that focuses almost exclusively on the isolated bacteria-produced novel proteins with little consideration of the whole plant. Therefore, testing procedures for the effect assessment of GM plants on non-target organisms largely follow the ecotoxicological testing strategy developed for pesticides. This presumes that any potential adverse effect of the whole GM plant and the plant-produced novel compound can be extrapolated from testing of the isolated bacteriaproduced novel compound or can be detected in agronomic field trials. This has led to persisting scientific criticism. Results: Based on the EU ERA framework, we present an improved ERA concept that is system oriented with the GM plant at the centre and integrates a procedure for selection of testing organisms that do occur in the receiving environment. We also propose a hierarchical testing scheme from laboratory studies to field trials and we illustrate the outcomes for three different crop case examples. Conclusions and recommendations: Our proposed concept can alleviate a number of deficits identified in the current approach to ERA of GM plants. It allows the ERA to be tailored to the GM plant case and the receiving environment

    Brazil and the development of international scientific biosafety testing guidelines for transgenic crops.

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    Under the umbrella of the International Organisation of Biological Control (IOBC), an international working group of public sector scientists entitled on Transgenic Organisms in Integrated Pest Management and Biological Control has been organized. The group will develop scientific principles and detailed scientific guidelines for biosafety testing of transgenic crops. The key elements of this project are: (1) An international initiative including expert scientists from leading research institutions in developed and developing countries; (2) coordination of the development and implementation of the guidelines as a dynamic process, which will include scientific and technical capacity building and communication among scientists and between scientists and policy makers; (3) rapid serial publication of sections of the guidelines as they are completed; and (4) rapid and timely revision of previously published sections. The guidelines will be constructed on a case-by-case basis and will have no regulatory legitimacy themselves

    Digital Reset: Redirecting Technologies for the Deep Sustainability Transformation

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    Governments worldwide hope that digital technologies can provide key solutions. Yet this report shows that digitalisation, in its current and mainstream form, is rather aggravating than solving many of the pressing social and environmental crises at hand. What is needed instead is a deep sustainability transformation that fundamentally reorganises the economy and all its sectors - agriculture, mobility, energy, buildings, industry, and consumption. The Report »Digital Reset« shows how digital technologies can support the quest for such a deep sustainability transformation. The report provides a blueprint for the European Union on how to reconceptualise digitalisation so that it first and foremost contributes to achieving carbon neutrality, resource autonomy and economic resilience while supporting equity and fully respecting citizen's rights and privacy. The report is the outcome of a two-year international science-policy dialogue, »Digitalization for Sustainability« (D4S), and presents an up-to-date comprehensive analysis of opportunities, risks and governance options regarding digitalization and sustainability

    Digitalization and sustainability: a call for a digital green deal

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    The relation between digitalization and environmental sustainability is ambiguous. There is potential of various digital technologies to slow down the transgression of planetary boundaries. Yet resource and energy demand for digital hardware production and use of data-intensive applications is of substantial size. The world over, there is no comprehensive regulation that addresses opportunities and risks of digital technology for sustainability. In this perspective article, we call for a Digital Green Deal that includes strong, cross-sectoral green digitalization policies on all levels of governance. We argue that a Digital Green Deal should first and foremost aim at greater policy coherence: Current digital policy initiatives should include measures that service environmental goals, and environmental policies must address risks and advance opportunities of digital technologies to spur sustainability transformations

    Ferramentas cientĂ­ficas para a anĂĄlise de riscos de plantas transgĂȘnicas: o projeto GMO guidelines e o algodĂŁo Bt.

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    A biodiversidade de um agroecossistema Ă© importante para o agricultor pois ela influencia funçÔes do ecossistema vitais para a produção agrĂ­cola, para a vida Silvestre e o ambiente ao redor. Uma metodologia de anĂĄlise de risco ambiental de plantas transgĂȘnicas Ă  biodiversidade estĂĄ sendo desenvolvida no escopo do Projeto GMO Guidelines e visa a desenvolver metodologias claras, conclusivas, cientificamente fundamentadas e aceitas internacionalmente para avaliação dos possĂ­veis riscos ecolĂłgicos oriundos do plantio de transgĂȘnicos. SerĂŁo apresentados os resultados do workshop deste projeto realizado em BrasĂ­lia, tendo como estudo de caso do AlgodĂŁo Bt. A produção de algodĂŁo apresenta alguns sĂ©rios desafios a biossegurança. Grande quantidade de pesticides Ă© aplicada nos campos de algodĂŁo, resultando em contaminação ambiental e envenenamento de agricultores. Variedades resistentes a insetos poderiam contribuir para reduzir estes riscos, desde que outros novos riscos que poderiam vir associados a variedades transgĂȘnicos fossem mĂ­nimos. Um nĂșmero de artrĂłpodes, plantas daninhas e microbios Ă© encontrado nos campos de algodĂŁo levantando a questĂŁo dos potenciais efeitos adversos a organismos nĂŁo-alvo. TrĂȘs espĂ©cies do gĂȘnero Gossypium ocorrem no Brasil, todas alotetraplĂłides e sexualmente compatĂ­veis entre si. Estas espĂ©cies podem occurer tambĂ©m na forma feral, raças locais ou em fundos de quintal. Partes da area de distribuição natural destas espĂ©cies estĂŁo sendo substituĂ­das pelo plantio do algodĂŁo herbĂĄceo, e o fluxo de genes a partir de novas variedades convencionais ou transgĂȘnicas pode colocar em risco a preservação em longo prazo da diversidade genetica destas espĂ©cies. Estas questĂ”es serĂŁo apresentadas e discutidas
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