Scientific and Technical Contribution to the Development of an Overall Health Strategy in the Area of GMOs

The present report is the outcome of Project "Scientific and technical contribution to the development of an overall health strategy in the area of GMOs" carried out by the JRC-IHCP Biotechnology & GMOs Unit in the frame of study contract CT 30249, requested by the European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. The study provides current knowledge on the issue and up-to-date opinions of experts on the potential short, medium and long term health impact associated with the consumption of GMOs. In addition, it contains the outcome of a research component that lead to the development of a multi-target analytical tool for the simultaneous identification of 39 GMOs.JRC.I.6-Biotechnology and GMO

NPK: Will there be enough plant nutrients to feed a world of 9 billion in 2050?

Will there be enough plant nutrients to feed a world of 9 billion in 2050? is the central question addressed by a JRC study. This exercise was based on consultations with experts and a thematic workshop focused on three areas of interest: 1) the demand for fertilizers to sustain crop production necessary to feed the world in 2050; 2) perspectives on the supply of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) to world agriculture and 3) the role of innovation and technology in changing the match between demand and supply of fertilizers. Implications of the main findings for current EU and international policies were addressed. Overall, analysis of existing literature and discussions with major experts and stakeholders led to the conclusion that while the situation is currently not critical with respect to the production and availability of plant nutrients, it is important to remain vigilant. The question of reserves (P and K), access, changing geopolitical conditions, economic development, energy costs (mainly for N) and environmental constraints (N and P) could lead to shortfalls and possibly crisis situations in some regions of the world. The situation of Africa deserves particular attention as production, access and use of fertilizers represent key limiting factors in boosting food production in that continent.JRC.A.1-Science Advice to Polic

Spatial-Temporal Correlation Analyses of Global Burned Surface Time Series from Remote Sensing Data (1982-1999)

Daily global observations from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometers (AVHRR) on the series of meteorological satellites operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) between 1982 and 1999 (17 years) were used to generate a new weekly global burnt surface product at a resolution of 8km. Comparison with independently available information on fire locations and timing suggest that whilst the time-series cannot yet be used to make accuracy and quantitative estimates of global burnt area, it does provide a reliable estimate of changes in location, season and interannual variability of burning on the global scale (Carmona-Moreno et al., 2005.a). This paper deals with the connection analysis of this time series and “El Niño” Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. The spatial-temporal inter-correlation analyses show likely connections between both phenomena at global scale during the period considered even if these results need to be confirmed with longer time series (>40 years) of data.JRC.DDG.H.3-Global environement monitorin

Les Feux en 1997 en Indonesie. Essai d'Interpretation Ecologique dans le Context du Developpement Durable.

Abstract not availableJRC.(SAI)-Space Application Institut

AVHRR for Monitoring Global Tropical Deforestation

AVHRR DATA HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSESS THE DYNAMICS OF FOREST TRANSFORMATION IN THREE PARTS OF THE TROPICAL BELT. A LARGE PORTION OF THE AMAZON BASIN HAS BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY COVERED BY LAC DATA IN THE 85-877 PERIOD; THE ANALYSIS OF THE VEGETATION INDEX AND THERMAL DATA LED TO THE IDENTIFICATION AND MEASUREMENT OF LARGE AREAS OF ACTIVE DEFORESTATION. THE KALIMANTAN/BORNEO FOREST FIRES WERE MONITORED AND THEIR IMPACT WAS EVALUATED USING THE GAC 4 KM RESOLUTION DATA. FINALLY, HRPT DATA HAVE PROVIDED PRELIMINARY INFORMATION ON CURRENT ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE AT THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE SAVANNA AND THE FOREST IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF WEST AFRICA. THE AVHRR APPROACH IS FOUND TO BE HIGHLY VALUABLE TOOL FOR CARRYING OUT DEFORESTATION ASSESSMENTS IN REGIONAL AND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES.NA-NOT AVAILABL

AVHRR for Global Tropical Forest Monitoring. The Lessons of the TREES Project

Abstract not availableJRC.(IRSA)-Institute For Remote Sensing Application

NOAA-AVHRR Studies of Vegetation Characteristics and Deforestation Mapping in The Amazon Basin

Abstract not availableNA-NOT AVAILABL

Biomass Burning: An Ecosystem Process of Global Significance

Abstract not availableJRC.(IRSA)-Institute For Remote Sensing Application