GM maize: Cultivation in Europe

Genetically modified maize, grown by farmers in several European countries, produces a toxin to combat the European corn borer, a persistent pest. But does this Bt toxin also harm other insects living on maize plants? What about spiders, aphids and butterflies? And what happens to the Bt toxin in the soil? Biosafety research has looked at almost every aspect and most of the results are now available.

Results

• The maize field ecosystem. Safety research results: Bt maize and non-target organisms (except soil-dwelling organisms)

• Safety research results: Bt maize and butterflies and moths

• Safety research results: The soil ecosystem

• Interview with Ingolf Schuphan: "Any Bt effects that may exist are extremely minor."

GM rape in the environment: Is it a problem?

Unlike potatoes or maize, oilseed rape is no stranger to Central Europe. It has a number of wild and cultivated relatives here with which it can cross and exchange genes. In addition, rape seeds can survive for a long time in the soil. Can the new genes in GM rape be passed on as well, and what consequences might that have? These questions were investigated in biosafety research projects.

Results

• Oilseed rape: Pollen dispersal and outcrossing. Results of safety research

• Results of safety research. Outcrossing to related species

• Results of safety research: Persistence, dispersal and volunteers

• Results of the GenEERA group project: Modelling for large-scale dispersal behaviour of oilseed rape

• Results of safety research: Bees and GM rape

• Interview with Bernd Hommel: "We found hybrids only in brown mustard."

GM potatoes: new components

GM potatoes with a modified starch composition could soon be growing on European fields. They supply renewable raw materials for the starch industry. It would be the first GM plant with modified product characteristics to be grown commercially in Europe. The aim with other GM potatoes is to get them to accumulate components that offer health benefits. Commercial use of these GM potatoes is not yet in sight, but biosafety research projects have already looked at their environmental compatibility. The question was whether GM potatoes with modified components behave the same way in the environment as conventional potatoes.

Results

• Potatoes with new components. Biosafety research results: Fructan potatoes

• Interview with Bernd Hommel: "We have been unable to find any significant differences."

GM sugar beet: ten years of research

It is possible that genetically modified sugar beet with a herbicide resistance could soon be growing on European fields. A few years ago it looked likely that virus-resistant sugar beet would be introduced onto the market. Several safety research projects have looked at different aspects of the issue: Does virus-resistant genetically modified sugar beet behave differently in the environment to conventional sugar beet? 

In the meantime, interest in genetically modified sugar beet with resistance to rhizomania viruses has waned. Plans to introduce it on the market have long since been shelved because conventionally bred varieties with strong resistance to rhizomania are now available. However, some of the earlier research projects have provided information about possible environmental effects, which may be relevant for all GM sugar beet, regardless of the introduced trait.

Results

• Ten years of accompanying ecological research into GM sugar beet: The results

Background

• The beet family. Wild, weed and cultivated beet

• Rhizomania disease: Virus-resistant sugar beet without genetic engineering