GM crop cultivation:
Environmental monitoring is obligatory
Genetically modified plants continue to be monitored even after they have been approved. Under current European legislation, the cultivation of a GM plant is authorised only if an environmental monitoring plan has been drawn up. Environmental monitoring reviews if gm-plants have negative effects on the environment against all expectations. Environmental monitoring is designed to check whether GM plants have any unexpected negative impacts on the environment. But what must these monitoring plans deliver in practice? How can one measure or observe something that is currently unknown? How is it possible to differentiate between normal, natural changes in a living ecosystem and changes that may possibly have been caused by the cultivation of genetically modified plants?
Background
- General and case-specific. Monitoring plans and the authorisation of GM crops
- Who does what. Concepts, working groups, authorities
Concepts on the test-bench (2005-2009)
There is still no consensus in Germany or in the EU as to how the obligatory "general monitoring" of GM crops is to be implemented in practice. Initial concepts and methods have been developed over recent years, including some within the BMBF safety research programme. Now it is time for practical tests. These focus primarily on accuracy, practicability and cost-effectiveness.
Research info
- Post-market monitoring I: Data collection from farmers and through plant protection agencies (project group coordination); BBA, Braunschweig
- Post-market monitoring II: Selection of sites in agricultural landscapes; BLaU, Göttingen
- Post-market monitoring III: Developing a statistical tool for data analysis; BioMath, Rostock
Concepts under development (2001-2004)
Suitable monitoring concepts have to fulfil a number of requirements: as early warning systems they need to detect harmful impacts on complex ecosystems in good time, but they also need to be practicable and capable of being implemented with a reasonable amount of organisational effort. Between 2001 and 2004 several research projects have focused on this task. The findings and experiences have been fed into the further development of monitoring plans.
Results
![[jump to top]](/images/icons/icon_gotop_9x9.gif){kind=icon}