Vol.
25 No. 3
May - June 2003
Impact
of Transgenic Crops on the Use of Agrochemicals and the Environment
Large-scale
cultivation of transgenic (genetically modified) crops started
in 1996 and has experienced rapid adoption ever since, amounting
to a globally cultivated area of 58.7 million hectares of
arable land in 2002. Most of these crops have been modified
with new traits that are linked with pest management, such
as resistance against damaging insects and tolerance towards
application of broad-spectrum herbicides. The focus of this
project is to collect data on changes in pesticide use on
genetically modified crops.
It
has already become evident from a number of studies that genetically
modified crops have an impact on pesticide use, both in terms
of growers choice for a specific pesticide as well as
in terms of quantities used. Within the project, these data
will serve as input for the prediction of the potential environmental
and health effects associated with the changed pesticide-use
pattern. The ecotoxicological and toxicological effects linked
with the various scenarios of pesticide use will be compared
quantitatively with the aid of "environmental indicators."
In addition, other effects of the altered pesticide use, including
ecology and biodiversity will be taken into account.
The
final goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the effects
associated with altered pesticide use in genetically modified
crops. Such an overview may serve as a tool for policy makers
in their risk-benefit analysis for the introduction of genetically
modified crops in the environment.
For more
information, contact the Task Group Chairman Gijs A. Kleter
<[email protected]>.
www.iupac.org/projects/2001/2001-024-2-600.html
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last modified 29 April 2003.
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