Assessment & Impacts

Principles and Approaches Genetic interactions in ecosystems are more dynamic and complex than acknowledged so far. Genetic change and genetic exchange phenomena seem to occur more frequently in nature than in laboratories, and may be regulated by unknown environmental factors. Local environmental conditions and chemical contaminants (pesticides and other xenobiotics), that will undoubtedly vary in concentrations and combinations between different locations are examples of such environmental factors. These may have impacts on the extent of horizontal gene transfer, and on how modified genes are expressed and affect the recipient organisms. Consequently, it is important to establish model systems in the laboratory, which mimic the ecological interactions and complexity of the real world.

Basis for risk assessment and management:
Risk and probability are not the same. Risk can be defined as the probability of an occurrence of an incident or phenomenon, multiplied by the consequences arising therefrom, if it occurs. At this moment we know little about both probability and consequences in relation to putative health and environmental effects of many genetic engineering applications.

Horizontal gene transfer: Horizontal gene transfer signifies a non-sexual transmission of genetic information within or between species. The phenomenon is common in nature, but our knowledge concerning ecological processes promoting such events and barriers prohibiting them is scanty.

Socio-economic considerations: The impact of genetically modified organisms goes beyond ecological and health dimensions. They have profound impact on society, including livelihoods, production systems, trade, culture and ethics.

Novel Features of Gene Drives Warrant Advanced Risk and Technology Assessments

An understanding of the novel features of gene drive organisms is necessary to evaluate their impacts on the environment.Current risk assessment approaches may need to be updated and adapted, and complemented with a broader technology assessment approach. […]

May 14th, 2018 | Category: Risk assessment

GM Maize Approved in the EU Despite Concerns Raised by Member States

The European Food Safety Authority has been critiqued for repeatedly failing to address valid scientific concerns about a GM maize approved for food and feed in the EU, which has been found to cause kidney damage and bladder stones in rats. […]

March 23rd, 2018 | Category: Health

Toxic Formulants and Heavy Metals in Glyphosate-based Herbicides

Formulations of glyphosate-based herbicides are found to be much more toxic on both plants and human cells than glyphosate alone. Toxic heavy metals such as arsenic are also found in these herbicides. […]

January 23rd, 2018 | Category: Health, Herbicide Tolerance

GM Crops Drive Increased Pesticide Use in Brazil

The adoption of GM crops in Brazil has led to an increase in pesticide use with possible increases in environmental and human exposure and associated negative impacts. […]

January 19th, 2018 | Category: Ecological

CRISPR Gene Drives Equivalent to Creating a New, Highly Invasive Species

Two journal articles spell out why current CRISPR-based gene drives are too risky for field and even lab experimentation because they are remarkably aggressive and are likely to spread to most populations of the target species throughout the world. […]

December 29th, 2017 | Category: Assessment & Impacts, Ecological

Combinatorial Effects of Stacked GM Plants Deserve Proper Assessment

New peer-reviewed data has shown how two Cry-toxins acted in combination and that the same Cry-toxins showed combinatorial effects when co-exposed with Roundup. EFSA dismissal of such research exposes the weaknesses in their risk assessment processes. […]

December 28th, 2017 | Category: Risk assessment

Empirical Research on the Socio-Economic Impacts of GM Crops Seriously Inadequate

There is a lack of empirical and comprehensive research on the socio-economic impacts of GM crops. The majority of published research has mainly focused on a restricted set of monetary economic parameters with serious shortcomings in the methodologies. […]

December 26th, 2017 | Category: Assessment & Impacts, Socio-Economic

Human Exposure to Glyphosate Increased 500 percent Since GM Crop Introduction in the US

A study has found that human exposure to glyphosate through foods has increased approximately 500% over 23 years since the introduction of GM glyphosate-tolerant crops in the US. […]

December 14th, 2017 | Category: Food Safety, Herbicide Tolerance

Roundup Harms Soil Fungus At Far Below Permissible Doses

Research shows that Roundup caused metabolic disturbances in an important soil fungus at doses far below the recommended agricultural application rate, raising the possibility that herbicide residues may add toxic properties to a final GM plant product. […]

November 21st, 2017 | Category: Herbicide Tolerance, Risk assessment

Bt Toxins in GM Crops More Toxic Than Natural Bt Toxins

A peer-reviewed analysis comparing GMO and natural Bt proteins has found clear differences between the two, and that the process of inserting Bt toxins into crops causes them to be more toxic and active against many more species. […]

November 16th, 2017 | Category: Pest Resistance, Risk assessment
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