Genetically modified crops

ECPA is the pan-European voice of the crop protection industry. The membership includes both national associations and companies throughout Europe, including Centrol and Eastern Europe. In addition to traditional crop protection products such as herbicides, fungicides and insecticides, our members also provide biopesticides and genetically modified crops. 

Examples of genetically modified crops with altered carotenoid levels... 

The recent introduction of genetically modified crops has changed both the agriculture and food industries. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) surveys report that 25% of corn, 61% of cotton and 54% of soybean acreage grown in the USA in 2000 were genetically modified. ... 

Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries (2004). Act on the Growing etc. of Genetically Modified Crops, Act No. 436 of 9 June 2004. Copenhagen, Denmark, pp. 5. 

Mauro, I.M. and McLachlan, S.M. (2003). Risk Analysis of Genetically Modified Crops on the Canadian Prairies. Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Plant Products Directorate, Plant Biosafety Office Technical Workshop on the Management of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) Crops Report, www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/bio/consult/ herbtolrepe.shtml 7. Accessed June 17, 2005. 

Kimber, I. and Dearman, R.J., Approaches to the assessment of the allergenic potential of novel proteins in food from genetically modified crops. Toxiol. Sci., 68, 4, 2002. 

Goodman, R.E., Hefle, S., Taylor, S.L. and van Ree, R., Assessing genetically modified crops to minimize the risk of increased food allergy A review. Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol., 137, 153, 2005. 

Goodman, R.E., Silanovich, A., Hileman, R.E., Bannon, G.A., Rice, E.A. and Astwood, J.D., Bioinformatic methods for identifying known and potential allergens in the safety assessment of genetically modified crops. Comments Toxicol., 8, 251, 2002. 

Genetically modified crops, 13 533-534 herbicide-tolerant, 13 534-535 Genetic complementation, 12 503 Genetic differences, influence on toxicity, 25 212... 

This has been highlighted by a number of food safety issues. For example, lack of confidence that uncertainties were being adequately dealt with has been an important factor in recent public concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy and genetically modified crops, especially in Europe. Uncertainty was also a factor in the earlier controversy over alar in apples (e.g., Ames and Gold 1989 Groth 1989 Thayer 1989). 

Taking into account its much smaller size, the agrochemical industry has been more innovative than its pharmaceutical counterpart. Ten to twelve NMEs have been launched by the agrochemical industry each year during the past 25 years. The future development of demand for agrochemicals will depend primarily on the fate of genetically modified crops. The question as to whether they will be generally accepted for human nutrition by the public... 

It is also to be taken into account that pests, in response to genetically modified crops that bear genetic resistance, may rapidly become adapted, so that new genetically modified crops are needed to maintain high productivity. A gene associated with Bt resistance has been identified in the cotton pest, Heliothis virescens (Gahan 2001). The life span of a genetically modified crop is calculated to be a few years only (Plucknett 1986). 

Making an overall balance, benefits fi om replacing natural high diversity with genetically modified crops are doubtful Recent extensive field experimentation with Chinese rice may be an indication variety has increa production (Zhu 2000). 

Genetically modified resistance Genetically modified crops with Bacillus thuringiensls toxins, proteinase inhibitors, various forms of resistance against diseases Absent Common in some countries... 

Qaim, M., and D. Zilberman. 2003. Yield effects of genetically modified crops in developing countries. Science 299 900—902. 

DNA serves as a blueprint for the individual, controlling, among other aspects, the production of highly specific proteins. In sexual reproduction, the DNA of the offspring is derived from the DNA of both parents, and so serves as the material basis of inheritance and of evolution. Cloning experiments, from Dolly the sheep onward genetically modified crops the possible treatment of inherited diseases—in these and other ways, an understanding of the chemical basis of reproduction and in-... 

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