The Ecological Risks of Engineered Crops

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What will it mean to have a steady stream of animal and microbial genes entering the gene pools of plants in wild ecosystems? With significant resources being invested in biotechnology, transgenic crops have emerged as a major application of genetic engineering in agriculture. This science and policy assessment highlights the serious and costly environmental risks posed by the commercialization and release of transgenic crops across millions of acres. The authors propose a practical method for conducting precommercialization evaluations that balances ecological safety with agricultural and business needs, aiding governments in identifying and mitigating significant risks. They define transgenic plants and review ongoing research in crop biotechnology, categorizing environmental risks such as the potential for transgenic crops to become weeds or create herbicide-resistant weeds, leading to costly control measures. Additionally, engineered plants may facilitate new virus creation, impacting economically vital crops. The authors examine the global seed trade, emphasizing the link between U.S. commercial approval and environmental risks abroad, particularly the threat to crop biodiversity in developing countries. They conclude with an overview of U.S. regulations on transgenic crops, discussing regulatory challenges and offering recommendations for commercial development, risk assessment, and regulation.