New Study Finds Some Genetically Engineered Crops Could Play a Role in Sustainable AgriculturePossible Benefits Include Reduced Use of Chemicals in Crops Modified with Insecticidal GeneJune 7, 2007ARLINGTON, VA — A new study published today in SCIENCE magazine evaluates current data on the harms and possible benefits of genetically modified (GM) crops, and finds that genetically modified crops may, in some cases, contribute to more sustainable agricultural practices. The study, titled “A Meta-Analysis of Effects of Bt Cotton and Maize on Nontarget Invertebrates,” for the first time analyzes environmental impact data from field experiments all over the world involving corn and cotton with a Bt gene inserted for its insecticidal properties. The research was conducted by scientists at Santa Clara University, the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) at the University of California Santa Barbara, and The Nature Conservancy, and is accompanied by a searchable global database for agricultural and environmental scientists studying the effects of genetically engineered crops. Biotechnology and genetic engineering are controversial because of concerns about risks to human health and biodiversity, but the studies performed to date to assess the actual effects that genetically modified plants will have on other species have generally been poorly replicated, with only a few field plots in each experimental treatment. After analyzing 42 field experiments, scientists found that this particular engineered modification, which causes the plant to produce insecticide internally, can have an environmental benefit because the entire crop no longer has to be sprayed with chemicals. Specifically, the research team found that organisms such as ladybird beetles, earthworms, and bees within these “Bt crops” fared better in field trials compared to conventional agriculture, which uses large-scale insecticide spraying. “This is a groundbreaking study and the first of its kind to evaluate the current science surrounding genetically modified crops. The results are significant for how we think about technology and the future of sustainable agriculture,” said Peter Kareiva, chief scientist of The Nature Conservancy and co-author of the report. “The debate surrounding genetically modified crops is challenging and divided, but the more information we have, the better - so that we can work together to inform decisions that ensure human health, economic security and long-term sustainability.” While this study highlights that in some cases biotechnology might actually produce environmental benefits (compared to traditional farming practices), the results are different when comparing GM crops to fields not treated with any insecticides. In such cases, the researchers found instances where the abundance of “non-target” species was greater in the no-spray field plots compared to in the genetically engineered field plots. “We carried out this research because we found that most of the studies submitted by industry to the US regulatory bodies (US EPA & USDA) had been poorly replicated and therefore could have ‘missed’ important side effects of these crops,” said Michelle Marvier, and co-author of the report. “We can now answer the question: Do Bt crops have effects on beneficial insects and worms? The answer is that it depends to a large degree upon the type of comparison one makes. When Bt crops are compared to crops sprayed with insecticides, the Bt crops come out looking quite good. But when Bt crops are compared to crops without insecticides, there are reductions of certain animal groups that warrant further investigation.” Kareiva added, “The lesson is clear—it is misguided to make blanket assumptions about new agricultural technologies as either ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ The answer is that the effects of GM crops depend on your goals and vision for agroecosystems.” The researchers and ecoinformatics experts at NCEAS produced a global database, Nontarget Effects of Bt Crops. Co-author Jim Regetz of NCEAS describes the database as “bringing together methodological details and results from a large collection of experimental and observational research. NCEAS makes this and other data sets available to the public with the intention that future analyses by the broader scientific community will yield important new insights.” Contacts:
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