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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #160860
Title: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF TRANSGENIC CROPS: INTRODUCTION

Author
item KREMER, ROBERT
item MOTAVALLI, PETER - UNIV OF MO

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2004
Publication Date: 5/1/2004
Citation: Kremer, R.J., Motavalli, P.P. 2004. Environmental impacts of transgenic crops: Introduction. Journal of Environmental Quality. 33(3):805.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A symposium entitled 'The Environmental Impact of Transgenic Crops on Soil Biological Processes and Functions,' was held during the 2002 annual meetings of ASA-CSSA-SSSA to review and discuss the effects of genetically modified (GM) crops on soil biological processes and functions in agroecosystems, and to stimulate discussion of priorities for research. The impetus for organizing the symposium was the widespread public concern over the environmental effects of GM crops. The agricultural land area planted to GM crops has expanded rapidly since the first commercial introduction of these crops in the 1990's and, therefore, the potential risk of large-scale environmental impacts also may be increasing. The possible overall environmental hazards associated with the release of GM crops include the dispersal and invasiveness of the GM plants into ecosystems; movement of transgenes in the environment through pollen dispersal to other non-GM plants or gene transfer to microorganisms; reductions in the biodiversity and activity of nontarget organisms, including both flora and fauna; and development of resistance in target organisms. The potential of nontarget effects of GM plants on soil organisms, including microbial processes, nutrient cycling, and microbial diversity, is a cause of considerable concern in environmental risk assessment of these crops. As the number and variety of GM crops increase and as land area devoted to production of GM crops continues to expand, it is important that a defined system is in place to screen for potential unwanted nontarget effects. The symposium highlighted concepts and state-of-the-art knowledge of the effects of crops genetically modified for insect and herbicide resistance on soil and rhizosphere microbial communities and processes. Also of interest were the impacts of genetic traits for improved nutrient uptake and the indirect effects of management practices associated with GM crops on soil microbial communities. Several papers described technological advances that couple microbial identity and function and new techniques in microbial community analysis that should provide tools for more complete assessments of GM-induced effects on plant-soil systems. This series of symposium articles should serve as a valuable resource for those interested in improving assessment of the effects of GM crops on the soil ecosystem and on the environment in general.