Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 6 The Genetics Controversy
1 See Conway 2000; Royal Society et al, 2000.
2 Preliminary data in late 2001 from the International Service for the
Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications (ISAAA) suggest that 50 million
hectares of genetically modified crops were grown in 2001, up from 44.5 in the
year 2000. In the year 2000, most genetically modified organisms were cultivated
in the US (68 per cent), Argentina (23 per cent), Canada (7 per cent), with
25,000-100,000 hectares each in Australia, Mexico, Spain, and South Africa.
There were also about 1000 hectares each in Bulgaria, France, Romania, Uruguay
and Ukraine (Portugal grew a small amount in 1999, but then withdrew consent
for 2000). In the UK, experimental field releases of genetically modified plants
have occurred on 300 hectares. There are 400,000-500,000 hectares of
genetically modified tobacco and cotton planted in China (see Chen, 2000;
James, 2001; and www.isaaa.org). Of the total 44.5 million hectares planted
worldwide in 2000, 58 per cent comprised soya; 23 per cent maize; 12 per cent
cotton; and 6 per cent oilseed rape. The others include potato, squash and papaya.
3 See Stren and Alton, 1998.
4 For summaries of the contested views, see House of Lords, 1998; Royal
Society, 1998; Nuffield Council on Bioethics, 1999; British Medical Association,
1999; Royal Society et al, 2000.
5 Bellagio Apomixis Declaration, 1998.
6 For a summary of environmental and health risks, see Rissler and Melon,
1996; Altieri, 1998; Pretty, 1998; House of Lords, 1999; Royal Society, 1998;
Nuffield Council on Bioethics, 1999; BMA, 1999; ACRE 2000a, 2000b.
7 For a detailed discussion of the risks and benefits, see Pretty, 2001.
8 For more on gene flow, see Raybould and Gray, 1993; Chevré et al, 1997;
DETR, 1999b.
9 See McPartlan and Dale, 1994; Gray and Raybould, 1998; BCPC, 1999;
Young et al, 1999; ACRE, 2000b.
10 On potential gene flow in soils, see Gebhard and Smalla, 1998, 1999;
ACRE, 2000b.
11 See Johnson, 2000.
12 For more on resistance, see Georghiou, 1986; Vorley and Keeney, 1998;
Heap, 2000.
13 Royal Society, 1998.
14 For more on the indirect effects, see Birch et al, 1997; Hilbeck et al, 1998;
Losey et al, 1999; Crecchio and Stotzky, 1998; Saxena et al, 1999.
15 For details of the research on monarch butterflies, see Losey et al, 1999;
Monarch Butterfly Research Symposium, 1999; Jesse and Obrycki, 2000; Sears
et al, 2001; Hemlich et al, 2001.
16 For more on biodiversity effects, see CRE, 1998; Royal Society, 1998;
Johnson, 2000; Campbell et al, 1997; Pretty, 1998; Siriwardena et al, 1998;
Mason, 1998.
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