Methods for Risk Assessment of Transgenic Plants

This volume is an edited account of an international workshop in Bern about the effects of transgenic plants on biodiversity, a hotly debated topic in the risk assessment research community. Well-known scientists in this field present important new results from their work. Main focus is put on the impact of agricultural biotechnology on ecosystems, social, ethical and legal issues and the impact of biotechnology on conservation.

Up-to-date account on the ongoing debate on the ecological pros and cons of transgenic plants Main focus is put on the interrelations between transgenic crops and other crops Contributions from well-known scientists in the field

Contenu
Session 1: Impact of agricultural biotechnology on ecosystems.- Widening perspectives on biodiversity.- Horizontal gene flow.- Vertical gene flow.- Genetically engineered crops and sustainable agriculture.- Technology, sustainable agriculture and biodiversity: the socio-economics of technology transfers.- Session 2: Social, ethical and legal issues.- The cultural implications of biodiversity and biotechnology: an underdeveloped area in the public understanding field?.- The role of communication in ecological assessments of genetically modified crops.- Intellectual property rights and traditional knowledge: proposals for action.- Intellectual property rights and traditional knowledge: background, terminology and issues arising.- The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety of the Convention on Biological Diversity: overview and future development.- Session 3: Impact of biotechnology on conservation.- The conservation of genetic diversity: gene flow from agriculture.- Problems of plant conservation in agricultural landscapes: can biotechnology help or hinder?.- Conservation and molecular methods.- Conservation strategies, plant breeding, wild species and landraces.- Session 4: Conclusions.- Discussion: The way ahead.- Acknowledgements.- List of contributors.