Monday, July 16, 2007
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
- the capability of the GMO to escape and potentially introduce the engineered genes into wild populations
- the persistence of the gene after the GMO has been harvested
- the susceptibility of non-target organisms (e.g. insects which are not pests) to the gene product
- the stability of the gene
- the reduction in the spectrum of other plants including loss of biodiversity
- increased use of chemicals in agriculture
- the potentially detrimental effect on beneficial insects or a faster induction of resistant insects
- the potential generation of new plant pathogens; the potential detrimental consequences for plant biodiversity and wildlife, and a decreased use of the important practice of crop rotation in certain local situations
- the movement of herbicide resistance genes to other plants

- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations recognizes that genetic engineering has the potential to help increase productivity in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.
- FAO urges caution to reduce the risks associated with transferring toxins from one organism to another, of creating new toxins, or of transferring allergenic compounds from one organism to another.
- FAO acknowledges potential risks to the environment, including outcrossing (crossing unrelated organisms), which could lead to the evolution of more aggressive weeds, pests with increased resistance to diseases, or environmental stresses that upset the ecosystem balance.


she's full (: | 9:52 PM|

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