September, 2003

Bart G J Knols and Marcel Dicke of the Laboratory of Entomology at the Wageningen University, the Netherlands outlined a risk-assessment strategy for the responsible regulation of the entrance of transgenic crops into Dutch agriculture.

The authors cited three areas which needs to be addressed by the Dutch Committee on Genetic Modification. These are: 1. the outcrossing of transgenes to related plant species; 2. effects of transgenic plants on soil ecosystems; and 3. effects of transgenic plants on multitrophic interactions.

Knols and Dicke proposed the following four-pronged approach in risk assessment in anticipation of the possible effects of Bt products on the Dutch agro-ecological environment:

Step 1: Bt crop application requires identification of key species participating in multitrophic interactions and a clear understanding of their ecological functions within the food web.

Step 2: Exposure of these key species to Bt toxins, and the resulting effects on the functioning of below- and above-ground trophic levels and their interactions, will follow.

Step 3: Population studies and analysis of interactions of Bt plants with adjacent (semi) natural ecosystems and their effects at the community level.

Step 4: Development of models to describe these processes that range from organism to population level, providing insights into the potential ecological effects.

This article was published in Nature Biotechnology (Vol 21 No. 9 September 2003).
For more information, email marcel.dicke@wur.nl.