Environmental Risk Assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms

Many international forus have identified the need for comprehensive, transparent, scientific methods for the pre-release testing and post-release monitoring of transgenic plants to ensure their environmental safety and sustainable use. There is also wide recognition that the regulatory andscientific capacity for conducting assessments needs to be strengthened worldwide. In response to these requirements, a GMO Guidelines Project was established under the aegis of the International Organization for Biological Control, to develop biosafety testing guidelines for transgenic plants. This book is one output of this project, and focuses on transgenic maize in Kenya. Suchmaize includes genes transferred from the bacterium bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which code for proteins which are toxic to some insects. The book addresses both environmental and agricultural impacts, but does not evaluate human health impacts or ethical implications. It draws out some general riskassessment guidelines, but demonstrates the need for case-by-case analysis.

The maize agricultural context in Kenya; Problem formulation and options assessment; Transgene locus structure and expression of Bt maize; Biodiversity and non-target Impacts; Gene flow and its consequences; Resistance risks and management; Risk assessment of Bt maize in Kenya: synthesis and recommendations