Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-xm8r8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-02T09:04:04.911Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Monitoring the commercial cultivation of Bt maize in Europe – conclusions and recommendations for future monitoring practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 January 2010

Ralf Wilhelm ,
Olivier Sanvido ,
Pedro Castanera ,
Kerstin Schmidt  and
Joachim Schiemann
Ralf Wilhelm*
Affiliation:
Julius Kühn-Institut, Institute for Biosafety of Genetically Modified Plants, Erwin-Baur-Str. 27, 06484 Quedlinburg, Germany
Olivier Sanvido
Affiliation:
Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon Research Station ART, Reckenholzstr. 191, 8046 Zürich, Switzerland
Pedro Castanera
Affiliation:
CSIC, Ctr. Invest. Biol., Dept. Biol. Plantas, Lab. Interacc. Planta Insecto, Ramiro Maeztu 9, Madrid 28040, Spain
Kerstin Schmidt
Affiliation:
BioMath GmbH, Thünenplatz 1, 18190 Groß Lüsewitz, Germany
Joachim Schiemann
Affiliation:
Julius Kühn-Institut, Institute for Biosafety of Genetically Modified Plants, Erwin-Baur-Str. 27, 06484 Quedlinburg, Germany
*
*Corresponding author: ralf.wilhelm@jki.bund.de

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Genetically modified (GM) maize expressing the insecticidal protein Cry1Ab from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt maize) is the only GM crop planted commercially in the European Union (EU). Cultivation in accordance with Directive 2001/18/EC demands post-market environmental monitoring (PMEM) to ensure the detection and prevention of adverse effects on the environment possibly deriving from commercial cultivation. Based on a seminar organized in Berlin, Germany, in April 2008 by the EU-funded Biosafenet project, the present paper reflects on experiences and hurdles faced during the implementation of PMEM for Bt maize. It reviews and reconsiders PMEM programs of Bt maize in view of existing experiences from cultivation, current monitoring activities initiated by Member States and applicants, proposed monitoring strategies and methods as well as potential environmental impacts of cultivation. Future challenges will arise from large-scale and cumulative cultivation of various events. This will demand optimized organization structures for data collation and integration to support further decision-making and management.

Keywords

Bt maizemonitoringgenetically modified plantscultivationgeneral surveillancecase-specific monitoringstacked eventsreporting
Type
Research Article
Information
Environmental Biosafety Research , Volume 8 , Issue 4 , October 2009 , pp. 219 - 225
Copyright
© ISBR, EDP Sciences, 2010

References

ACRE (2004) Guidance on best practice in the design of post-market monitoring plans in submission to the advisory committee on releases to the environment, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment, London, p 21
Álvarez-Alfageme, F, Ferry, N, Castañera, P, Ortego, F, Gatehouse, AMR (2008) Prey mediated effects of Bt maize on fitness and digestive physiology of the red spider mite predator Stethorus punctillum Weise (Coleoptera: Coccinelidae). Transg. Res . 17: 943–954 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andreadis, SS, Álvarez-Alfageme, F, Sánchez-Ramos, I, Stodola, TJ, Andow, DA, Milonas, PG, Savopoulou-Soultani, M, Castañera, P (2007) Frequency of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Cry1Ab in Greek and Spanish population of Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 100: 195–201 Google Scholar
Aviron, S, Sanvido, O, Romeis, J, Herzog, F, Bigler, F (2009) Case-specific monitoring of butterflies to determine potential effects of transgenic Bt-maize in Switzerland. Agr. Ecosyst. Environ. 131: 137–144 Google Scholar
Bartsch, D, Gathmann, A, Koziolek, C, Vaasen, A, Buhk, HJ (2009) Implication of the Environmental Liability Directive for General Surveillance – What to Protect? Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety 3, Supplement 2: 8–11 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
BMBF – Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (2009) Integration landwirtschaftlicher, ökologischer und biometrischer Aspekte zu einer praktikablen methodik der Flächenauswahl und datenerhebung für das Anbaubegleitende Monitoring. Funding Code: 0313286
Bühler, C (2006) Biodiversity monitoring in Switzerland: What can we learn for general surveillance of GM crops? Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety 1, Supplement 1: 37–41 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De la Poza, M, Pons, X, Farinós, GP, López, C, Ortego, F, Eizaguirre, M, Castañera, P, Albajes, R (2005) Impact of farm-scale Bt maize on abundance of predatory arthropods in Spain. Crop Prot. 24: 677–684 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DEFRA (2008) Consultation on the draft regulations and guidance implementing Directive 2004/35 on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage. http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/env-liability-regs/
Delos, M, Hervieu, F, Folcher, L, Micoud, A, Eychenne, N (2006) Biological surveillance programme for the monitoring of crop pests and indicators in France. Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety 1, Supplement 1: 30–36 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
EFSA (2006) Opinion of the scientific panel on genetically modified organisms on the post-market environmental monitoring (PMEM) of genetically modified plants. The EFSA Journal 319: 1–27
EFSA (2009) Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms Applications (EFSA-GMO-RX-MON810) for renewal of authorisation for the continued marketing of (1) existing food and food ingredients produced from genetically modified insect resistant maize MON810; (2) feed consisting of and/or containing maize MON810, including the use of seed for cultivation; and of (3) food and feed additives, and feed materials produced from maize MON810, all under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Monsanto. The EFSA Journal 1149: 1–84
Farinós, GP, De la Poza, M, Hernández-Crespo, P, Ortego, F, Castañera, P (2004) Resistance monitoring of field populations of the corn borers Sesamia nonagrioides and Ostrinia nubilalis after five years of Bt maize cultivation in Spain. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 110: 23–30 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farinós, GP, De la Poza, M, Hernández-Crespo, P, Ortego, F, Castañera, P (2008) Diversity and seasonal phenology of the aboveground arthropods in conventional and transgenic maize crops in Central Spain. Biol. Control 44: 362–371 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fried, G, Petit, S, Dessaint, F, Reboud, X (2009) Arable weed decline in Northern France: Crop edges as refugia for weed conservation? Biol. Conserv. 142: 238–243 Google Scholar
González-Núñez, M, Ortego, F, Castañera, P (2000) Susceptibility of Spanish populations of the corn borers Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to a Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin. J. Econ. Entomol. 93: 459–463 Google Scholar
Graef, F, Züghart, W, Benzler, A, Berhorn, F, Sukopp, U (2007) Monitoring genetically modified plants (GMP): Data harmonisation and coordination on multiple levels to ensure data quality and comparability. Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety 2, Supplement 2: 72–75 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hill, RA, Sendashonga, C (2003) General principles for risk assessment of living modified organisms: Lessons from chemical risk assessment. Environ. Biosafety Res. 2: 81–88 Google ScholarPubMed
James C (2007) Global status of commercialized biotech/GM crops: 2007, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, Ithaca NY, p 125
Levidow, L (2003) Precautionary risk assessment of Bt maize: what uncertainties? J. Invertebr. Pathol. 83: 113–117 Google ScholarPubMed
Nguyen, HT, Jehle, JA (2009) Stability of Cry1Ab protein during long-term storage for standardization of insect bioassays. Environ. Biosafety Res . 8: 113–119 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sanvido, O, Widmer, F, Winzeler, M, Bigler, F (2005) A conceptual framework for the design of environmental post-market monitoring of genetically modified plants. Environ. Biosafety Res. 4: 13–27 Google ScholarPubMed
Sanvido, O, Romeis, J, Bigler, F (2008) Monitoring or Surveillance? Balancing between theoretical frameworks and practical experiences. Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety 3, Supplement 2: 4–7 Google Scholar
Schmidt, K, Wilhelm, R, Schmidtke, J, Beißner, L, Mönkemeyer, W, Böttinger, P, Sweet, J, Schiemann, J (2008) Farm questionnaires for monitoring genetically modified crops: a case study using GM maize. Environ. Biosafety Res. 7: 163–179 Google Scholar
Sweet, JB (2009) General Surveillance of Multiple Transgenic Events. Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety 3, Supplement 2: 12 Google Scholar
The European Council (2002) Council decision of 3 October 2002 establishing guidance notes supplementing Annex VII to Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms and repealing Council Directive 90/220/EEC, The Council of the European Union, Luxemburg. Official Journal of the European Communities L 280: 27–36
The European Parliament and the Council (2001) Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 March 2001 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms and repealing Council Directive 90/220/EEC, European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, Brussels. Official Journal of the European Communities L 106: 1–38
The European Parliament and the Council (2004) Directive 2004/35/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage. Official Journal of the European Communities L 143: 56–75
Tinland, B, Delzenne, P, Pleysier, A (2007) Implementation of a post-market monitoring for insect-protected maize MON 810 in the EU. Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety 2, Supplement 2: 7–10 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Von Kröcher, C, Röhrig, M (2007) Monitoring of plant pests and diseases as a base of the German-wide online decision support system ISIP. Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety 2, Supplement 2: 50–51 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilhelm, R, Schiemann, J (2006) Does the baseline concept provide appropriate tools for decision making? Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety , 1, Supplement 1: 75–77 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilhelm, R, Beissner, L, Schiemann, J (2003) Konzept zur Umsetzung eines GVO-Monitoring in Deutschland. Nachrichtenblatt des Deutschen Pflanzenschutzbundes 55: 258–272 Google Scholar
Windels, P, Alcalde, E, Lecoq, E, Legris, G, Pleysier, A, Tinland, B, Wandelt, C (2008) General Surveillance for Import and Processing: the EuropaBio approach. Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety 3, Supplement 2: 14–16 Google Scholar