Workshop B2: Health risks of GM food and environmental risks in agriculture: state of the arguments

Saturday, 25th April 2009
9.00 – 10.30h / Coffee break / 11.00h – 12.00h / Lunch / 13.00 – 15.

Chair and moderator:

• Andreas Lang, University of Basel

Speakers:

Outline:

Development and cultivation of genetically modified (gm) crops have increased worldwide over the last decade, the main transgenic traits currently used being insect-resistant crops (IR) and herbicide-tolerant crops (HT). Health and environmental issues associated with gm crops have been of great public and scientific concern from the very beginning on. Accordingly, many scientific data and studies have been generated and carried out to assess the risks potentially caused by gm crops. This workshop will give an overview about the state-of-the-art of research regarding health and environmental problems of gm crops and possible future developments. Particular focus will be given on lack of data and tests which would be necessary to fully assess the risks of IR and HT crops adequately.

Programme: 

Minutes of the Workshop (pdf, 9 KB, English)

1. Input paper 1 (GES): Health problems involved with the consumption of HT crops.
2. Input paper 2 (MWH): The Golden Rice scandal – a case study of the gm health risks ignored.
3. Input paper 3 (GL): Effects of transgenic IR crops on natural enemies.
4. Input paper 4 (AL): Adverse effects of genetically modified maize on butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) – state of the art.
5. Formulation of bullet points listing open and crucial points for research needs, risk assessment and regulations.

Background and literature:

• Benachour, N., Séralini, G.-E. (2009):
  Glyphosate Formulations Induce Apoptosis and Necrosis in Human Umbilical, Embryonic, and Placental Cells. Chem. Res. Toxicol.,
  in press. DOI: 10.1021/tx800218n [Download from pubs.acs.org]
• Ho, M.W., Cummins, J., Saunders, P.T. (2007): 
  GM food nightmare unfolding in the regulatory sham. 
  Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease 19: 66-77
• Lang, A., Vojtech, E. (2006): 
  The effects of pollen consumption of transgenic Bt maize on the common swallowtail, Papilio machaon L. (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae). 
  Basic and Applied Ecology 7: 296-306.
• Le Curieux-Belfond, O., Vandelac, L., Caron, J., Séralini, G.-E. (2009): 
  Factors to consider before production and commercialization of aquatic genetically modified organisms: the case of transgenic salmon. 
  environmental science & policy 12: 170-189.
• Lövei, G., Andow, D.A., Arpaia, S. (2009): 
  Transgenic Insecticidal Crops and Natural Enemies: a Detailed Review of Laboratory Studies. 
  Environmental Entomology 38: 293-306.
• Séralini, G.-E., Cellier, D., Spiroux de Vendomois, J. (2007): 
  New Analysis of a Rat Feeding Study with a Genetically Modified Maize Reveals Signs of Hepatorenal Toxicity. 
  Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 52, 596-602.