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Project title

Predicting the impact of coexistance-guided genetically modified (GM) cropping on Irish biodiversity.

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Teagasc

Lead Applicant

Ewen Mullins

Project Abstract

In 2008 the number of countries growing genetically modified (GM) crops reached 25 across an accumulated global area (from 1996 to 2008) of ca.800 million hectares. Managed by over 13 million farmers the first generation of GM crops include traits of insect resistance and/or herbicide tolerance in maize soybean and cotton. Insect resistance maize (conferred through to the expression of the Bt gene) is the only commercial GM crop grown within the European Union (EU) with an approximatehectarage of 110000 ha across Spain France Portugal the Czech Republic Germany and Slovakia (James 2008). In 1998 a de facto moratorium on the cultivation of GM crops within the EU was established in response to public concerns regarding the perceived biosafety of GM technology when applied to food production. Up to 2003 the response of the EU was to introduce a series of legislative measures (Directive 2001/18 (European Commission 2001); EU Regulation 1829/2003 (European Commission 2003e); EU Regulation 1830/2003 (European Commission 2003c); EU Regulation 1946/2003 (European Commission 2003f)) to ensure informed consent adequate labelling and traceability and to safeguard against the introduction of a GM crop which presents a hazard to human/animal health and/or the environment. The moratorium was lifted in 2004 and since then the European Commission (EC) has affirmed its intention to progress with incorporating GM crops into the EU in response to global competition and in light of concerns about food security (European Commission 2009). Combined with the fact that i'next generationi GM crops (e.g. blight tolerant potato) with more relevance to the Irish tillage sector are near to commercialisation1 it is clear that Irish farmers will in the near future be afforded a choice as to whether they wish to adopt GM technology into Irish agricultural systems. There are several policy-based instruments that will have a bearing on thisoutcome as a result of the necessity to complete focussed research on the potential ecological impacts of GM cropping in Ireland.

Grant Approved

�105,239.20

Research Hub

Natural Environment

Research Theme

Sectoral Impacts on Biodiversity

Start Date

13/11/2006

Initial Projected Completion Date

n/a