Back to Search
Start Over
Biosafety of bee pollinators in genetically modified agro-ecosystems : current approach and further development in the EU
- Source :
- PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE, Pest Management Science, Pest Manag Sci
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Bee pollinators are an important guild delivering a fundamental input to European agriculture due to the ecological service they provide to crops in addition to the direct economic revenues from apiculture. Bee populations are declining in Europe as a result of the effects of several environmental stressors, both natural and of anthropic origin. Efforts are ongoing in the European Union (EU) to improve monitoring and management of pollinator populations to arrest further declines. Genetically modified (GM) crops are currently cultivated in a limited area in Europe, and an environmental risk assessment (ERA) is required prior to their authorization for cultivation. The possible impacts of GM crops on pollinators are deemed relevant for the ERA. Existing ecotoxicological studies indicate that traits currently expressed in insect‐resistant GM plants are unlikely to represent a risk for pollinators. However, new mechanisms of insect resistance are being introduced into GM plants, including novel combinations of Cry toxins and double strand RNA (dsRNA), and an ERA is required to consider lethal and sublethal effects of these new products on nontarget species, including insect pollinators. The evaluation of indirect effects linked to the changes in management practices (e.g. for herbicide‐tolerant GM crops) is an important component of EU regulations and a requirement for ERA. This paper reviews current approaches used to test the sensitivity of pollinators to GM plants and their products to determine whether sufficient data are being provided on novel GM plants to satisfy EU risk assessment requirements. © 2021 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.<br />There is concern that genetically modified (GM) plants might induce adverse effects on pollinators either directly or indirectly via reduced food availability. Biosafety regulation in the EU aims to assess these potential risks to ensure the biosafety of GM crops.
- Subjects :
- Integrated pest management
Agriculture and Food Sciences
Beekeeping
pollination
Pollination
Reviews
Genetically modified crops
Review
Biology
Biosafety
genetically modified plants
media_common.cataloged_instance
Animals
European Union
European union
Ecosystem
media_common
Errata
Agroforestry
business.industry
fungi
biosafety
General Medicine
Bees
Containment of Biohazards
Plants, Genetically Modified
apiculture
Europe
Agriculture
Insect Science
Guild
business
nontarget organisms
Agronomy and Crop Science
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1526498X and 15264998
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE, Pest Management Science, Pest Manag Sci
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....c404e55054f825727d09f7e1ce29134d