Sub-group on wider issues raised by the farm-scale evaluations of GMHT crops

This page summarises the work of the ACRE sub-group on wider issues raised by the farm-scale evaluations of GMHT crops.

The group was established in January 2004 and met 8 times including an open meeting involving the whole of ACRE. Following consultation, ACRE agreed changes to the draft report by circulation as reported at their meeting of 22 February 2007. However, the committee can reconvene a sub-group in order to revise reports or provide additional guidance where appropriate.

Publications

• Managing the Footprint of Agriculture: Towards a Comparative Assessment of Risks and Benefits for Novel Agricultural Systems (final version)
  Report of the ACRE Sub-Group on Wider Issues raised by the Farm-Scale Evaluations of Herbicide Tolerant GM Crops (PDF) (600 KB)
• Overview of responses to the consultation (PDF) (60 KB)

Terms of reference

The ACRE sub-group had the following terms of reference:

• To advise ACRE on the wider implications of the farm-scale evaluation (FSE) results with respect to the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms into the environment.
• To advise on the implications of the FSE for the scientific assessment of the environmental impact of agriculture generally, including advice on the appropriate objectives for environmental protection in farmland including the baselines against which the risks of the deliberate release of genetically modified should be compared.
• To advise on the assessment of adverse effects with respect to agricultural management (building on the work of previous ACRE sub-groups) in a way that is consistent with government objectives for enhancing farmland biodiversity.
• To advise on the extent to which the assessment of indirect environmental benefits is relevant in the assessment of GM crops.
• To advise on issues arising from the use of comparative risk assessment methods in assessing indirect management effects of GM crops (building on the work of previous ACRE sub-groups).
• To advise ACRE and ministers of any discrepancies in regulation that hamper the assessment of GM and other crops and management practices.
• To advise ACRE on any new research needs to address the wider implications of the FSEs.
• The sub-group reported only to ACRE. ACRE monitored the work of the sub-group.
• The sub-group could consult or seek wider views in the course of its deliberations.

Mode of working

The sub-group had a core membership made up of experts on sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, conservation, plant ecology, biochemistry and physiology, entomology and agronomy. Minutes of the meetings are available on request to the ACRE Secretariat.