Subgroup on Soil Ecology

This site summarises the work of the ACRE subgroup on soil ecology.

The group was established in 2002. It last reported its progress in February 2006 when ACRE agreed the final guidance. The Sub-group has therefore completed its contribution to ACRE’s work plan. However the committee can reconvene a sub-group in order to revise reports or provide additional guidance documents where appropriate.

Terms of reference

The ACRE subgroup had the following terms of reference:

• To consider the potential generic effects that GMOs and the agronomic management practices associated with them have on soil ecology;
• To identify meaningful indicators of soil health which may be of relevance when making risk assessments and in monitoring releases of GMOs;
• The subgroup reported only to ACRE. ACRE monitored the work of the subgroup;
• The subgroup could consult or seek wider views in the course of its deliberations.

Mode of working

The group had a core membership made up of microbiologists, ecologists and farming experts. The subgroup held two informal preparatory meetings with further discussions carried out by email correspondence.

Interim scoping document

The subgroup produced an interim scoping document to provide a general review of soil ecology and soil properties and to highlight topics that require further investigation. Following a desk study contracted by Defra, the subgroup produced a report to include a more detailed discussion of soil ecology which highlighted potential indicators of soil quality.

• Review of the current state of knowledge of soil ecosystems relevant to the potential impacts of GM plants (interim report) (Adobe Acrobat format, 140kb)

This first (interim) report of the ACRE soil ecology subgroup focussed on summarising the current state of knowledge of UK soil ecosystems (in order to put any potential changes associated with GM crop releases into context) and identified key knowledge gaps.

Response to Defra desk study

The group recognised that it was important to collate existing studies that have looked for impacts of GM crops on soil ecosystems and the various methods used to assay for such impacts. In response, Defra commissioned a one year desk study: Mechanisms for investigating changes in soil ecology due to GMO releases; the report of this study is available at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/research/epg-1-5-214.htm. The ACRE soil ecology subgroup have considered this report and in the following paper we comment on its findings.

• Response from ACRE to the Defra-commissioned report on 'mechanisms for investigating changes in soil ecology due to GMO releases' (Adobe Acrobat format, 180 KB)

Guidance

ACRE consulted widely on draft guidance and this was finalised and published in February 2006.

• Final guidance on assessing the environmental impact of genetically modified crops on the soil environment (For those seeking to submit notifications for consent to release genetically modified organisms.) (Adobe Acrobat format, 70 KB)