Genetically Modified Crops - Farm-Scale Evaluations
Scientific Steering Committee for the GM crop farm-scale evaluations
Final advice to Ministers
16th October 2003
The Scientific Steering Committee was formed in May 1999 to oversee the ecological studies that are the farm-scale evaluations. The studies have been conducted by a consortium of independent contractors made up of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Rothamsted Research and the Scottish Crop Research Institute.
The remit of The Scientific Steering Committee includes advising the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly on the outcome of the Farm-scale evaluations.
Today eight scientific papers containing the results of the farm-scale evaluation of spring-sown crops (maize, beet and spring oilseed rape) have been published in The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (Biological Sciences). The publication of these papers, following full peer-review, provides independent endorsement of the SSC's view that the farm scale evaluations were designed and executed to a high standard. The SSC is content that these eight papers collectively have adequately addressed the null hypothesis under test: that, for each crop, the effect on the abundance and diversity of wildlife of the management of the GM crop does not differ from the effect of the management of the conventional equivalent. The null hypothesis was rejected in each case.
Growing conventional beet and spring rape was better for many groups of wildlife than growing GM herbicide-tolerant (GMHT) beet and spring rape. Some insect groups, such as bees (in beet crops) and butterflies (in beet and spring rape) , were recorded more frequently in and around the conventional crops because there were more weeds to provide food and cover. There were also more weed seeds in conventional beet and spring rape crops than in their GM counterparts. Such seeds are important in the diets of some animals, particularly some birds. However some groups of soil insects were found in greater numbers in GMHT beet and spring rape crops.
In contrast, growing GMHT maize was better for many groups of wildlife than conventional maize. There were more weeds in and around the GMHT maize crops, more butterflies and bees around at certain times of the year, and more weed seeds.
It is not the remit of the Scientific Steering Committee to comment on the regulatory significance of these findings. However the results will be passed to The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) and both the SSC and the research team will willingly assist ACRE in their deliberations if required.
The data from the winter oilseed rape trials are being collated now. Data analysis and report writing will begin shortly. It is intended the results will be published in mid-2004 at which time the SSC will advise on the outcome.
All data collected in the farm scale evaluations will be made available for further research purposes or for public inspection. Details of how access will be managed will be published shortly.
The SSC would like to congratulate the research consortium on the successful completion of this work.
Signed:
Professor Christopher Pollock (Chairman), IGER
Dr Nicholas Aebischer, Game Conservancy Trust
Dr Alastair Burn, English Nature
Professor Mick Crawley, Imperial College
Dr David Gibbons, RSPB
Mr Jim Orson, Morley Research Centre
Dr Nick Sotherton, Game Conservancy Trust
Page last modified
10 May, 2008
Page published 16 October 2003