PARTIAL TABLE OF CONTENTS, relevant to seed professionals (links are to the ISB News Report website)

RISK ASSESSMENT

Ecological research and risk assessment of genetically engineered crops
Alan Raybould

In a 1995 paper, "Assessing weediness of transgenic crops: industry plays plant ecologist," Purrington and Bergelson criticized the quantity and quality of data used to determine the weediness potential of genetically engineered (GE) crops then under regulatory review. The implication of the title was that risk assessments need some serious plant ecology that was not being provided by regulatory studies. Purrington and Bergelson's critique is an example of a widely held view that data obtained by basic ecological research is essential for environmental risk assessment; however, while basic research and risk assessment are similar, there are important differences that, if not recognized, can be detrimental to effective risk assessment.

Complete article:
pdf: http://www.isb.vt.edu/news/2008/artspdf/jul0801.pdf
web: http://www.isb.vt.edu/news/2008/news08.jul.htm#jul0801

Honey bees, Bt crops and the role of meta-analysis in risk assessment
Michelle Marvier

Because of their global importance to agriculture, there has been a great deal of consternation surrounding the widespread recent decline of honey bee populations. Amid the sometimes wild speculation about what might be causing these declines, it has been suggested in several popular media outlets that pollen from genetically engineered Bt crops might be poisoning honey bees. It should be emphasized, however, that there are not any scientific publications indicating that Bt crops have anything to do with honey bee declines.

Complete article:
pdf: http://www.isb.vt.edu/news/2008/artspdf/jul0802.pdf
web: http://www.isb.vt.edu/news/2008/news08.jul.htm#jul0802

ETHICS

Ethics of GE plants: towards a better informed and balanced debate
Lucy Carter

Proponents of GE products passionately argue that novel gene technologies have the potential to contribute to more efficient agricultural processes, promote environmental sustainability, and curb malnutrition in the developing world. Opponents of novel plant biotechnologies counter with equal vehemence that GE products are unnatural, potentially harmful to humans, and capable of catastrophic injury. As more uses for GE products are realized and investment in plant biotechnologies continues to grow, both groups have stepped up advocacy of their respective views in academic and public forums.

Complete article:
pdf: http://www.isb.vt.edu/news/2008/artspdf/jul0803.pdf
web: http://www.isb.vt.edu/news/2008/news08.jul.htm#jul0803

The entire news report is available at http://www.isb.vt.edu/news/2008/Jul08.pdf