Genetically Engineered Crops: Interim Policies, Uncertain Legislation

From the Publisher: Take a closer look at the questions surrounding the long-term impact of GE crops. Genetically Engineered Crops examines current controversies surrounding the potential health, environmental, and social impacts of plants produced using molecular biology techniques. Educators, professionals, and practitioners representing a wide range of disciplines, including plant biotechnology, environmental health risk assessment, law, food safety assessment, and bio safety, address the uncertainties of the science, biological risks, national and international governance issues in North and South America, Europe, and Africa, and the need for full public understanding of genetically engineered crops. Proper regulation of food requires a broad understanding of the science and of varying public perceptions of the technology that will lead to effective governance. Genetically Engineered Crops examines ecological, health, and environmental concerns about crop genetic engineering, the need for precaution, biosafety, and liability, and the challenges faced in meeting the public's demands for proper understanding of the risks involved. With no worldwide framework for regulation in place and public concern about food safety growing, this vital book takes a closer look at the long-term impact of GE crops and their place in the future of agriculture. Genetically Engineered Crops examines: the laboratory hazards of gene splicing; environmental releases of GEOs; the loss of agrobiodiversity; the ecological effects of HRCs; ecological and environmental risk assessment of GE crops; human health implications of GE foods; allergenicity and toxicity; the precautionary principle; international trade and regulatory harm; smart regulations in Canada; shortcomings in risk assessment; liability and compensation and much more. Genetically Engineered Crops is a vital reference resource for anyone working in the plant and crop sciences, the social sciences, national and international bioregulation, environmental law, and agribusiness.

About the editor -- Contributors -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction: Genetic engineering of crops: science meets civil society's response -- Abbreviations -- Part 1: Science And The Future -- 1: Birth of synthetic biology and the genetic mode of production / Sheldon Krimsky -- Biotechnology: evolution or revolution? -- First-generation fears about gene splicing: laboratory hazards -- Emerging industrial sectors -- Second-generation controversies: environmental releases of GEOs -- Third-generation biotech controversies: globalization -- Conclusion -- 2: Controversy around terminology and novelty: engineered, modified biotechnology, and transgenics / Brian Ellis -- Classic period -- Mother Nature's genetic engineer -- When in doubt, reach for your gun -- Basic toolkit -- Choosing targets -- Round two -- So many genes, so much time -- Conclusions -- 3: Transgenic crops, agrobiodiversity, and agroecosystem function / Miguel A Altieri -- Biotechnology and the loss of agrobiodiversity -- Ecological effects of Hrcs -- Ecological risks of Bt crops -- General conclusions and recommendations -- 4: Ecological risk assessment of GE crops: getting the science fundamentals right / Michelle Marv…