Assessing and monitoring the impacts of genetically modified plants on agro-ecosystems

Project

Production processes

This project contributes to the research aim 'Production processes'. Which funding institutions are active for this aim? What are the sub-aims? Take a look:
Production processes

Project code: TI-BD-08-PID709
Contract period: 01.04.2012 - 01.05.2015
Purpose of research: Inventory & Assessment
Keywords: Aporrectodea caliginosa, Lumbricus terrestris, biodiversity, laboratory ERA test system

The present project is part of a EU consortium (AMIGA), which aims mainly at providing baseline data on biodiversity in agro-ecosystems in the EU, defining suitable bioindicators for various European regions, improving knowledge on potential long term environmental effects of genetically modified (GM) plants and testing the efficacy of the EFSA Guidance Document for the Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) of GMPs. Compared to direct analyses of toxicities, recent findings on possible effects of GM plants on earthworms indicate that the investigation of life-history traits incl. fitness parameters are more relevant to conclude on potential long-term effects and changes in ecological functions. Furthermore, risk analyses on earthworms should not rely on common laboratory species, which are mostly irrelevant in field soils. The present study aims at developing laboratory test systems that could be used for standard testing of the impact of GM crops (here: maize and potatoes) of selected European biogeographic regions (atlantic, mediterranean and boreal) on respective focal earthworm species, defined here according to the EFSA ERA guidance document as focal species.
Based on condensed literature data, earthworm species, typically occurring in Irish, Spanish or Swedish arable soils, were selected as appropriate focal species for the respective biogeographical region (atlantic, mediterranean and boreal). According to the 4-step selection matrix of the EFSA Guidance Document on ERA (Environmental Risk Assessment) of GM plants, Aporrectodea caliginosa (endogeic) and Lumbricus terrestris (anecic) were selected as focal earthworm species. A laboratory ERA test system on their life-history traits has been developed and successfully applied to GM maize and GM potato.

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