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Book (stand-alone)Genetically Modified Organisms In Crop Production And Their Effects On The Environment: Methodologies For Monitoring And The Way head
EXPERT CONSULTATION REPORT: 18– 20 January 2005
2005Also available in:
No results found.The Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO) hosted an Expert Consultation on " Genetically ModifiedOrganisms in Crop Production and Their Effects on the Environment: Methodologies for Monitoring and the Way Ahead" from 18 to 20 January, 2005 in Rome. The main objective of the consultation was to review the scientific basis for, and proceduresto establish, effective post- release monitoring of genetically modified ( GM) crops and develop guidelines to strengthen member countries’ capacities to d esign and carry out monitoring programmes. The participants represented a wide range of expertise from research institutes, universities, international agencies, regulatory agencies, the private sector and civil society. The consultation was jointly organized by the Plant Production and Protection Division of FAO’s Agriculture Department and the Inter- Departmental Working Groups on Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture and on Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture. -
Book (stand-alone)Environmental capacity; An Approach to Marine Pollution Prevention 1986
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No results found.The aim of this Report is to provide guidelines for the assessment of the impact of potentially harmful substances released into the marine environment. The Environmental (also known as receiving, absorptive or assimilative) Capacity is defined as a property of the environment, a measurement of its ability to accommodate a particular activity or rate of an activity, such as the discharge of contaminants, without unacceptable impact. The Environmental Capacity can be apportioned for various use s. The Report proposes the use of a strategy to combat marine pollution based on this concept of Environmental Capacity. It provides the scientific rationale for the assessment of this entity, the methodology of calculation based on modelling, guidelines for its systematic application, monitoring and reassessment, and provides a number of case studies in the form of examples involving various contaminants and different geographical areas. The Report opens with a short introduction outlining the basic concepts and premisses which lie behind the acceptance of disposal of wastes in the sea. When a development is first proposed, its impact on the whole environment, together with the costs and benefits to society as a whole, must be taken into account before the plans are actually implemented. The procedure is often now known as environmental impact assessment (EIA). This wide-ranging procedure embraces far more than the scientific assessment of the impact of pollutants on the environme nt and as such lies outside the terms of reference of GESAMP. Accordingly, this Report concentrates on describing the parameters and processes which have to be taken into account in the assessment of the impact of pollutants on marine organisms, ecosystems, amenities and human health, as a consequence of any discharges to the marine environment. The methodology of assessment of Environmental Capacity as proposed in the Report, involves critical pathway analysis for both conservative and non- conservative contaminants, establishment of environmental and water quality objectives, criteria and standards. Faced with the inevitability of several sources of uncertainty in real-life conditions, a probabilistic approach is proposed as an alternative to deterministic analysis. The approach proposed is Decision Analysis, and this is exemplified by a flow diagram. The Report does not describe in detail how to gather the basic data or to carry out practical tasks such as conducting toxicity t ests or measuring water movements. To have done so would simply have duplicated material which is already available in the open literature and therefore accessible to those persons who will be brought in to advise or otherwise provide expert opinion on any project. The Report does, however, provide guidelines on how to utilize information to assess the overall impact of the activity on the marine environment. Guidance is provided on those procedures which are most likely to ensure that the activ ity can be contained within the capacity of the marine environment to receive wastes without causing unacceptable effects. The methodology of assessment of the Environmental Capacity is based on scientific research and resulting data. It is, by definition, site- and contaminant-specific. It is accomplished in stages, the preliminary assessment can be accomplished using approximations such as single-box and simple mass-balance models, and by averaging over larger time scales on the assumption o f steady-state conditions. As more data become available and transport and modification processes become better understood, more accurate values of Environmental Capacity will be obtained. These can then be used in environmentally compatible development planning and project implementation. -
BookletGenetically modified crops: Safety, benefits, risks and global status 2022
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No results found.Genetically modified (GM) crops are a new addition to crop varieties developed through traditional methods such as breeding, selection and mutation. Given their novelty, there are safety concerns among the public, scientists, and regulators, although the benefits outweigh the risks. Among the potential risks are pests becoming resistant, crops gaining weediness and GM foods posing safety issues to both human and animals and these are studied extensively. This has resulted in science-based risk assessment and management that safeguard safety to humans, animals and environment. We can be rest assured that GM crops that are approved are safe and continuous monitoring is undertaken. Today, more than 17 million farmers are planting GM crops in 29 countries and are reaping higher yield with reduced use of pesticides and better management of weeds among other benefits. These flash cards intend to provide an overview of the benefits, safety and risks of GM crops and how the risks are assessed and managed. The global status of commercially available GM crops is also provided.
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