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Published on: August 14, 2018
The ecological risks and benefits of genetically engineered plants
1AAAS Environmental Fellow, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Assessment, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (8601D), Washington, DC 20460, USA. wolfenbarger.lareesa@epa.gov
Despite polarized debates on genetically engineered organisms, key experiments assessing environmental risks and benefits are lacking. Ecological complexity and trait variability present significant challenges for definitive conclusions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Genetics
- Ecology
Background:
- Genetically engineered organisms (GEOs) face polarized public and scientific debate regarding environmental impacts.
- Current discussions often overlook the existing scientific evidence and knowledge gaps.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the scientific literature on the environmental risks and benefits of GEOs.
- To identify key experimental data gaps in the assessment of GEOs' ecological effects.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing scientific literature on GEOs' environmental risks and benefits.
- Analysis of experimental challenges posed by ecological complexity and inherent uncertainties.
Main Results:
- A significant lack of key experiments assessing both environmental risks and benefits of GEOs was identified.
- Ecological systems' complexity poses considerable challenges for risk-benefit assessments.
- Existing studies indicate that risks and benefits can vary based on spatial, temporal, trait, and cultivar factors.
Conclusions:
- The polarized debate on GEOs is not fully supported by comprehensive experimental data.
- Further targeted research is crucial to address knowledge gaps in GEO environmental impact assessment.
- Understanding the context-dependent nature of GEO effects is essential for informed decision-making.
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