ACRE's advice on the implications of the farm-scale evaluations of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops

Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment

The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) has been considering the results of the farm scale evaluations (FSEs) of three genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops since they were published on 16th October 2003.

The Committee considers that the FSEs provide important and robust evidence concerning the impact of the herbicide regimes associated with the three GM crops studied. They also conclude that the FSEs also have implications for agriculture in general, and may feed into wider discussions concerning the environmental impacts of all agricultural practices.

Conclusions on the three crops
Concerning the individual crops, ACRE concludes as follows:

• Maize: Based on the evidence provided by the FSE results published in October 2003, if GMHT maize were to be grown and managed as in the FSEs this would not result in adverse effects, as defined and assessed by criteria specified in Directive 2001/18/EC, compared with conventionally managed maize. In line with this conclusion, ACRE advise: that a condition be placed on the existing consent for GM maize to limit the management of the GM crop to that tested in the FSE; that further work be conducted to investigate the implications of the impending withdrawal of Atrazine; and that a post-market monitoring requirement be imposed to monitor the management of conventional maize, with particular reference to Atrazine use, for the remaining duration of the consent (expires 2006).
• Beet: Based on the evidence provided by the FSE results published in October 2003, if GMHT beet were to be grown and managed as in the FSEs this would result in adverse effects on arable weed populations, as defined and assessed by criteria specified in Directive 2001/18/EC, compared with conventionally managed beet. The effects on arable weeds would be likely to result in adverse effects on organisms at higher trophic levels (e.g. farmland birds), compared with conventionally managed beet.
• Spring-sown oilseed rape: Based on the evidence provided by the FSE results published in October 2003, if spring-sown GMHT oilseed rape were to be grown and managed as in the FSEs this would result in adverse effects on arable weed populations, as defined and assessed by criteria specified in Directive 2001/18/EC, compared with conventionally managed spring-sown oilseed rape. The effects on arable weeds would be likely to result in adverse effects on organisms at higher trophic levels (e.g. farmland birds), compared with conventionally managed oilseed rape.

In each case, the Committee emphasises that these conclusions only apply to the management regime used in the farm scale evaluations. Alternative management strategies may have different impacts. For example, there may be viable mitigation measures that could be used by farmers to offset any adverse effects.

What happens now?
ACRE's advice has now been passed to Ministers. Any decision on whether these particular crops are grown in the UK in future will now rest with them.

ACRE will be setting up a sub-group to keep a watching brief on these three crops, and also to address the wider implications of the findings.

Concluding comments
This confirms the case-by-case approach taken by ACRE on all GM crops. Each is assessed individually.

These experiments showed the effects of herbicide management regimes. If the tests had been conducted on conventionally bred herbicide-tolerant crops, then the results would be expected to be similar.

The FSE results say nothing about the safety of genetic modification in general or about potential direct effects of genetically modified plants - such as resulting from gene flow. These important issues are considered by ACRE but were not in the remit of the FSE and so are not discussed here.

The FSE results raise important questions about environmental protection in agricultural ecosystems. The Committee considers these issues to be important and will, as a result of issues raised during deliberation on the FSE results, establish a subgroup to examine the wider implications of the FSEs. The work of this subgroup will begin during 2004.

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