What direct effects could GM crops have on environment?

Any type of agriculture-subsistence,organic or intensive-affects the environment and therefore it is natural to expect that the use of new genetic techniques in agriculture will also affect the environment.The ICSU,the GM science review panel as well as the Nuffield council on bioethics,among others,agree that the environmental impact of GM crops may be either positive or negative depending on how and when they are used.



A lady farmer in the field.

Genetic engineering may accelerate the damaging effects of agriculture or contribute to more sustainable agricultural practices and the conservation of natural resources,including biodiversity.The environmental concerns associated with transgenic crops along with the current state of scientific knowledge regarding them are summerized below;

Release of transgenic crops into the enviroment,may have direct effects including:

1. Gene transfer to wild relatives or conventional crops
2. Weediness
3. Trait effects on non-target species and other unintended effects.

These risks apply to conventionally bred crops as well.
Scientists agree that environmental impacts need to be assessed and they recommend post-release ecological monitoring to detect any unexpected events.

Transgenic trees involve similar environmental concerns, although there are additional concerns because of their long life cycle. Transgenic micro-organisms used in food processing are normally used under confined conditions and are generally not considered to pose environmental risks. Some micro-organisms can be used in the environment as biological control agents or for bioremediation of environmental damage (e.g. oil spills), and their environmental effects should be assessed prior to release. Environmental concerns related to transgenic fish primarily focus on their potential to breed with and outcompete wild relatives (ICSU). Transgenic farm animals would probably be used in highly confined conditions, so they would pose little risk of environmental damage (NRC, 2002)