Effects of biotechnology on biodiversity: herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant GM crops.
Biodiversity is threatened by agriculture as a whole, and particularly also by traditional methods of agriculture. Knowledge-based agriculture, including GM crops, can reduce this threat in the future. The introduction of no-tillage practices, which are beneficial for soil fertility, has been encouraged by the rapid spread of herbicide-tolerant soybeans in the USA. The replacement of pesticides through Bt crops is advantageous for the non-target insect fauna in test-fields. The results of the British Farm Scale experiment are discussed. Biodiversity differences can mainly be referred to as differences in herbicide application management.
Ammann
Klaus
K
University of Bern, Botanic Garden, Altenbergrain 21, CH-3013 Bern, Switzerland. klaus.ammann@ips.unibe.ch
D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D017753:Ecosystem; D024861:Genetic Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007313:Insecta / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000469:parasitology*; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D006113:United Kingdom
D006540:Herbicides