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.
University of Bern, Botanic Garden, Altenbergrain 21, CH-3013 Bern, Switzerland. klaus.ammann@ips.unibe.ch
Klaus
K
Ammann
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