GM Crops and Insects (Hansard, 14 June 1999)

§ Lord Whitty

It is considered unlikely that adverse effects on predators feeding on aphids reared on genetically modified (GM) crops would be observed compared to equivalent conventional crops unless the GM crop had been modified to express an insecticidal toxin or antifeedant. Some research has recently been published which suggests that beneficial insect predators, such as lacewings or ladybirds, which feed on crop pests may be indirectly affected if they feed on prey which has fed on GM insect resistant plants.

In particular, one study has been published by researchers at the Scottish Crop Research Institute which suggests that ladybird longevity and reproduction were reduced when they fed on aphids reared on beans which were genetically modified to produce a lectin which is known to be an anti-aphid protein. This research was published in March this year (Molecular Breeding 5, pp75–83). This GM crop has not been released in the UK. Nevertheless, the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) was asked to consider this research and advise the Government. ACRE' s advice is published on the DETR ACRE website on www.environment.detr.gov.uk. Essentially, ACRE advised that the results do not challenge current scientific understanding or indicate that genetic modification is inherently unsafe. However, this work does underline the need for thorough testing of GM crops for indirect effects on non-target organisms.

DETR is funding research at the Institute of Arable Crops Research to investigate the environmental effects of GM insect resistant plants. In the course of this research, two review papers on insect resistant crops have been published in Trends in Biotechnology in April 1998 and May 1999. The second paper summarises the current evidence available on adverse effects on non-target species, and its conclusions reflect those of ACRE.