A research project on public risk
Posted on May 15, 2010 by john
Objective of the research assessing the impact of the use of GM crops on biodiversity ‘. The study period of three years’ funded by the European program LIFE + Nature (2008 call) who, in addition to research, dissemination and provides information to citizens of the steps and job content. Project leader and ‘Arsia, Regional Agency for Development and innovation in agriculture, which leads in collaboration with the Region of Tuscany, the Institute of Plant Genetics CNR, Department of Economics, Engineering, Agricultural Science and Technology University ‘University of Florence and the Regional Park St. Flushing Migliarino Massaciuccoli.
The total funding of the study amounted to 1 million 800 thousand euro in total, of which 900 thousand euros coming from the European Commission and the remaining 900 thousand euros from partners.
Four crops studied by the project: corn, soybean, sunflower and poplar. Operations analysis will be done without the use of transgenic organisms, and will leave the detailed study of ecosystems and environmental resources that insist on three specific areas selected in the Regional Park Migliarino, St. Flushing, Massaciuccoli: farmland, pasture area and a ‘ Massaciuccoli area of the lake.
The main objective of Demeter, an acronym for”Development of a quick index as a monitoring tool to ASSESS Environmental impacts of transgenic crops”(Development of a Quick Index Monitoring as a tool for assessing the environmental impact of GM crops) and ‘define an innovative methodology of risk assessment in the presence of genetically modified, by the determination of a synthetic index of monitoring, the Quick Monitor Index (QMI), able to highlight areas in which to place the environmental monitoring network.
An innovative design and unique in the Italian and European, since there is no standard methodology for monitoring the effects of GMOs into the environment.
Research supported by public funds has the ambition to fill this gap by proposing an analytical tool, although the forecast, to determine a synthetic index of monitoring the impact of GM crops on biodiversity ‘.
”The project has the merit of enhancing the role of public research in the area of GMOs to ensure the interests of citizens. The results of this work will form the framework for the application of scientific principles ecosistenza on genetically modified crops with conventional and organic crops and may pave the way for a debate on the need ‘to change the rules of the European Commission’s authorization on the use of GM crops .” He explained Maria Grazia Mammuccini, director of Arsia.
”To underline that, to date, research in this area and ‘financed and carried out in totality’ cases, the multinationals which very often can rip positive opinions to the experts of EFSA, the Authority ‘European Food Safety. Suffice it to recall the authorization given a few weeks ago at BASF, the German multinational chemical, to cultivate genetically modified potato, known as Amflora,”he continued Mammuccini.
”The new instrument represents a farsighted strategic political choice, because ‘may’ support the government in establishing new monitoring systems and provide a scientific basis to review regional regulations in the future,”concluded the Director of Arsia.