Subcommittee Agricultural Aspects (ScL)

Twelve COGEM members serve on the Subcommittee Agricultural Aspects. The subcommittee possesses a broad range of expertise, spanning from molecular biology to ecology, and from crops to microorganisms.

The Subcommittee Agricultural Aspects assesses the risks to humans and the environment posed by genetic modification in agriculture. This includes issuing advice on potential environmental risks associated with laboratory, greenhouse or culture reactor experiments involving genetically modified (GM) plants and microorganisms, as well as field trials with GM plants. The subcommittee also issues advice on the environmental risks of importing and/or cultivating GM crops in the Netherlands. In addition, the subcommittee is involved in the classification of plant-pathogenic microorganisms.

The subcommittee closely monitors new developments regarding the genetic modification of plants and their applications in agriculture. When applications are developed that may pose an environmental risk, the subcommittee may decide that advice or information on the matter is required.

Most of the advisory reports are produced digitally. In addition, the subcommittee meets five times a year to discuss the latest developments and more complex advisory topics.