Anticipating the Environmental Risk Assessment of crops modified to enhance or preserve yield

COGEM has commissioned a report on yield enhancing crops by dr. P.L.J. Rüdelsheim and dr. ir. G. Smets of Perseus BVBA, Belgium. The report, ‘Anticipating the Environmental Risk Assessment of crops modified to enhance or preserve yield’ (CGM 2010-05), reviews the developments in the field of genetically modified (GM-) yield enhancing crops, so-called ‘second generation GM-crops’. Modifications in second generation GM-crops are aimed at the development and metabolism of the plant itself. It may be expected that these modifications will cause complex phenotypic effects. However, is the current environmental risk analysis sufficient to cover all possible effects on the environment? In the report an analysis has been made if all aspects of importance for an environmental risk analysis of second generation GM-crops are encompassed in the current methodology.