REPORT INDEX
Forword
This report is intended primarily as a basis for discussion among forum’s participants.
In this report we describe the explorative research activities that we have conducted during the past seven years on the environmental and economic impact of the cultivation of the transgenic maize hybrids (Bt). In our view, the outcome of these research activities is useful in the definition of agreed research protocols suitable for settling the dispute over the safety of the cultivation of maize hybrids (Bt)and (Hr). Our action plan complies with the provisions laid down by EU directive 412/2015 and is based on the execution of simultaneus long-term bioassays on several test-organisms, primarely under real field, conditions in a specially equipped permanent agricultural research station.
Original photos by Leandro Taboga
- 1 – Leandro Taboga and Giorgio Fidenato
- 2 – Who we are
- 3 – Conflict of interest
- 4 – Purpose of this forum
- 5 – The reasons of disagreement over the isolation distance that must be interposed between maize (Bt) plantations and sites where the larvae of non target Lepidoptera may thrive are exposed below
- 6 – EFSA acknowledges the existence of eight points of uncertainties, with regard to the exposition of the larvae of non-target Lepidoptera to transgenic maize pollen (Bt)
- 7 – Persons that we would like to thank for having helped us acquire GMO-research skills
- 8 – Development of a simple and innovative deposimeter
- 9 – A simple tool for mapping maize pollen deposits on the vegetation around maize plantations
- 10 – Contradictory research claims disorient policy makers with regard to the impact of the cultivation of transgenic maize hybrids (Bt) on the larvae of non-target lepidoptera: the case of Felke et al. 2010 vs. Schuppener et al. 2012
- 11 – Impact of two yellow maize fields on a white maize plantation placed within them, in a windy environment
- 12 – In our view, no-choice feeding tests should not be used for assessing the impact of maize pollen (Bt) on the larvae of non-target Lepidoptera.
- 13 – Consequences of the controversy over the isolation distance that needs to be interposed between maize (Bt) plantations and places were the larvae of non-target Lepidoptera may thrive
- 14 – A publication that helped us define the research needed to fill the knowledge gaps regarding the impact of maize pollen (Bt) on the larvae of non-target Lepidoptera.
- 15 – A scientific publication by Martin Felke, Gustav-Adolf Langenbruch ,(BfN-Skripten 157 2005) gave us an insight into the challenges that can be faced by conducting bioassays under real field conditions
- 16 – Infrastructures and equipment required for the implementation of our action plan aimed at settling the controversy over the isolation distance that must be interposed between maize pollen (Bt) plantations and places where the larvae of non-target Lepidoptera may thrive
- 17 – Butterfly farm
- 18 – Schematic representation of the field or plot that constitutes the source of the nettle shoots or branches naturally contaminated with maize pollen (Bt) and necessary for conducting bioassays
- 19 – Wasps destroyed systematically the bioassays we have tried to conduct under real field conditions
- 20 – Step by step procedure for conducting a bioassay with Inachis io larvae according to our action plan
- 21 – Assessing the long-term impact of maize pollen (Bt) on the larvae Papilio machaon
- 22 – Bivoltine silk worms as surrogate test organisms for assessing the impact of transgenic maize pollen (Bt) on the larvae of Lepidoptera that thrive on plants with smooth leaves
- 23 – Lepidoptera attracting oasis: a new approach for inventorying Lepidopteran species (butterflies and moths) in agro-ecosystems and for monitoring the dynamics of their populations over a decade
- 24 – Detecting rare Lepidoptera in agro ecosystems by means of a Lepidoptera attracting oasis
- 25 – Biological control of the European corn borer using the parasitoid hymenoptera Trichogramma
- 26 – Identification of strains of the European corn borer resistant to insecticides derived from Bacillus thuringiensis
- 27 – A practical approach for assessing the impact of the cultivation of maize (Bt) in monoculture on the population dynamics of earthworms
- 28 – How to mitigate the potential impact of the cultivation of transgenic maize (Bt) and (Hr) on Lepidopteran larvae that thrive on Urtica dioica
- 29 – Environmentalist organizations argue that there is no consent on the safety of the cultivation of maize hybrids (Bt), but paradoxically they oppose any research activity aimed at filling the knowledge gups on this topic.
- 30 – The position of the European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility (ENSSER) with regard to the safety of the cultivation of MON 810.
- 31 – Chemical control of the European corn borer
- 32 – The Spanish experience with the cultivation of maize (Bt) MON 810
- 33 – According to the European Court of Justice the cultivation of maize hybrids (Bt) can be banned only in presence of scientific evidence that it causes harm to the environment, to persons and animals.
- 34 – EU directive 412/2015 promotes the establishment of an extensive network of scientific research stations.
- 35 – Restoring the role of EFSAs GMO pannel as the official EU scientific authority in charge of assessing the risks posed by the cultivation of transgenic maize hybrids (Bt) and (Hr).
- 36 – The European GMO scandal
- 37 – We urge the EU Commission to identify the knowledge gaps that need to be filled with regard to the safety of the cultivation of transgenic maize hybrids (Bt) and (Hr).
- 38 – EU legislation on testing and cultivation of transgenic maize hybrids (Bt) needs to be radically reformed
- 39 – EFSA’s protocol for assessing the safety of the cultivation of transgenic maize hybrid (Bt) needs to be reformed
- 40 – GMO-researchers should not permit anti-GMO activists to maliciously distort the outcome of their studies regarding the impact of the cultivation of transgenic maize hybrids (Bt) on the larvae of non-target Lepidoptera.
- 41 – How to cope with the improper use that anti-biotech activists make of preliminary, inconclusive and controversial scientific publications
- 42 – The European civil society rightfully demands that the environmental impact of the cultivation of maize hybrids (Bt) must be thoroughly assessed and the EU Commission has allocated a huge amount of funds for studies aimed at satisfying this request.
- 43 – Anti-biotech activists question the safety of GMO feeds for mammals and the EU Commission has, in our view, the duty and responsibility to reply to them.
- 44 – Extensive cultivation of transgenic (Bt) and (Hr) maize would not harm protected Lepidoptera in Europe
- 45 – Monitoring the long-term dynamics of animal biodiversity, and recording the “sounds of nature” in agro-ecosystems
- 46 – Should it be a criminal offense to spread fake news deliberately with regard to the safety of glyphosate and transgenic crops?
- 47 – Conclusion
- 48 – Annexes