Genetically Engineered Crops: Interim Policies, Uncertain Legislation

Take a closer look at the questions surrounding the long-term impact of GE crops Genetically Engineered Crops examines current controversies surrounding the potential health, environmental, and social impacts of plants produced using molecular biology techniques. Educators, professionals, and practitioners representing a wide range of disciplines, including plant biotechnology, environmental health risk assessment, law, food safety assessment, and bio safety, address the uncertainties of the science, biological risks, national and international governance issues in North and South America, Europe, and Africa, and the need for full public understanding of genetically engineered crops. Proper regulation of food requires a broad understanding of the science and of varying public perceptions of the technology that will lead to effective governance. Genetically Engineered Crops examines ecological, health, and environmental concerns about crop genetic engineering, the need for precaution, biosafety, and liability, and the challenges faced in meeting the public’s demands for proper understanding of the risks involved. With no worldwide framework for regulation in place and public concern about food safety growing, this vital book takes a closer look at the long-term impact of GE crops and their place in the future of agriculture. Genetically Engineered Crops examines: the laboratory hazards of gene splicing environmental releases of GEOs the loss of agrobiodiversity the ecological effects of HRCs ecological and environmental risk assessment of GE crops human health implications of GE foods allergenicity and toxicity the precautionary principle international trade and regulatory harm smart regulations in Canada shortcomings in risk assessment liability and compensation and much more Genetically Engineered Crops is a vital reference resource for anyone working in the plant and crop sciences, the social sciences, national and international bioregulation, environmental law, and agribusiness.

Table of Contents:
Introduction. Genetic Engineering of Crops: Science Meets Civil Society's Response Abbreviations PART I. SCIENCE AND THE FUTURE Chapter 1. The Birth of Synthetic Biology and the Genetic Mode of Production Chapter 2. Controversy Around Terminology and Novelty: Engineered, Modified Biotechnology and Transgenics Chapter 3. Transgenic Crops, Agrobiodiversity, and Agroecosystem Function Chapter 4. Ecological Risk Assessment of GE Crops: Getting the Science Fundamentals Right Chapter 5. Coping with Uncertainty: The Human Health Implications of GE Foods Chapter 6. Future Research Tackling the Technology Divide: A Research Agenda for Crop Biotechnology Chapter 7. Next Challenges for Crop GE: Maturing of Governance and Moves Beyond Food Issues PART II: ISSUES IN CURRENT GOVERNANCE Chapter 8. A Precautionary Framework for Biotechnology Chapter 9. The Precautionary Principle and Biotechnology: Guiding a Public Interest Research Agenda Chapter 10. Trade, Science, and Canada’s Regulatory Framework for Determining the Environmental Safety of GE Crops Chapter 11. Principles Driving U.S. Governance of Agbiotech Chapter 12. Biotechnology Policy in the European Union Chapter 13. Regulatory Regimes for GE Crops in Africa Chapter 14. GEO Research and Agribusiness in Brazil: Impact of the Regulatory Framework Chapter 15. Toward a Liability and Compensation Regime under the Biosafety Protocol PART III: CHALLENGES TO CIVIL SOCIETY Chapter 16. Public Spheres Pushing for Change: Public Participation in the Governance of GE Crops Chapter 17. Risky Delusions: Misunderstanding Science and Misperforming Publics in the GE Crops Issue