Yellow star thistle, considered invasive in some parts of the US. Researchers believe gene flow from GM plants are not likely to affect the environment, inadvertently creating a superweed Photo: Peggy Greb (USDA)/Wikipedia

A team of US researchers has concluded that gene flow from genetically modified plants will be unlikely to impact human health or the environment. The report, released by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), examines the occurrence of gene flow in light of varieties of genetically modified plants, such as maize, canola and papaya, entering commercial production.

Gene flow potentially harbours a number of ecological and economic issues, including the genetic identity of wild plants being altered by integrating fitness genes, such as salt and cold tolerance, to inadvertently create “superweeds.” Maintaining distinct varieties of crops for the marketplace and producing GMO-free commodities could also become difficult should extensive gene flow occur.

Kent Bradford, co-author of the report and director of University of California Davis’ Seed Biotechnology Centre, notes the importance of the study. "Regulatory requirements and market standards that are specific to crops developed using biotechnology have resulted in much closer monitoring of gene flow than has been done in the past," he explains.

However, findings suggest gene flow would be unlikely to harm the environment. “After analysing a wide range of crop-trait-location combinations [including wheat, rice and maize], it was determined that relatively few of these combinations present the potential for gene flow to adversely affect the environment or human health," Mr Bradford said.

USDA/ARS plant physiologist David Gealy agrees. “Many useful traits are being imparted into biotech and non-biotech crops, most of which are likely to impact the dynamics of gene flow very little, especially outside of agricultural fields,” he noted. “Pre-commercialisation procedures [including risk assessments] that take into account the specific trait being introduced will help to ensure that impacts of gene flow remain low.”

The report examines the possibility of gene flow between biotech and traditional crops, as well as adventitious presence, containment measures to limit gene flow, regulatory and risk assessment mechanisms for GM crops, potential economic implications in the marketplace, and future policy and research issues.

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