Chapter 15 - Assessment of the Environmental and Health Impacts of Genetically Modified Crops

Abstract

Genetically modified (GM) crops have provided plant biotechnologists with a strong option to meet the global food demand of mounting world population. However, cultivation of these crops in agrosystems and incorporation of their products into the food chain has raised several debates within the scientific community, consumers, farmers, and policymakers. Majority of these debates stem from the uncertainty about risk assessment of GM crops on human health and environment. Although these modified crops render a strong alternative against major agricultural problems of weeds, pests, and stressed environmental conditions, several independent studies have indicated that there may be new risks related to the environment and human health, for example, food allergies, antibiotic resistance, emergence of superbugs, and decline in biodiversity. Benefits of GM crops have been recognized on the global scale, however, realization of the gross abilities of this technology can only be achieved after a comprehensive risk assessment and trust-building among all the stakeholders. This chapter identifies various sectors of human health and environment that need major vigilance during assessment studies of GM crops thereby contributing toward strengthening the scientific guidelines of GM crop bio-safety.