TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - The Future Role of Pesticides in US Agriculture SN - DO - 10.17226/9598 PY - 2000 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9598/the-future-role-of-pesticides-in-us-agriculture PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Agriculture AB - Although chemical pesticides safeguard crops and improve farm productivity, they are increasingly feared for their potentially dangerous residues and their effects on ecosystems. The Future Role of Pesticides explores the role of chemical pesticides in the decade ahead and identifies the most promising opportunities for increasing the benefits and reducing the risks of pesticide use. The committee recommends R&D, program, and policy initiatives for federal agriculture authorities and other stakeholders in the public and private sectors. This book presents clear overviews of key factors in chemical pesticide use, including: Advances in genetic engineering not only of pest-resistant crops but also of pests themselves. Problems in pesticide use—concerns about the health of agricultural workers, the ability of pests to develop resistance, issues of public perception, and more. Impending shifts in agriculture—globalization of the economy, biological "invasions" of organisms, rising sensitivity toward cross-border environmental issues, and other trends. With a model and working examples, this book offers guidance on how to assess various pest control strategies available to today's agriculturist. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Genetically Modified Pest-Protected Plants: Science and Regulation SN - DO - 10.17226/9795 PY - 2000 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9795/genetically-modified-pest-protected-plants-science-and-regulation PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Agriculture KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - This book explores the risks and benefits of crops that are genetically modified for pest resistance, the urgency of establishing an appropriate regulatory framework for these products, and the importance of public understanding of the issues. The committee critically reviews federal policies toward transgenic products, the 1986 coordinated framework among the key federal agencies in the field, and rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency for regulation of plant pesticides. This book provides detailed analyses of: Mechanisms and results of genetic engineering compared to conventional breeding for pest resistance. Review of scientific issues associated with transgenic pest-protected plants, such as allergenicity, impact on nontarget plants, evolution of the pest species, and other concerns. Overview of regulatory framework and its use of scientific information with suggestions for improvements. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - The Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States SN - DO - 10.17226/12804 PY - 2010 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12804/the-impact-of-genetically-engineered-crops-on-farm-sustainability-in-the-united-states PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Agriculture AB - Since genetically engineered (GE) crops were introduced in 1996, their use in the United States has grown rapidly, accounting for 80-90 percent of soybean, corn, and cotton acreage in 2009. To date, crops with traits that provide resistance to some herbicides and to specific insect pests have benefited adopting farmers by reducing crop losses to insect damage, by increasing flexibility in time management, and by facilitating the use of more environmentally friendly pesticides and tillage practices. However, excessive reliance on a single technology combined with a lack of diverse farming practices could undermine the economic and environmental gains from these GE crops. Other challenges could hinder the application of the technology to a broader spectrum of crops and uses. Several reports from the National Research Council have addressed the effects of GE crops on the environment and on human health. However, The Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States is the first comprehensive assessment of the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the GE-crop revolution on U.S. farms. It addresses how GE crops have affected U.S. farmers, both adopters and nonadopters of the technology, their incomes, agronomic practices, production decisions, environmental resources, and personal well-being. The book offers several new findings and four recommendations that could be useful to farmers, industry, science organizations, policy makers, and others in government agencies. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Environmental Effects of Transgenic Plants: The Scope and Adequacy of Regulation SN - DO - 10.17226/10258 PY - 2002 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10258/environmental-effects-of-transgenic-plants-the-scope-and-adequacy-of PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Agriculture KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - Transgenic crops offer the promise of increased agricultural productivity and better quality foods. But they also raise the specter of harmful environmental effects. In this new book, a panel of experts examines: • Similarities and differences between crops developed by conventional and transgenic methods • Potential for commercialized transgenic crops to change both agricultural and nonagricultural landscapes • How well the U.S. government is regulating transgenic crops to avoid any negative effects. Environmental Effects of Transgenic Plants provides a wealth of information about transgenic processes, previous experience with the introduction of novel crops, principles of risk assessment and management, the science behind current regulatory schemes, issues in monitoring transgenic products already on the market, and more. The book discusses public involvement—and public confidence—in biotechnology regulation. And it looks to the future, exploring the potential of genetic engineering and the prospects for environmental effects. ER - TY - BOOK TI - Transgenic Plants and World Agriculture DO - 10.17226/9889 PY - 2000 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9889/transgenic-plants-and-world-agriculture PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Agriculture KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - This report concludes that steps must be taken to meet the urgent need for sustainable practices in world agriculture if the demands of an expanding world population are to be met without destroying the environment or natural resource base. In particular, GM technology, coupled with important developments in other areas, should be used to increase the production of main food staples, improve the efficiency of production, reduce the environmental impact of agriculture, and provide access to food for small-scale farmers. However, concerted, organized efforts must be undertaken to investigate the potential health and environmental effects—both positive and negative—of GM technologies in their specific applications. These must be assessed against the background of effects from conventional agricultural technologies that are currently in use. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council A2 - Paula Tarnapol Whitacre TI - Genetically Engineered Organisms, Wildlife, and Habitat: A Workshop Summary SN - DO - 10.17226/12218 PY - 2008 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12218/genetically-engineered-organisms-wildlife-and-habitat-a-workshop-summary PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Agriculture KW - Environment and Environmental Studies KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - Since the first commercial introduction of transgenic corn plants in 1995, biotechnology has provided enormous benefits to agricultural crop production. Research is underway to develop a much broader range of genetically engineered organisms (GEOs), including fish, trees, microbes, and insects, that could have the potential to transform fields such as aquaculture, biofuels production, bioremediation, biocontrol, and even the production of pharmaceuticals . However, biotechnology is not without risk and continues to be an extremely controversial topic. Chief among the concerns is the potential ecological effects of GEOs that interact with wildlife and habitats. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is charged with providing scientific advice to inform federal agencies that manage wildlife and their habitats. USGS has identified biotechnology as one of its major challenges for future research. Seeing an opportunity to initiate a dialogue between ecologists and developers of GEOs about this challenge, the USGS and the National Research Council (NRC) held a two-day workshop in November of 2007, to identify research activities with the greatest potential to provide the information needed to assess the ecological effects of GEOs on wildlife and habitats. The workshop, designed to approach the research questions from a habitat, rather than transgenic organism, perspective, is summarized in this book. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academy of Engineering TI - Engineering and Environmental Challenges: Technical Symposium on Earth Systems Engineering SN - DO - 10.17226/10386 PY - 2002 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10386/engineering-and-environmental-challenges-technical-symposium-on-earth-systems-engineering PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Engineering and Technology AB - Dealing with the challenges presented by climate change or rapid urban development require cooperation and expertise from engineering, social and natural sciences. Earth systems engineering is an emerging area of multidisclinary study that takes a holistic view of natural and human system interactions to better understand complex systems. It seeks to develop methods and tools that enable technically sound and ethically wise decisions. Engineering and Environmental Challenges presents the proceedings of a National Academy of Engineering public symposium on Earth systems engineering. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Ecologically Based Pest Management: New Solutions for a New Century SN - DO - 10.17226/5135 PY - 1996 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/5135/ecologically-based-pest-management-new-solutions-for-a-new-century PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Agriculture AB - Widespread use of broad-spectrum chemical pesticides has revolutionized pest management. But there is growing concern about environmental contamination and human health risks—and continuing frustration over the ability of pests to develop resistance to pesticides. In Ecologically Based Pest Management, an expert committee advocates the sweeping adoption of ecologically based pest management (EBPM) that promotes both agricultural productivity and a balanced ecosystem. This volume offers a vision and strategies for creating a solid, comprehensive knowledge base to support a pest management system that incorporates ecosystem processes supplemented by a continuum of inputs—biological organisms, products, cultivars, and cultural controls. The result will be safe, profitable, and durable pest management strategies. The book evaluates the feasibility of EBPM and examines how best to move beyond optimal examples into the mainstream of agriculture. The committee stresses the need for information, identifies research priorities in the biological as well as socioeconomic realm, and suggests institutional structures for a multidisciplinary research effort. Ecologically Based Pest Management addresses risk assessment, risk management, and public oversight of EBPM. The volume also overviews the history of pest management—from the use of sulfur compounds in 1000 B.C. to the emergence of transgenic technology. Ecologically Based Pest Management will be vitally important to the agrichemical industry; policymakers, regulators, and scientists in agriculture and forestry; biologists, researchers, and environmental advocates; and interested growers. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine TI - Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects SN - DO - 10.17226/23395 PY - 2016 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/23395/genetically-engineered-crops-experiences-and-prospects PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences KW - Agriculture AB - Genetically engineered (GE) crops were first introduced commercially in the 1990s. After two decades of production, some groups and individuals remain critical of the technology based on their concerns about possible adverse effects on human health, the environment, and ethical considerations. At the same time, others are concerned that the technology is not reaching its potential to improve human health and the environment because of stringent regulations and reduced public funding to develop products offering more benefits to society. While the debate about these and other questions related to the genetic engineering techniques of the first 20 years goes on, emerging genetic-engineering technologies are adding new complexities to the conversation. Genetically Engineered Crops builds on previous related Academies reports published between 1987 and 2010 by undertaking a retrospective examination of the purported positive and adverse effects of GE crops and to anticipate what emerging genetic-engineering technologies hold for the future. This report indicates where there are uncertainties about the economic, agronomic, health, safety, or other impacts of GE crops and food, and makes recommendations to fill gaps in safety assessments, increase regulatory clarity, and improve innovations in and access to GE technology. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council A2 - Robert Pool A2 - Joan Esnayra TI - Ecological Monitoring of Genetically Modified Crops: A Workshop Summary SN - DO - 10.17226/10068 PY - 2001 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10068/ecological-monitoring-of-genetically-modified-crops-a-workshop-summary PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Agriculture KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - Proponents of agricultural biotechnology believe that genetically modified (GM) crops have the potential to provide great ecological benefits, such as reduced pesticide and land use, as well as agricultural benefits. However, given the rapid emergence of commercial GM crops and the likely increase in their use, many groups have raised concerns about the potential unintended, adverse ecological effects of these crops. Some ecological concerns are enhanced development of pest resistance, crosspollination with wild relatives, and reductions in beneficial insects or birds. Ecological Monitoring of Genetically Modified Crops considers the latest in monitoring methods and technologies and to asks--What are the challenges associated with monitoring for ecological effects of GM crops? Is ongoing ecological monitoring of GM crops a useful and informative activity? If so, how should scientifically rigorous monitoring be carried out in the variety of ecological settings in which GM crops are grown? ER - TY - BOOK A2 - Nina V. Fedoroff A2 - Nancy Marie Brown TI - Mendel in the Kitchen: A Scientist's View of Genetically Modified Foods SN - DO - 10.17226/11000 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11000/mendel-in-the-kitchen-a-scientists-view-of-genetically-modified PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Explore Science KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - While European restaurants race to footnote menus, reassuring concerned gourmands that no genetically modified ingredients were used in the preparation of their food, starving populations around the world eagerly await the next harvest of scientifically improved crops. Mendel in the Kitchen provides a clear and balanced picture of this tangled, tricky (and very timely) topic. Any farmer you talk to could tell you that we've been playing with the genetic makeup of our food for millennia, carefully coaxing nature to do our bidding. The practice officially dates back to Gregor Mendel -- who was not a renowned scientist, but a 19th century Augustinian monk. Mendel spent many hours toiling in his garden, testing and cultivating more than 28,000 pea plants, selectively determining very specific characteristics of the peas that were produced, ultimately giving birth to the idea of heredity -- and the now very common practice of artificially modifying our food. But as science takes the helm, steering common field practices into the laboratory, the world is now keenly aware of how adept we have become at tinkering with nature --which in turn has produced a variety of questions. Are genetically modified foods really safe? Will the foods ultimately make us sick, perhaps in ways we can't even imagine? Isn't it genuinely dangerous to change the nature of nature itself? Nina Fedoroff, a leading geneticist and recognized expert in biotechnology, answers these questions, and more. Addressing the fear and mistrust that is rapidly spreading, Federoff and her co-author, science writer Nancy Brown, weave a narrative rich in history, technology, and science to dispel myths and misunderstandings. In the end, Fedoroff arues, plant biotechnology can help us to become better stewards of the earth while permitting us to feed ourselves and generations of children to come. Indeed, this new approach to agriculture holds the promise of being the most environmentally conservative way to increase our food supply. ER - TY - BOOK TI - Microbial Processes: Promising Technologies for Developing Countries DO - 10.17226/9544 PY - 1979 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9544/microbial-processes-promising-technologies-for-developing-countries PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Food and Nutrition KW - Agriculture KW - Biology and Life Sciences ER - TY - BOOK TI - Agricultural Development and Environmental Research: American and Czechoslovak Perspectives: Proceedings of a Bilateral Workshop DO - 10.17226/19179 PY - 1987 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/19179/agricultural-development-and-environmental-research-american-and-czechoslovak-perspectives-proceedings PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - KW - Agriculture ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Putting Biotechnology to Work: Bioprocess Engineering SN - DO - 10.17226/2052 PY - 1992 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2052/putting-biotechnology-to-work-bioprocess-engineering PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - The ability of the United States to sustain a dominant global position in biotechnology lies in maintaining its primacy in basic life-science research and developing a strong resource base for bioprocess engineering and bioproduct manufacturing. This book examines the status of bioprocessing and biotechnology in the United States; current bioprocess technology, products, and opportunities; and challenges of the future and what must be done to meet those challenges. It gives recommendations for action to provide suitable incentives to establish a national program in bioprocess-engineering research, development, education, and technology transfer. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine TI - Forest Health and Biotechnology: Possibilities and Considerations SN - DO - 10.17226/25221 PY - 2019 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25221/forest-health-and-biotechnology-possibilities-and-considerations PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Environment and Environmental Studies KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - The American chestnut, whitebark pine, and several species of ash in the eastern United States are just a few of the North American tree species that have been functionally lost or are in jeopardy of being lost due to outbreaks of pathogens and insect pests. New pressures in this century are putting even more trees at risk. Expanded human mobility and global trade are providing pathways for the introduction of nonnative pests for which native tree species may lack resistance. At the same time, climate change is extending the geographic range of both native and nonnative pest species. Biotechnology has the potential to help mitigate threats to North American forests from insects and pathogens through the introduction of pest-resistant traits to forest trees. However, challenges remain: the genetic mechanisms that underlie trees' resistance to pests are poorly understood; the complexity of tree genomes makes incorporating genetic changes a slow and difficult task; and there is a lack of information on the effects of releasing new genotypes into the environment. Forest Health and Biotechnology examines the potential use of biotechnology for mitigating threats to forest tree health and identifies the ecological, economic, and social implications of deploying biotechnology in forests. This report also develops a research agenda to address knowledge gaps about the application of the technology. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Seeking Security: Pathogens, Open Access, and Genome Databases SN - DO - 10.17226/11087 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11087/seeking-security-pathogens-open-access-and-genome-databases PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences KW - Conflict and Security Issues AB - Within the last 30 years, the genomes of thousands of organisms, from viruses, to bacteria, to humans, have been sequenced or partially sequenced and deposited in databases freely accessible to scientists around the world. This information is accelerating scientists' ability to fight disease and make other medical advances, but policymakers must consider the possibility that the information could also be used for destructive purposes in acts of bioterrorism or war. Based in part on views from working biological scientists, the report concludes that current policies that allow scientists and the public unrestricted access to genome data on microbial pathogens should not be changed. Because access improves our ability to fight both bioterrorism and naturally occurring infectious diseases, security against bioterrorism is better served by policies that facilitate, not limit, the free flow of this information. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Global Challenges and Directions for Agricultural Biotechnology: Workshop Report SN - DO - 10.17226/12216 PY - 2008 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12216/global-challenges-and-directions-for-agricultural-biotechnology-workshop-report PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Agriculture KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - Many developing countries are exploring whether biotechnology has a role in addressing national issues such as food security and environmental remediation, and are considering whether the putative benefits of the technology-for example, enabling greater agricultural productivity and stability in the food supply-outweigh concerns that the technology might pose a danger-to biodiversity, health, and local jobs. Some policy leaders worry that their governments are not prepared to take control of this evolving technology and that introducing it into society would be a risky act. Others have suggested that taking no action carries more risk, given the dire need to produce more food. This book reports on an international workshop held to address these issues. Global Challenges and Directions for Agricultural Biotechnology: Mapping the Course, organized by the National Research Council on October 24-25, 2004, in Washington, DC, focused on the potential applications of biotechnology and what developing countries might consider as they contemplate adopting biotechnology. Presenters at the workshop described applications of biotechnology that are already proving their utility in both developing and developed countries. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Biological Confinement of Genetically Engineered Organisms SN - DO - 10.17226/10880 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10880/biological-confinement-of-genetically-engineered-organisms PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences KW - Agriculture KW - Environment and Environmental Studies AB - Genetically engineered organisms (GEOs) have been under development for more than 20 years while GE crops have been grown commercially during the last decade. During this time, a number of questions have cropped up concerning the potential consequences that certain GEOs might have on natural or managed ecosystems and human health. Interest in developing methods to confine some GEOs and their transgenes to specifically designated release settings has increased and the success of these efforts could facilitate the continued growth and development of this technology. Biological Confinement of Genetically Engineered Organisms examines biological methods that may be used with genetically engineered plants, animals, microbes, and fungi. Bioconfinement methods have been applied successfully to a few non-engineered organisms, but many promising techniques remain in the conceptual and experimental stages of development. This book reviews and evaluates these methods, discusses when and why to consider their use, and assesses how effectively they offer a significant reduction of the risks engineered organisms can present to the environment. Interdisciplinary research to develop new confinement methods could find ways to minimize the potential for unintended effects on human health and the environment. Need for this type of research is clear and successful methods could prove helpful in promoting regulatory approval for commercialization of future genetically engineered organisms. ER - TY - BOOK AU - Institute of Medicine AU - National Research Council TI - Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods: Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects SN - DO - 10.17226/10977 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10977/safety-of-genetically-engineered-foods-approaches-to-assessing-unintended-health PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - Assists policymakers in evaluating the appropriate scientific methods for detecting unintended changes in food and assessing the potential for adverse health effects from genetically modified products. In this book, the committee recommended that greater scrutiny should be given to foods containing new compounds or unusual amounts of naturally occurring substances, regardless of the method used to create them. The book offers a framework to guide federal agencies in selecting the route of safety assessment. It identifies and recommends several pre- and post-market approaches to guide the assessment of unintended compositional changes that could result from genetically modified foods and research avenues to fill the knowledge gaps. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - New Directions for Biosciences Research in Agriculture: High-Reward Opportunities SN - DO - 10.17226/13 PY - 1985 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13/new-directions-for-biosciences-research-in-agriculture-high-reward-opportunities PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Agriculture KW - Biology and Life Sciences AB - Authored by an integrated committee of plant and animal scientists, this review of newer molecular genetic techniques and traditional research methods is presented as a compilation of high-reward opportunities for agricultural research. Directed to the Agricultural Research Service and the agricultural research community at large, the volume discusses biosciences research in genetic engineering, animal science, plant science, and plant diseases and insect pests. An optimal climate for productive research is discussed. ER -