THE ROYAL SOCIETY PUBLISHES - FARM-SCALE EVALUATIONS OF GM CROPS, ON 16 OCTOBER 2003

[felicity@tou-can.co.uk]

The Farm-Scale Evaluations of Spring-Sown Genetically Modified Crops:  A
Themed issue from Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences compiled
and edited by LG Firbank

FREE ONLINE ACCESS TO FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR 1 MONTH

Published 16 October 2003 
Discounted price: �45/US$70 (usual price: �85/US$135)

In 1998, four genetically modified crops had cleared most of the
regulatory hurdles before commercial growing could be allowed in the UK.  
While these crops had been assessed as safe in terms of human health and
direct impacts upon the environment, there had been insufficient research
to determine whether there might be any significant effects on farmland
wildlife resulting from the way that the crops would be managed.  The Farm
Scale Evaluations (FSEs) of these genetically modified herbicide-tolerant
(GMHT) crops were established to bridge this important gap in our
knowledge.

This special issue presents the FSE findings for those spring sown crops
(namely beet, maize and spring oilseed rape).  Whilst the findings cannot
answer all the questions resulting from the intense public interest and
debate on the future of genetic modification in agriculture, they do
provide a valuable model for the assessment of technological change.  The
FSEs also demonstrate that it is possible to design experiments at an
adequate scale to help forecast the potential environmental impacts of new
technologies and practices in agriculture.

The issue comprises eight peer-reviewed papers on the effect of growing GM
crops and accompanying herbicides on the plants and animals living in the
fields around.  The papers compare the GM fields with conventional crops
grown in adjacent fields and the results, which have been a closely
guarded secret, will be studied by scientists, farmers, food companies and
governments around the world.

This special issue will be available at the special price of �45/US$70
(usual price �85/US$135) for a limited amount of time.

To place an online order at this preferential price, simply visit
www.pubs.royalsoc.ac.uk or contact The Royal Society, (DV/TB1439), PO Box
20, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7EB, UK.
  
Tel: +44 (0) 870 121 4224 Fax: +44 (0) 870 121 4223 email:
mailto:royalsociety@twoten.press.net

Subscribers to Philosophical Transactions B will be able to access the
full content via The Royal Society Publications� Website at
www.pubs.royalsoc.ac 16th October 2003.

Philosophical Transactions B publishes themed issues and the papers from
the Royal Society�s renowned Discussion Meetings.  For more information or
for subscription details please contact sales@royalsoc.ac.uk

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