ABSTRACT
A number of areas related to current, emerging, and future aspects of food production, processing and contamination, and waste disposal are acknowledged to warrant examination in regard to environmental impact. These areas include biotechnology, packaging, agricultural chemicals, transport and production, recycling, and reuse in animal feeds and waste disposal. Many scientists and national and international organizations have argued that genetically modified crop plants present a minimal potential risk because most crop plants have been bred to be dependent on cultivation and are unlikely to be aggressive in “wild” ecosystems. Three specific environmental risk assessment paradigms for plant products in The Netherlands were described involving leaching to groundwater, adverse effects on aquatic organisms, and adverse effects on birds and mammals. The movement of agricultural commodities, food products, agrochemicals, waste products, etc. is accomplished in industrialized countries principally by road and rail transport and in developing countries chiefly by road transport.
