ABSTRACT
The use of biotechnology to genetically modify crops is proving to be highly controversial. Unfortunately, debate has become polarised by 'pro-' and 'anti-' groups (led largely by the biotech industry and environmental campaigners respectively). Ellstrand (2001) states that opinion relating to this argument ranges between 'smug optimism' and 'self-righteous panic'. Environmental campaign groups have adopted emotive phrases such as 'genetic pollution' and 'Frankenfoods' to describe the technology, whilst industry have fought a somewhat unsuccessful campaign to convince the UK public that genetically modified (GM) crops are safe to eat and environmentally benign. In this chapter, we provide some of the evidence on the environmental effects of G M crops. We concentrate on those currently commercially grown and direct the reader to Rissler and Mellon (1996) for discussion of environmental risks associated with G M crops under development but not commercially available (such as those with resistance to viruses). Whether G M crops emerge as 'pollutants' in the same sense as those discussed in Chapters 2-7 of this book remains to be seen.
