ABSTRACT

In 1989, the Ecological Society of America published a seminal paper on scientific questions about the ecological effects of genetically engineered organisms (GEOs) (Tiedje et al. 1989). The American Fisheries Society also issued a position statement that reviewed the status of scientific knowledge regarding possible ecological risks of transgenic fish and urged environmental caution, as well as improvements in regulatory policy, regarding commercial development of transgenic fish (Kapuscinski and Hallerman 1990). For most of the ensuing decade, the issues raised in these reports drew the attention of a relatively small number of people in academia, industry, government, and public interest groups. The general public — particularly the potential consumers of genetically engineered foods (GEFs) and other products — was largely unaware of concerns and questions about the biosafety of GEOs. But, as genetically engineered crops and other genetic engineering products were introduced on a large scale into the environment and the human food supply in the last few years, public attention grew in many countries. More and more diverse parties in the scientific, governmental, industrial, and public interest sectors now actively debate the merits and drawbacks of genetic technologies and strive to influence domestic and international policies governing GEOs. With this increased societal engagement with genetic engineering, the assessment of possible ecological and human health risks of GEOs became and remains a central focus of debate and negotiations at local, national, and international levels.