Abstract

Reference: Academies of Science, 2000
Title: Transgenic Plants and World Agriculture
Authors: Academies of Science: The Royal Society of London, the USA National Academy of Sciences, the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Indian Academy of Sciences, the Mexican Academy of Sciences and the Third World Academy of Sciences.
Publisher: The Royal Society, 6 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG
Publication details: July 2000, 20p

The many crucial decisions to be made in the area of biotechnology in the next century by private corporations, governments, and individuals will affect the future of humanity and the planet’s natural resources. These decisions must be based on the best scientific information in order to allow effective choices for policy options. It is for this reason that representatives of seven of the world’s academies of science have come together to provide recommendations to the developers and overseers of GM technology and to offer scientific perspectives to the ongoing public debate on the potential role of GM technology in world agriculture.

The report considers it is essential that we improve food production and distribution in order to feed and free from hunger a growing world population, while reducing environmental impacts and providing productive employment in low income areas. This will require a proper and responsible utilisation of scientific discoveries and new technologies. The developers and overseers of GM technology applied to plants and micro-organisms should make sure that their efforts address such needs.

The report makes several specific recommendations in regard to scientific opportunities, the potential for public-private sector cooperation, including the sharing of protected technologies, the need for regulatory systems to identify any potential adverse human health effects, and the need to investigate potential environmental effects of specific GM technologies.

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