Abstract

Reference: EC Research 2001
Title: EC-Sponsored Research on Safety of Genetically Modified Organisms: A review of results
Authors: Kessler, C and Economidis, I. (eds)
Publisher: European Commission, Research DG, Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200, B-1049 Brussels
Publication details: 2001

This report provides a comprehensive review of the results of EC-supported research into the safety of Genetically Modified Organisms. It presents research carried out under successive EC Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development from 1985 (Biotechnology Action Programme) to 2000 (Fifth Framework Programme). Over this period, the EC sponsored 81 projects on various aspects of assessing the safety of genetically modified organisms. The projects involved over 400 teams form many different countries, and a wide range of disciplines. The EC contributed about Euros 70 million. Summaries of the results of each of the 81 projects are available on the review website.

In today's debate on the use of GM technology in agriculture, food and the environment, it is sometimes suggested that we lack knowledge on possible impacts and how to handle them. The primary objective of this review is to demonstrate how the EC has tackled this need; to show that it has made a sustained effort, building up a sizeable community of researchers and contributing to the world's fast-accumulating knowledge and experience in the field. The second objective is to communicate these results, including an inventory of the research groups that generated them. In this field it is particularly important that scientists in different countries know who else is working on their topic, so that they can collaborate to gain efficiency and added value.

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