Insect-resistant transgenic plants are grown in many countries worldwide. They produce insecticidal proteins that protect them against the main insect pests. But what about beneficial species?
Suitable and relevant species must be selected for studies assessing the risk posed by GM plants, pesticides or biological control organisms for beneficials. We are currently developing a database to support the European arthropod species selection process.
Plants have evolved to react to insect attacks. We investigate how genetically engineered insect resistance interacts with the plant’s natural defence system.
Based on the findings of our research projects and the handling of genetically modified (GM) plants, we develop concepts and methods for the risk assessment of GM plants and take part in international expert committees.
Agroscope is operating a protected field site at the location Reckenholz (Zurich) to enable field experiments with genetically modified plants in Switzerland. The aim of those experiments is to identify the potential and the limitations of green gene technology.
