Meade, Conor and Mullins, Ewen (2005) GM Crop Cultivation in Ireland: Ecological and Economic Considerations. Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 105B (1). pp. 33-52. ISSN 0791-7945

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Abstract

Like many states in the European Union, Ireland has yet to fully commit itself to genetically modified (GM) crop technology. The general position of the Irish Government is 'positive but precautionary'. However, with the European-wide de-facto moratorium on commercial production of GM crops now ended, many strategically important decisions regarding the commercial deployment of such crops and their co-existence with conventional/organic crops need to be considered. To date, little research on the environmental impact of GM crops has been carried out in Ireland, and the provision of relevant local information lags far behind that available in other countries in the European Union. In this paper, we discuss much of the new ecological and economic data that have emerged since the moratorium on GM crops was introduced in 1998, assess the likely impacts of pest-oriented GM crops should they be introduced to Ireland and examine criteria for post-release monitoring. We also describe the likely commercial demand for these crops and the consequent priorities for ecological research. We argue that the impact of GM technology needs to be assessed in relation to the environmental impact of modern agriculture as a whole. Public unease in relation to this technology may be addressed if adequate resources are made available for independent Irish research on the issue.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Cite as: Meade, Conor V., and Ewen D. Mullins. “GM Crop Cultivation in Ireland: Ecological and Economic Considerations.” Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, vol. 105B, no. 1, 2005, pp. 33–52. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20504524.
Keywords:	genetically modified crops; GM crops; Ireland; ecological considerations; economic considerations; environmental impact;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology
Item ID:	10924
Depositing User:	Dr. Conor Meade
Date Deposited:	05 Jul 2019 16:50
Journal or Publication Title:	Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy
Publisher:	Royal Irish Academy
Refereed:	Yes
URI:
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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