Safety Concerns and Genetic Engineering in Agriculture

Abstract

Predictions about the safety of a recombinant plant or microorganism for agricultural use should be based on our vast experience with traditional practices, such as plant breeding and the use of microbial inoculants. An introduced plant, bacterium, or fungus containing foreign genes should be no greater environmental threat than such organisms without recombinant genes. Problems caused by introduction of organisms such as kudzu and the gypsy moth into a foreign environment do not imply problems for an organism, currently considered safe in its habitat, with characterized recombinant genes added to its genome.