Genetically modified (GM) crops pose a significant threat to the environment through pollution by GM pollen and the consequent flow of modified genes into the wider plant community. However, GM crops may also pose hazards to the ecology of soil. This briefing identifies four main areas of concern:
- changes in agrochemical usage on GM crops, with knock-on implications for soil microbes
- genetic contamination of the soil and associated micro-organisms as a result of horizontal gene transfer
- changes to the soil ecosystem through the changed characteristics of GM plants
- soil contamination through GM seeds remaining in the soil after harvest
It also highlights the current evidence that GM technology poses unacceptable risks to the health and fertility of the soil - one of our most precious natural resources.
