What are the long-term effects of GM crops on the environment?

Many of the risks people associate with GM crops are more to do with good regulation than scientific uncertainties.

Genetic modification of crops and micro-organisms could lead to changes such as pesticide resistance in insects - this also happens with conventional crops and with chemical pesticides. There are methods to overcome this resistance but so far they have not been very successful.

GM technology is a further intensification of agriculture, which has already changed and sometimes damaged the environment.

Agricultural intensification is one solution to feed an expanding world population. Agriculture will have to either become more productive, or expand into new areas - which could be even more damaging to the environment. Environmental scientists believe that the way land is used across Europe will change radically in the coming years. More crops will be grown for biofuels, pharmaceuticals and plastics. Some of these crops may be genetically modified, but GM technology is only part of the bigger picture. We need to do more research to predict how the landscape and biodiversity will change.