Genetically modified plants and environmental safety: a critical analysis

Abstract

Initial considerationsBiosecurity consists in a set of activities, studies, and procedures to prevent or control the risks posed by the use of chemical, physical, and biological agents to biodiversity and health.The Brazilian regulatory process is internationally recognized as one of the strictest and most complete in the world. The 1 st Biosafety Law was enacted in January 1995 (Law no. 8.974/ 95) and only set the guidelines for the control of activities related to the exposure, handling, and use of organisms and products derived by recombinant DNA technology. A decade later, this law was replaced by a new Biosafety Law No. 11.105/05, which currently regulates the use of biotechnology in the country. This law establishes safety standards and mechanisms for monitoring activities involving genetically modified organisms -GMOs and their derivatives, creates the National Biosafety Council -CNBS, restructures the National Technical Commission on Biosafety -CTNBio and regulates the National Biosafety Policy -PNB.Biosafety has several issues to be addressed in a suitable analysis of the risk/benefit, involving concerns about human and animal health, biodiversity, quality of abiotic resources, and the social and economic aspects.Considering non-genetically modified plants, the most obvious scenario of concerns about biosafety refers to the numerous introductions of exotic plants in certain regions, causing damage to humans, animals and the environment (Ziller, 2001). These plants are usually factors of the dramatic increase in the use of pesticides, displacing native flora and affecting the entire associated food chain. Currently, many exotic invasive organisms are important factors in environmental degradation and health risks and there is no proportional concern with entities related to the regulation and protection of the environment and health.Another important aspect of genetically modified plants that does not involve the recombinant DNA technique is the varieties obtained by ionizing radiation-induced mutation. In the early 21 st century (2000) 2,252 cultivated varieties obtained by radiation-induced mutations were registered, of which 1,585 were direct mutants and 667 were derived from crosses with mutant plants. This practice began in 1934 with the production of tobacco plants resistant to plant pathogens.Ionizing radiation basically produces structural chromosomal changes and breaks in the DNA strands and is capable of producing morphological and physiological characteristics (intermediary metabolism) that are unique in the species. In reality, it is also about plants that are genetically modified without the direct manipulation of man over a particular gene sequence.Plants obtained by radiation are grown and subjected to strong inspection by geneticists to eliminate deformed plants, plants with undesirable characteristics and plants that present no changes from the original variety. Only plants that have some distinctive and desirable trait for plant breeding are selected. Typically, only pleiotropic effects...

Degradation Process, Phytosociology and Restoration of Grasses Used for Grazing Ruminants in Brazil

“…In addition, studies on the ecology of undesirable plants are crucial to inform control strategies. Pitelli (2014), points out that any program for the control of undesirable plants must consider the mode of reproduction and dispersion of the species. Without adequate knowledge of these undesirable plant traits, control attempts are usually uncoordinated and unsuccessful.…”

“…In agricultural degradation there is an increase in the proportion of undesirable plants in the pasture, gradually decreasing the support capacity of the pastures. In biological degradation, the soil loses the ability to sustain plant production adequately, leading to the replacement of pasture plants with plants adapted to low soil fertility or the appearance of bare areas where the vegetation has failed (Pitelli, 2014).…”