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5 PUBLICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
5.1 Publications during the period March – September 2000
The major publication arising from the project during this period was a paper in the journal Science, written by Les Firbank and Frank Forcella (2000). This was by invitation of the journal, to provide a commentary on the paper by Watkinson et al (2000) that modelled the potential impact of GMHT crops on skylark numbers. The model assumed that weed control would be more efficient under GMHT crops, reducing the seeds of the weed fat hen (Chenopodium album) available as food for wintering skylarks. The extent of the reduction depends on which farmers use the new crops. If it is those farmers who already have low weed densities, then the effects will be slight. However, if farmers use them to clean up fields that are currently weedy, then the skylark declines are likely to be greater.
The model cannot be used as a basis for forecasting the effects of GMHT crops on birds in its current form and with current data. Nevertheless, it is a valuable conceptual approach to modelling large-scale impacts of GM crops, which is fully compatible with the thinking behind the farm scale evaluations.
In addition, there have been several reports to conferences and other academic audiences. These have not included information that is published within this report and its predecessors.
5.2 Refereed journal outputs to date:
Firbank, L.G., Dewar, A.M., Hill, M.O., May, M.J., Perry, J.N., Rothery, P., Squire, G. & Woiwod, I.P. (1999). Farm scale evaluation of GM crops explained. Nature, 339, 727-728.
Firbank, L.G. & Forcella, F. (2000). Genetically modified crops and farmland biodiversity. Science, 289 1481-1482.
Firbank, L.G. (2000) Science meets policy: farm scale evaluations of genetically modified crops. NERC News, Spring 2000, pp 10-11.
Woiwod, I., Dewar, A., Hawes, C. & Heard, M. (2000a) Farm-scale trials for studying the effects of GM herbicide-tolerant crops on farmland biodiversity in the UK. Antenna 24, 66-68.
Woiwod, I. P., Dewar, A. M., Haughton, A., Hawes, C. & Heard, M. (2000b) UK field-scale trials of GM herbicide tolerant crops to detect the environmental effects on invertebrate abundance and biodiversity. In XXI International Congress of Entomology, vol. 1 (ed. D. L. Gazzoni), pp. 314. Foz do Iguassu, Brazil: Embrapa.
5.4 Scientific lectures, conferences, during period of report
L. G. Firbank "Farm scale evaluations of GM crops" Univ. Minnesota. St Paul, USA. 7 August 2000
L.G. Firbank "Farm scale evaluations of GM crops" US Dept Agriculture, Morris, USA 8 August 2000
L.G. Firbank "Arable agriculture and biodiversity – tools for assessment at field, landscape and national scales" 3 rd International Crop Science Congress, Hamburg, 21 August 2000
J.N. Perry. NERC-BBSRC Gene Flow Workshop, rapporteur for modeling subgroup. Univ. Birmingham. 6-7 March 2000
G.R. Squire, "Farm scale evaluation project: objectives, approaches, results". A meeting to review the programmes of research on the impact of GM crops on agriculture and the environment in France, Germany and UK. NIAB, Cambridge, 17 October 2000
I.P. Woiwod. "UK field-scale trials of GM herbicide tolerant crops to detect the environmental effects on invertebrate abundance and biodiversity". International Congress of Entomology, Brazil 23rd August 2000 (see above for details)
The Consortium has taken an active role in presenting the research to local and regional meetings, both those organised by Government (DETR and the Welsh Assembly) and parish and other local meetings. The consortium also took part in a presentation at DETR, in which Rt Hon Micheal Meacher discussed the work with councillors from parishes containing field sites, and a second presentation to farmers that have taken part in the evaluations, or may wish to do so in the future.
Consortium members have contributed to 12 regional public meetings arranged by DETR, one by the Welsh Assembly and one planned shortly by the Scottish Executive, as well as numerous presentations to parish meetings, local groups and other presentations to the public and interested organisations.
The next phase in publishing the project is to submit manuscripts containing details of the project structure, experimental design and protocol methods to refereed journal(s). These will provide more technical details that are published within these interim reports, and will also be fully referenced. It is intended that these papers will be completed by the end of February 2001.
Published 2 January 2001
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