Originally from: mona parr
                        
A Defra-funded research study into the feasibility of including birds and mammals in the farm-scale evaluations is now available on the Defra website at <A HREF="http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/research/epg-1–5–137.htm"> www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/research/epg-1–5–137.htm</A>

The Potential Value of the Field Scale Evaluations in Assessing the Impact of GMHT Crops on Birds and Mammals

The farm-scale evaluations of GM crops did not include direct measurements birds and mammals in the fields. This project investigated the feasibility and potential value of making such direct measurements. as part of the farm-scale evaluations. The authors tested various study methods to measure the use of the crops types by birds in both summer and winter.

The authors found that by using some intensive survey methods there was the potential to detect differences in use of some species between GM and non-GM crop halves in both summer and winter. However the authors urged caution owing to the small sample sizes and made the overall conclusion that the studies were useful as a baseline for future studies but less so as a definitive statement of the practicality of using the FSE sites to study birds and mammals.

Notes for editors

The results of the farm-scale evaluations of GM herbicide tolerant crops were published on 16 October <A HREF="http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2003/031016b.htm">(Defra press release 423/03)</A>

The project was undertaken by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) in summer 2000 and winter 2000/2001. It was completed in June 2002. However the authors and the FSE scientific steering committee overseeing the FSE agreed that no data from the studies would be released until the results of the FSE were published.

On the basis of this report, and in consultation with the SSC, it was decided by Defra, not to commission additional work to include the direct measurement of birds. Instead it was agreed to continue with the measurements of weeds and insects that formed the resources for birds and to commission further work to model these relationships. One such report was published on 13th October " Modelling the effects on farmland food webs of herbicide and insecticide management in the agricultural ecosystem" Defra Information Bulletin <A HREF="http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2003/031013b.htm">416/03 </A>

The report is being forwarded to the Government's statutory advisers on GM crop releases – the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and to the reconvened GM Science Review Panel for their consideration (for more details see <A HREF="http://www.gmsciencedebate.org.uk/">www.gmsciencedebate.org.uk)</A>.