The present work was initiated in autumn 1991, with the aim to compile a catalogue of test methods useful for the risk assessment of transgenic plants, hereafter synonymously referred to as gene- tically modified plants (GMP). The steering group decided that the methods included in the catalogue should be based on recent litera- ture with the main emphasis on competition, establishment, and eco- system effects. The main user groups for the catalogue are scientists and students working in plant ecology and risk assessment and ad- ministrators with responsibility for the legislation of...

The Berne Symposium invited leading scientists of risk assessment research with transgenic crops on an international level in order to enhance the discussion regulators and members of the biotech industry. The goal was to determine the status quo and also to make progress in times of a first global spread of transgenes in agrosystems about risk assessment. The dialogue between scientists, regulators and industry representatives also revealed some lacunes of risk assessment research, which will have to be filled in the future: We still lack longterm experience, for which we will have to...

The present work is a continuation of the work initiated in Autumn 1991, which resulted in the book, published by Birkhauser Verlag in 1994, entitled: Methods for Risk Assessment of Transgenic Plants. I. Competition, Establishment and Ecosystem Effects. Already when the work on volume 1 started, it was obvious to the authors, that not only the physical establishment of a transgenic plant outside the cultivated area was important for risk assessment, but also the possible gene-transfer from transgenic plants to other plants had to be considered. It was then decided to write a second volume on...