Transgenic Plants in Agriculture : Ten years experience of the French Biomecular Engineering Commission

Axel Kahn''s book, published late in 1996, which provided an overview of the opinions expressed by the Commission of Biomolecular Engineering about genetically modified plants, was a great success. Given the scale and importance of the phenomenon, the French Ministry of Agriculture and publishers John Libbey Eurotext have decided to publish an English-language version of this fundamental book about the introduction and development of genetically modified plants. For some years now, plant biotechnology, especially genetic engineering, has enabled us to modify the cycle of plant production, strengthening resistance to weedkillers and pests, improving yields and quality, adapting plants to unfavourable environments and creating new species. In France, the Biomolecular Engineering Commission (CGB) is responsible for authorising the marketing of these modified products. Over the past ten years it has certified 450 new products for public consumption. This book, which is suitable for the general public, reports on the experience acquired by the CGB and the studies it has conducted: What are the potential risks associated with so-called transgenetic plants? Are there any undetectable phenomena involved? - How can such plants be produced more safely? Axel Kahn is a world-renowned geneticist and clinician, chaired the Biomolecular Engineering Commission until 1998. Here he explains the "philosophy" of the CGB, which has gained unrivalled experience in Europe, and sets out ethical and scientific guidelines for the use of genetic engineering techniques.