Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have no negative impact on bees,
worms, snails or fly larvae, according to a national research programme.
But experts say there is no standard definition of what is considered
"damage to the environment". All sides in the debate agree there is more
work to be done.

"This is a good start, these results from this first exploration," Maya
Graf, a Green Party parliamentarian, told swissinfo.

"It is clear though that further exploration is necessary to answer the open
questions."

The findings that were presented by the Federal Environment Office on
Tuesday are part of a series of eight studies into biosafety in non-human
gene technology.

The Environment Office said the research is aimed at ensuring the
authorities have suitable methodology for the monitoring of GMOs in the
environment and so that the long-term impact of GMOs can be recognised in
time.

A ban on growing GMOs in Switzerland runs out in 2010. Outdoor GM crops for
scientific purposes are allowed but are subject to approval.

A second national research priority programme on biosafety will be completed
by 2011.

Wild bees
Research on wild bees showed that it is highly unlikely genetically modified
crops currently being cultivated will affect individual bees adversely,
according to researchers from the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich
and Lausanne University.

The effect on the development of harmful insects was investigated in GM,
scab-resistant apples.

Researchers observed an impact but said it reflected natural differences
between apple varieties.

Dirk Babendreier, a Swiss-based researcher with CABI Europe, a non-profit
scientific and information clearing house, says the existing body of
evidence on what effect GMOs have on bees - a vital link in plant and crop
regeneration - is incomplete.

"So far, only honey bees and to some degree, bumblebees were assessed at
all," he told swissinfo. "Solitary bees are a very important group of
pollinators and so far have been completely neglected in risk assessment."

If the solitary bee - there are 700 species in Europe alone - were affected
by GMOs, it would have serious effects on crops and wild plants, according
to Babendreier.

"All kinds of plants may not be pollinated any more. No reduction would be
possible and many plants would basically die," he said.

"In terms of crop issues, it might be that the harvest is simply
decreasing." <br> <br>He believes that GMOs can effectively reduce the
amount of pesticides, herbicides and other poisons currently used to treat
crops.

Ethics of risk
The question still unanswered is whether it is worth the trade-off. Risks
need to be assessed "as thoroughly as we can afford," he said.

Another group of researchers led by Klaus Peter Rippe of the Federal
Commission on Ethics for non-human biotechnology examined the debate about
the ethics of risk.

They concluded that environmental monitoring, required by law, might not
provide solid data to reach decisions on GMOs. Such monitoring was also
costly and time consuming.

"Neither a strong precautionary principle nor a simple cost/benefit analysis
is adequate for assessing the release of GMOs," said a statement by the
Environment Office.

Other studies focused on the soil ecosystem and the early detection of
unexpected environmental impacts.

Source: swissinfo, Justin Häne and agencies, www.swissinfo.ch