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(32-08) Life cycle assessment as a tool to assess the environmental impact of the agricultural use of transgenic plants. Renner, Isa*,1, Klöpffer, Walter1, Tappeser, Beatrix2, 1 Gesellschaft für Consulting und Analytik im Umweltbereich - C.A.U. GmbH, Dreieich, Germany2 Öko-Institut e.V., Freiburg i. Br., Germany ABSTRACT- In the study "Life Cycle Assessment of genetically modified products as a basis for a comprehensive assessment of potential environmental impact" commissioned by the Austrian Federal Environment Agency for the first time comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was tested as a method to assess the short-term and long-term environmental effects of conventionally bred and transgenic crops in a given agricultural system. The risks of the release of genetically modified organisms were included in life cycle assessment by adding a qualitative risk assessment to quantitative life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). Following recommendations of the study a further approach to integrate the risk analysis of the use of transgenic crops in agriculture into the methodological framework of life cycle impact assessment was made. This development was based on the methodology for life cycle impact assessment as defined in ISO EN 14042 under consideration of the affected safeguard subjects. To extend the geographical scope to different climatic zones, life cycle assessment was now applied to the cultivation of transgenic maize in several European countries in a project (CAMPLES) subsidized by the European Commission. The presentation will sum up the results of the studies and show that life cycle assessment is a suitable instrument to assess potential environmental effects of the cultivation of transgenic crops not only by risk assessment of the deliberate release, but also by considering effects of changes in agricultural practice. e.g. pesticide use and to compare potential risks and benefits. Key words: life cycle assessment, genetically modified organisms, risk, agriculture |
