David A. Andow – författare

Recent interest in nonchemical methods of pest control has brought renewed attention to the biological control of plant pests in the fields of entomology, plant pathology, and weed science. Ecological Interactions and Biological Control addresses issues of theory and practice common to all three fields. Focusing on systems rather than on individual problems, the contributors are able to look at the larger issues of how ecological theory has aided biological control and vice versa. Most important, they suggest ways to integrate theory and practice more closely in order to contribute to the future development of biological control.

This book addresses issues of ecological theory and practice in the fields of entomology, plant pathology, and weed science. It suggests ways to integrate theory and practice to contribute to the future development of biological control of plant pests. .

International forums have identified the need for comprehensive, transparent, scientific methods, for the pre-release testing and post-release monitoring of transgenic plants to ensure environmental safety. There is also wide recognition that the regulatory and scientific capacity for conducting these types of assessments needs to be strengthened. In response to these requirements, a GMO Guidelines Project was established - under the aegis of the International Organization for Biological Control - to develop biosafety testing guidelines for transgenic plants. This book is one of the first outputs from this project. The book aims, using the case study of Bt maize, to detail generic approaches to the evaluation of environmental impact of GM technologies. This book focuses on transgenic maize in Kenya. This maize includes genetic material derived from the bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which naturally produces proteins that are toxic to some insects. The book explores both the environmental and agricultural impacts of transgenic plants. It draws out general risk assessment guidelines, and demonstrates the need for case-by-case analysis. Although focused on Kenya and Bt Maize, the book's findings and recommendations are relevant and applicable to a multitude of nations and GM crops.