GENERATION OF BASELINE INFORMATION FOR THE ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT IN SOIL AND ABOVE GROUND NON-TARGET ORGANISMS
3. PERÚ
A. GENERATION OF BASELINE INFORMATION FOR THE ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT IN SOIL AND ABOVE GROUND NON-TARGET ORGANISMS AND DEVELOPMENT OF POTATO MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND OPERATION GUIDELINES TO MINIMIZE EFFECTS ON NON-TARGET ORGANISMS.
This subproject proposes to adapt methodologies and protocols for evaluating effects of GM potato on non-target organisms. The aims are to promote a regional standardization and to strength the national and regional capacity for assessing and managing any risks associated with future release of GM crops on a commercial scale.
Base line studies will establish the abundance and functional diversity of organisms in the rhizosphere of different Andean crops, under field conditions as well as those above ground non-targets. No GM potatoes will be used in this base line study. It will involve native potatoes (S. tuberosum ssp. andigena) under low and high input , and two non-Solanaceous crops, Chenopodium quinoa and Lupinus mutabilis (tarwi or pearl lupin) will also be included because they are widely used in crop rotations with potato. A soil pesticide would also be a treatment in this study. The aim is to determine the extent of changes in soil biodiversity that occur associated with the growing of common crops in the Andes. The extent of change and the possible impacts on soil health and function. This provide a basis to monitor and assess any effects that follow any decision to plant GM potato. This will allow potato management strategies and operation guidelines to be devised that minimize effects on non-target organisms. The eventual aim is to ensure GM potato can be introduced with no more impact on soil health and function than follows a decision to grow one of already widely grown conventional crops in an Andean soil. Potato management strategies and operation guidelines to minimize effects on non-target organisms of eventually GM potato introduction will also be developed.
Contacto: Javier Franco Ponce - UNALM
