The advantages and disadvantages of the application of genetic engineering to forest trees: A discussion

Abstract

This review briefly examines moral arguments for and against genetic engineering (GE) technology in trees, finding equal support for both sides of the debate. Subsequently, environmental costs and benefits are reviewed. Due to the complexity of tree-environment interactions, clear-cut answers are not forthcoming. However, some environmental risks are deemed to be potentially serious; the nature of such risks and possibilities for their containment are described. Assessment of such risks should be undertaken by interdisciplinary teams including ecologists and microbiologists, with the onus being on biotechnological scientists to prove, to the satisfaction of consumers, that the technology they produce is safe. A well-functioning regulatory mechanism is necessary if benefits of GE technology are to be maximized while keeping to a minimum any associated risks.