Brussels, Belgium
December 6, 2011

Source: MINERVA Consulting & Communication via Cordis Wire


AMIGA «Assessing and Monitoring the Impacts of Genetically modified plants on Agro-ecosystems» is a newly started EU project, funded by the FP7, aiming at producing scientific data related to the possible environmental and economic impacts of cultivation of GMPs, relevant to European environments. Launched on the 1st of December 2011, AMIGA project will run for 4 years, until the end of 2015

AMIGA’s main objectives include providing baseline data on biodiversity in agro-eco-systems in the EU, defining bioindicators suitable for various European regions, a better integration of the aspects related to specific agricultural ecosystems in the European Union, an improvement of knowledge on potential long-term effects, and finally an assessment on the economic effects of cultivation of GMPs in the EU through a more systematic analysis.

The AMIGA consortium is composed by 22 partners, highly experts in the specific fields of studies of the project research and analysis of different aspects of GM plants and their cultivation, including Research Centres, Universities, State Agencies and SMEs. The partners are located in 15 EU countries and Argentina and will contribute in validating and monitoring in areas where GM crops are cultivated on larger scales. The coordinator of the project is the National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Italy, which is the second largest research organisation in Italy. Their agro-biotechnology activities include a wide range of areas and a dedicated research group will be in charge of specifically studying environmental impacts of GM plants.

The scientific activities of the consortium will consist of case studies of maize and potato, which are the two GM crops currently approved for cultivation in Europe, and surveys in non-GM agro-systems. The final outcome will include a network of representative sites for pre-market risk assessment and long-term monitoring studied to evaluate impacts to help decision-makers.

Website: available soon: www.amigaproject.eu