This report by Ricarda Steinbrecher (German Federation of Scientists, VDW and Econexus) with Antje Lorch provides an overview of risk assessment and risk management issues of genetically engineered trees. It was prepared for the Ninth Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity (COP9) in Bonn, May 2008.
[img_assist|nid=111|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=43]On Friday, 30 May 2008, when COP9 closed, the German Ministry on Environment issued a press release, summarizing the results.
[img_assist|nid=111|title=|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=100|height=43]Die Klimadebatte beherrscht die Medienwelt. Weg vom Öl ist die Devise. Neben dem Wiedererstarken der nuklearen Idee findet sich vor allem die Formel zur verstärkten Nutzung nachwachsender Rohstoffe und dabei insbesondere zur Nutzung von Kraftstoffen auf Pflanzenbasis in den hoch gehandelten Vorschlagslisten. Da dürfen gentechnisch veränderte Pflanzen als Heilsbringer natürlich nicht fehlen.
[img_assist|nid=111|title=|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=100|height=43]Since it became common knowledge that fossil oil supplies won't stretch endlessly, a hectic search started for other sources of oil. Especially the debate about so-called 'biofuels' or 'agrofuels' was high on the agenda in the last months, even though problems become obvious. GM agrofuels will also bring their own problems.
