Les Firbank

University of Leeds · School of Biology

Potential future application of engineered gene drives (GDs), which bias their own inheritance and can spread genetic modifications in wild target populations, has sparked both enthusiasm and concern. Engineered GDs in insects could potentially be used to address long-standing challenges in control of disease vectors, agricultural pests and invasiv...

Conventional farming in the UK has had adverse effects on farmland biodiversity, particularly during postwar intensification of agriculture. Efforts have been made in the reversal of these effects, with much of the literature reporting a mixture of findings. At a localised scale, these efforts have been noticeable with RSPB Hope Farm observing a 20...

Intensive arable cropping depletes soil organic carbon and earthworms, leading to loss of macropores, and impaired hydrological functioning, constraining crop yields and exacerbating impacts of droughts and floods that are increasing with climate change. Grass and legume mixes traditionally grown in arable rotations (leys), are widely considered to...

Synthetic Biology (SynBio) is an interdisciplinary field at the interface of engineering and biology aiming to develop new biological systems and impart new functions to living cells. EFSA has been asked by the European Commission to evaluate SynBio developments in agri‐food with the aim of identifying the adequacy of existing guidelines for risk a...

Following the submission of application EFSA-GMO-RX-017 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Bayer Agriculture BVBA the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority was asked to deliver a scientific risk assessment on the data submitted in the context of the renewal of authorisation application for the insect-res...

Maize MON 87427 × MON 87460 × MON 89034 × 1507 × MON 87411 × 59122 (six-event stack maize) was produced by conventional crossing to combine six single events: MON 87427, MON 87460, MON 89034, 1507, MON 87411 and 59122. The GMO Panel previously assessed the six single maize events and 17 of the subcombinations and did not identify safety concerns. N...

Following the submission of application EFSA-GMO-RX-016 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Syngenta the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority was asked to deliver a scientific risk assessment on the data submitted in the context of the renewal of authorisation application for the insect-resistant and her...

Maize 1507 × MIR162 × MON810 × NK603 (four-event stack maize) was produced by conventional crossing to combine four single events: 1507, MIR162, MON810 and NK603. The GMO Panel previously assessed the four single events and six of the subcombinations and did not identify safety concerns. No new data on the single events or the six subcombinations t...

This statement supplements and updates the GMO Panel guidance document on allergenicity of genetically modified (GM) plants published in 2017. In that guidance document, the GMO Panel considered that additional investigations on in vitro protein digestibility were needed before providing any additional recommendations in the form of guidance to app...

Risk assessors, risk managers, developers, potential applicants, and other stakeholders at many levels discuss the need for new or further risk assessment guidance for deliberate environmental releases of gene drive-modified organisms. However, preparing useful and practical guidance entails challenges, to which we offer recommendations based on ou...

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) carried out an online public consultation to receive input from interested parties/persons on the draft scientific opinion on the adequacy and sufficiency evaluation of existing guidelines for the molecular characterisation (MC), environmental risk assessment (ERA) and post-market environmental monitoring (...

Advances in molecular and synthetic biology are enabling the engineering of gene drives in insects for disease vector/pest control. Engineered gene drives (that bias their own inheritance) can be designed either to suppress interbreeding target populations or modify them with a new genotype. Depending on the engineered gene drive system, theoretica...

Soybean DAS-8419-2 × DAS-44406-6 was developed to provide protection against certain lepidopteran pests and tolerance to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and other related phenoxy herbicides, and glyphosate- and glufosinate ammonium-containing herbicides. The Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Panel previously assessed the two single soybean events...

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) to assess whether section 4 (hazard identification) and the conclusions of EFSA's Scientific opinion on the risk assessment of plants developed using zinc finger nuclease type 3 technique (ZFN-3) and other site-directed nucleases (SDN) with similar function are...

The EFSA Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) previously assessed oilseed rape Ms8 × Rf3 × GT73 and its subcombinations Ms8 × GT73 and Rf3 × GT73 according to the scope as defined in the application EFSA-GMO-NL-2009-75, and was not in the position to complete the safety assessment of products rich in protein, such as rapeseed protein isola...

Following the submission of application EFSA-GMO-RX-002 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Monsanto Company, the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of EFSA (GMO) was asked to deliver a scientific risk assessment on the data submitted in the context of the renewal of authorisation application for the herbicide-tolerant genetically modified...

Abstract Maize MZIR098 was developed to confer tolerance to glufosinate‐ammonium‐containing herbicides and resistance to certain coleopteran pests. The molecular characterisation data and bioinformatic analyses do not identify issues requiring food/feed safety assessment. None of the identified differences in the agronomic/phenotypic and compositio...

Abstract Oilseed rape MS11 has been developed to confer male sterility and tolerance to glufosinate‐ammonium‐containing herbicides. Based on the information provided in the application and in line with the scope of application EFSA‐GMO‐BE‐2016‐138, the genetically modified organism (GMO) Panel concludes that the molecular characterisation data and...

Abstract Soybean MON 87705 × MON 87708 × MON 89788 (three‐event stack soybean) was produced by conventional crossing to combine three single soybean events: MON 87705, MON 87708 and MON 89788. This combination is intended to alter the fatty acid profile in the seed (in particular increasing the levels of oleic acid) and tolerance to glyphosate‐base...

Recent advances in molecular and synthetic biology are enabling the engineering of gene drives that spread genes of interest through interbreeding populations at a frequency greater than the rate expected by simple Mendelian inheritance. At present, insects represent the most likely cases of gene drive modified organisms for deliberate release into...

Abstract Following the submission of application EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐014 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Monsanto Company the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority was asked to deliver a scientific risk assessment on the data submitted in the context of the renewal of authorisation application for the insect‐...

Abstract The scope of application EFSA‐GMO‐DE‐2012‐111 is for food and feed uses, import and processing of genetically modified (GM) soybean SYHT0H2 in the European Union. Soybean SYHT0H2 was developed to confer tolerance to the herbicidal active substances mesotrione and other p‐hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)‐inhibiting herbicides and gl...

Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the GMO Panel assessed additional information related to the application for authorisation of food and feed containing, consisting of and produced from genetically modified (GM) maize 3272 (EFSA‐GMO‐UK‐2006‐34). The applicant conducted new agronomic, phenotypic and compositional analysis st...

Abstract Following the submission of application EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐013 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Syngenta Crop Protection NV/SA, the EFSA Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) was asked to deliver a scientific risk assessment on the data submitted in the context of the renewal of authorisation application for the insect‐resistant ge...

Abstract Maize MON 87427 × MON 89034 × MIR162 × MON 87411 (four‐event stack maize) was produced by conventional crossing to combine four single events: MON 87427, MON 89034, MIR162 and MON 87411. The genetically modified organism (GMO) Panel previously assessed the four single maize events and four of the subcombinations and did not identify safety...

Abstract Following the submission of application EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐015 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Bayer Agriculture BVBA, the EFSA Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO Panel) was asked to deliver a scientific risk assessment on the data submitted in the context of the renewal of authorisation application for the insect‐resistant gene...

Abstract Soybean MON 87751 × MON 87701 × MON 87708 × MON 89788 (four‐event stack soybean) was produced by conventional crossing to combine four single events: MON 87751, MON 87701, MON 87708 and MON 89788. The GMO Panel previously assessed the four single events and did not identify safety concerns. No new data on the single events have been identi...

Agriculture involves the redirection of wild ecosystems to the production of food. This trade-off between farming and biodiversity conservation is often discussed in terms of land sharing or land sparing and rewilding. However, this choice also reflects the perceptions of ideal landscapes, which are partly based on culture and memory.

Urban food production is a growing area of interest as a way of increasing food security, social capital and biodiversity. As food production relies upon ecosystem services provided by invertebrates (e.g. decomposition), it is important to understand the underlying factors affecting their distribution. Here we investigated the influence of soil cha...

The sustainable intensification of agriculture involves providing sufficient food and other ecosystem services without going beyond the limits of the earth’s system. Here a project management approach is suggested to help guide agricultural policy to deliver these objectives. The first step is to agree measurable outcomes, integrating formal policy...

Background and aims The increasing input of anthropogenically-derived nitrogen (N) to ecosystems raises a crucial question: how do N inputs modify the soil microbial stability, and thus affect crop productivity? Methods Soils from an 8-year rice-wheat rotation experiment with increasing N-input rates were subjected to drying–rewetting (DW) cycles...

Abstract Maize MON 87427 ×MON 87460 × MON 89034 × MIR162 × NK603 (five‐event stack maize) was produced by conventional crossing to combine five single events: MON 87427, MON 87460, MON 89034, MIR162 and NK603. The GMO Panel previously assessed the five single maize events and eleven of the subcombinations and did not identify safety concerns. No ne...

Soybean MON 877089MON 897889A5547-127 (three-event stack soybean) was produced byconventional crossing to combine three single events: MON 87708, MON 89788 and A5547-127. TheGMO Panel previously assessed the three single events and did not identify safety concerns. No newdata on the single events, leading to modification of the original conclusions...

Maize MON 874279MON 890349MIR1629NK603 (four-event stack maize) was produced byconventional crossing to combine four single events: MON 87427, MON 89034, MIR162 and NK603. TheGMO Panel previously assessed the four single maize events and four of the subcombinations did notidentify safety concerns. No new data on the single maize events or the four...

Maize Bt11 × MIR162 × MIR604 × 1507 × 5307 × GA21 (six‐event stack maize) was produced by conventional crossing to combine six single events: Bt11, MIR162, MIR604, 1507, 5307 and GA21. The GMO Panel previously assessed the six single events and 22 of their combinations and did not identify safety concerns. No new data on the maize single events or...

Following the submission of application EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐012 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Bayer CropScience N.V., the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority (GMO Panel) was asked to deliver a scientific risk assessment on the data submitted in the context of the renewal of authorisation application for t...

Maize MON 89034 × 1507 × NK603 × DAS‐40278‐9 (four‐event stack maize) was produced by conventional crossing to combine four single events: MON 89034, 1507, NK603 and DAS‐40278‐9. The GMO Panel previously assessed the four single events and four of their subcombinations and did not identify safety concerns. No new data on the maize single events or...

Maize MON 89034 × 1507 × MON 88017 × 59122 × DAS‐40278‐9 (five‐event stack maize) was produced by conventional crossing to combine five single events: MON 89034, 1507, MON 88017, 59122 and DAS‐40278‐9. The GMO Panel previously assessed the 5 single maize events and 11 of their subcombinations and did not identify safety concerns. No new data on the...

Following the submission of application EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐009 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Bayer CropScience N.V., the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority was asked to deliver a scientific risk assessment on the data submitted in the context of the renewal of authorisation application for the herbicide...

Maize MON 89034 × 1507 × NK603 × DAS‐40278‐9 (four‐event stack maize) was produced by conventional crossing to combine four single events: MON 89034, 1507, NK603 and DAS‐40278‐9. The GMO Panel previously assessed the four single events and four of their subcombinations and did not identify safety concerns. No new data on the maize single events or...

Intensification of agriculture has led to major losses of hedgerows and field margins worldwide. Soil sample extraction, in situ time series of soil moisture, temperature and soil water quality analyses, annual earthworm sampling and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi sampling enabled comparison of soil functions between typical hedgerows, grass fie...

Nitrogen contributes to plant defence responses by the regulation of plant primary metabolism during plant-pathogen interactions. Based on biochemical, physiological, bioinformatic and transcriptome approaches, we investigated how different nitrogen forms (ammonium vs. nitrate) regulate the physiological response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) to Fu...

Following the submission of application EFSA‐GMO‐RX‐010 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Bayer, the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority (GMO Panel) was asked to deliver a scientific risk assessment on the data submitted in the context of the renewal of authorisation application for the herbicide‐tole...

The scope of application EFSA‐GMO‐DE‐2016‐133 is for food and feed uses, import and processing of genetically modified (GM) maize MZHG0JG in the European Union. Maize MZHG0JG was developed to confer tolerance to the herbicidal active substances glyphosate and glufosinate‐ammonium. The molecular characterisation data and bioinformatic analyses do no...

Following the submission of application EFSA-GMO-RX-011 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Monsanto Europe, the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms of the European Food Safety Authority (GMO Panel) was asked to deliver a scientific risk assessment on the data submitted in the context of the renewal of authorisation application for the herb...

Agricultural intensification has significantly increased yields and fed growing populations across the planet, but has also led to considerable environmental degradation. In response an alternative process of ‘Sustainable Intensification’ (SI), whereby food production increases while environmental impacts are reduced, has been advocated as necessar...

We all want to eat food that is produced sustainably. But it's not at all clear what that means in practice. Fundamentally, agriculture can be regarded as sustainable if it can continue to meet human needs whilst avoiding irreversible harm to the planet. The human needs are not just food, but include employment, leisure, social cohesion and the man...

Understanding the trade‐offs between yield, ecosystem services and other societal benefits is a fundamental prerequisite for the sustainable intensification of agriculture. Here we develop and test an holistic approach to assessing farm performance across production, social, financial and environmental dimensions. A longlist of potential indicators...

Sustainable intensification is a process by which agricultural productivity is enhanced whilst also creating environmental and social benefits. We aimed to identify practices likely to deliver sustainable intensification, currently available for UK farms but not yet widely adopted. We compiled a list of 18 farm management practices with the greates...

The US beef industry is a major contributor of greenhouse gases and is commonly regarded as unsustainable at current levels. A new study models a system in which sustainability could be increased by subsistence on grass and agricultural by-products, prompting the question, ‘what are the limits of sustainable livestock production in the US’?

The study of ecosystem processes over multiple scales of space and time is often best achieved by using comparable data from multiple sites. Yet long term ecological observatories have often developed their own data collection protocols. Here we address this problem by proposing a set of ecological protocols suitable for widespread adoption by the...

Delivering access to sufficient food, energy and water resources to ensure human wellbeing is a major concern for governments worldwide. However, it is crucial to account for the ‘nexus’ of interactions between these natural resources and the consequent implications for human wellbeing. The private sector has a critical role in driving positive cha...

© 2016 The Author(s)Delivering access to sufficient food, energy and water resources to ensure human wellbeing is a major concern for governments worldwide. However, it is crucial to account for the ‘nexus’ of interactions between these natural resources and the consequent implications for human wellbeing. The private sector has a critical role in...

Sustainable intensification is a concept of growing importance, yet it is in danger of becoming scientifically obsolete because of the diversity of meanings it has acquired. To avoid this, it is important to consider the various scales on which it can aid progress towards feeding human populations while also protecting the environment.

Ecosystem carbon (C) fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems are affected by varying environmental conditions (e.g., soil heterogeneity and weather) and land management. However, the interactions between soil respiration (Rs) and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and their spatio-temporal dependence on environmental conditions and land management at field scal...

As a result of the complexity of agri-food systems, popularly-supported ‘win-win’ solutions rarely result in wholly satisfactory outcomes. We draw on documented cases of the introduction of agricultural input subsidies; the intensification of livestock production; and the development of genetically modified crop varieties as examples of agri-food s...

Organic farming, a low intensity system, may offer benefits for a range of taxa, but what affects the extent of those benefits is imperfectly understood. We explored the effects of organic farming and landscape on the activity density and species density of spiders and carabid beetles, using a large sample of paired organic and conventional farms i...

Continuous arable cultivation has depleted important functional components of soil biodiversity and degraded soil structure, and now requires large chemical and energy inputs to sustain yields. There is increasing need to manage soils for more sustainable crop production and to meet the challenges of variable weather conditions. We hypothesised tha...

The extent to which conversion to organic farming influenced habitat diversity within less favored areas (LFAs) was determined. Similar numbers of conventional (not converted) (n = 16), recent converts (n = 13) and long-standing converts (>5 years; n = 16) were surveyed. Each holding was characterized in terms of habitat classes using a rapid groun...

We compared the seedbanks, seed rains, plant densities and biomasses of weeds under two contrasting systems of management in beet, maize and spring oilseed rape. Weed seedbank and plant density were measured at the same locations in two subsequent seasons. About 60 fields were sown with each crop. Each field was split, one half being sown with a co...

Several influential reports have suggested that one of the most appropriate responses to expected food shortages and ongoing environmental degradation is sustainable intensification, i.e. the increase of food production with at worst no increase in environmental harm, and ideally environmental benefit. Here we sought evidence of sustainable intensi...

Several recent influential reports (for example, Royal Society, 2009; Foresight, 2011) have suggested that, in response to expected food shortages and ongoing environmental degradation, a policy of sustainable intensification of agriculture should be pursued. Such a policy would involve producing more food without expanding the area under cultivati...