RESOURCES
GLOSSARY
(Includes UK and Irish terms relevant to the whole island of Ireland.)
Abc
(UK) Agriculture Biotechnology Council: established to promote fair debate
on behalf of the UK agriculture biotechnology industry regarding the
potential production of GM crops in the UK. Companies involved
include: Aventis; BASF; Dow Agrosciences; Dupont; Monsanto and
Syngenta.
ACRE
(UK) Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment: statutory body
established under Part VI of the Environment Protection Act 1990,
consisting of independent experts with a secretariat provided by Defra;
advises the Government on the safety of proposed releases and
marketing of GMOs and non-native species, and on related issues.
ACNFP
(UK) Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes: a non-statutory,
independent body of scientific experts that advise the FSA on any
matters relating to novel foods (including genetically modified) and
novel processes.
ACP
(UK) Advisory Committee on Pesticides: independent statutory body
established to advise Ministers in the UK Government and devolved
administrations on all issues relating to the regulation of pesticides.
Adventitious presence
Refers to the unintentional and incidental merging of small amounts of
GM seeds, grains or food products with conventional ones.
AEBC
(UK) Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission: established
in June 2000 to give Ministers independent, strategic advice on
developments in biotechnology and their implications for agriculture
and the environment.
Agronomic
Refers to the application of the various soil and plant sciences to soil
management and crop rotation.
AP
See Adventitious presence.
BCH
(UK) Biosafety Clearing House.
Biofuel
A gaseous, liquid or solid fuel derived from a biological source, e.g.
ethanol, rapeseed oil or fish liver oil.
Biosafety Protocol
Also known as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, this Protocol regulates the international trade and use of GMOs; it was signed in Montreal in January 2000 and came into force in July 2003; Ireland is a signatory state. The Biosafety Protocol is attached to the Framework Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in the same way that the Kyoto Protocol on Greenhouse Gas Emmissions is attached to the Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Bolter
Growth on a beet plant which leads to flowering if unchecked.
BRC
British Retail Consortium: trade association representing a whole
range of retailers.
BSBPA
British Sugar Beet Producers Association.
BSPB
British Society of Plant Breeders (a limited company).
Bt
Bacillus thuringiensis: a soil bacterium that produces toxins that
control some insects.
CAP
The EU's Common Agricutural Policy.
Cartagena Protocol
See Biosafety Protocol above.
CBD
Convention on Biological Diversity: signed by over 150 governments
at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, its principal objectives are
the conservation, sustainable use and equitable sharing of the
benefits of the use of biological diversity.
Coexistence
A foolish notion that it is possible for GM plants not live next to non-GM plants without contaminating them by pollination or horizontal gene transfer.
Commercialisation
Growing crops on a commercial scale, for the market, as opposed to
on an experimental or demonstration basis.
Conventional agriculture
Agriculture that does not use GM crops; (nowadays implies the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and fungicides, as opposed to organic agriculture which is free of GM crops as well as articifical chemicals etc.).
Convergence Festival
The annual festival organised by the Sustainable Ireland Co-operative, which brings together a host of ideas and solutions for a culture of sustainability through conferences, worskhops, films, theatre, music and exhibits. See www.sustainable.ie for details.
CPA
(UK) Crop Protection Association.
Cross-pollination
The transfer of viable pollen from an anther of one plant to a stigma of
another plant.
CSL
(UK) Central Science Laboratory, an Executive Agency of Defra, which
provides a range of scientific services, applied research and technical
support to public and private sector customers, specialising in the
sciences underpinning agriculture.
Dáil
The Gaelic name of the Parliament in the Republic of Ireland.
Defra
(UK) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Deliberate Release Directive
Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 12 March 2001 designed to protect health and environment in the
EU from any adverse effects that may be caused by the deliberate
release into the environment of genetically modified organisms and
repealing Council Directive 90/220/EC (OJ L106, 17 April 2001).
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid, a molecule which comprises the genetic
material of most living organisms.
ELISA
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbant Assay: a diagnostic test which uses
the high specificity of enzymes and antibodies to detect the presence
of specific substances in a sample, usually by the production of a
distinctive colour change.
ENGL
European Network of GM Laboratories.
EPA
(IRL) The Environmental Protection Agency; it regulates Irish Government policy regarding GM crops and livestock.
EPA
(UK) EPA Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Erucic acid
A fatty acid, C22H42O2, making up 40 to 50% of the total fatty acid in
rapeseed, wallflower seed, and mustard seed.
EU
European Union.
EU Scientific Committee on Plants
An EU committee of experts which advises the European Commission
on issues relating to the release of GMOs.
Feral
Existing in a wild state.
Fianna Fáil
A leading Irish political party which violated its 1997 campaign promise never to allow GM food in Ireland, by voting to do so in 2003.
FSA
(UK) Food Standards Agency: established by UK Act of Parliament on 1 April
2000 with key functions including the provision of advice and
information to the public and Government on food safety and
protection of consumers through enforcement and monitoring.
FSAI
Food Safety Authority of Ireland; regulates GM foods and animal feed in the Republic of Ireland.
FSEs
(UK) Farm Scale Evaluations, a 3-year programme allowing independent
researchers to study the effect, if any, that the management practices
associated with GMHT crops might have on farmland and wildlife,
when compared with non-GM crops. Three crops were involved:
oilseed rape (both spring and autumn sown); beet (fodder and sugar
varieties); and maize. Results for the spring-sown varieties were
published on 16 October 2003.
Gene
A piece of DNA code, an instruction to build a protein which then
forms part of, or does work in, a body. Sometimes a single gene
determines an effect. But most processes that build and maintain
bodies and plants involve many genes.
Gene flow
The movement of genes from one population to another.
GENET
European NGO Network on Genetic Engineering. See www.genet.org for details
Genetic engineering
The widely accepted but misleading industry term for tinkering with nature by introducing genes from one organism into another, often between kingdoms (e.g. animal to plant) as well as genera and species. The term is misleading because the word "engineering" implies a precise science, which this is not.
Genetically modified
See GMO.
Gene stacking
Simultaneous presence of more than one transgene in an organism,
usually a GM organism. Stacking may be induced deliberately or can
also occur as a result of natural gene flow.
Gene Use Restriction Technologies
Technology allowing plants to be engineered so as not to produce
viable offspring or offspring which express a particular trait.
Genotypic testing
Testing for the combination of alleles located on homologous
chromosomes that determines a specific characteristic or trait.
Global Vision Consulting Ltd
A private company which co-ordinates the GM-free Ireland campaign and also provides strategic advice to governments, NGOs and corporations involved in the transition to sustainability and real security. See its website at www.global-vision-consulting.com for details.
GM
Genetically modified: see GMO.
GM construct
An artificially assembled DNA segment to be transferred into the
target tissue. Typically, the construct will include the gene of a
particular interest, a marker gene and appropriate control sequences.
GMHT crop
Genetically modified, herbicide-tolerant crop.
GMO
Genetically modified organism: defined as an organism in which the
genetic material has been altered by the direct introduction of DNA
(specifically defined in EU legislation).
GURTS
Gene Use Restriction Technologies.
HEAR
High erucic acid oilseed rape.
Herbicide-tolerant (HT)
In the context of genetic modification, herbicide tolerance introduced
by the insertion of a gene or genes capable of producing a gene
product which inhibits or changes the effect of a herbicide on the plant
(all crops are to some extent herbicide-tolerant).
Heterozygosity
Having different alleles (members of a pair or series of genes) of a
particular gene.
Horizontal gene transfer
The transfer of genes (including modified ones) from one organism to another by non-sexual means; typically through transport by viruses or bacteria.
Hybrid
A plant or animal that has been produced from two different types of
plant or animal.
Hybridisation
The production of hybrids; cross-pollination.
IACS
Integrated Administration and Control Systems: determines the
amount of money farmers receive from the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Immunochromagraphic strip test
Testing of plant tissue for GMO protein. Qualitative test that shows
whether or not the known construct being tested is present but does
not reveal whether a given threshold has been breached.
Introgression
Infiltration of the genes of one species into the gene pool of another
through repeated backcrossing of an interspecified hybrid with one of
its parents.
IP
Identity preservation (also known as traceability): a system that tracks
a product through all stages in a supply chain so that it can be traced
back to its origins.
Irish Organic
A national brand name for organic (and thus GM-free) produce originating in the Republic of Ireland; this brand is owned by the Irish Organic Partnership Ltd. (see below).
Irish Organic Partnership
A private company limited by guarantee, which owns the Irish Organic brand (see above). Tel + 353 404 43 885.
IOFGA
Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association; one of the three indigenous organic certification bodies in the Republic of Ireland. See www.irishorganic.ie for details.
IFOAM
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements: co-ordinates the work of organic certification bodies and other organic organisations around the world (www.ifoam.org).
Liability
In law, the condition of being obliged by law or equity; answerable at
law; obliged to pay or undertake some action.
LEAF
Linking Environment and Farming: a charity which aims to help
farmers improve their environment and business performance,
committed to a viable agriculture which is environmentally and socially
acceptable.
LMA
(UK) Land Management Contract: a voluntary, legal contract between a
Government department(s) and a farmer.
LMOs
Living Modified Organisms, another term for GMOs.
LMO-FPPs
Living Modified Organisms intended for direct use as Food or Feed, or
for Processing.
Marker gene
A gene or short sequence of DNA that can be identified and tracked
which acts as a tag for another, closely linked, gene on the same
chromosome (the target gene). It is then used to check for the
presence of the target gene.
Morphology
Scientific study of the structure and form of organisms without
consideration of function.
Mutagens
Chemical or other agents that increase the rate of genetic mutation.
Negative testing
Testing for all known GM events.
NGO
Non Governmental Organisation (e.g. Greenpeace); often accredited to one or more agencies of the United Nations, thus empowering them to negotiate with Governments in international fora, including the formation of international treaties such as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
NFA
National Farmers' Association (in Ireland).
NFU
(UK) National Farmers' Union.
NIAB
(UK) National Institute for Agricultural Botany.
Nucleotide
One of four chemical bases, namely Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine and
Thymine that make up the molecule of DNA. (In RNA, Thymine is
replaced by the base Uracil).
Nucleic acid sequence
A specific pattern of nucleotide subunits that make up the larger
nucleic acid molecule i.e. DNA or RNA.
Organic Trust
One of the three indigenous organic certification bodies in the Republic of Ireland.
Part C approval
Approval under Part C of the EU's Deliberate Release Directive for
commercialisation of a GM crop either for commercialisation or import
or both.
Partially-restored hybrid
Containing a proportion (about 50%) of male sterile plants.
PCR
Polymerase Chain Reaction: technique used to replicate a fragment of
DNA so as to produce many copies of a particular DNA sequence;
commonly employed as an alternative to gene cloning as a means of
amplifying genetic material for gene sequencing.
Phenotypic testing
Testing relying upon the visual inspection of plants and seeds for the
expression of a specific trait based on genetic and environmental
influences.
PMSU
(UK) Prime Ministerís Strategy Unit.
Positive testing
Testing that a certain percentage of a crop is what it was meant to be,
rather than seeking to determine the nature of any material other than
the intended crop.
Precautionary Principle
When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even when there is lack of scientific certainty regarding the extent of harm that might occur. This principle was agreed by most UN member states at the Earth Summit in 1992 and is now enshrined in EU law and in the Biosafety Protocol.
PSD
(UK) Pesticides Safety Directorate: an Executive Agency of Defra, which
administers the regulation of agricultural, horticultural, forestry, food
storage and home garden pesticides.
Environmental remediation
Putting right as far as possible environmental damage.
RICS
(UK) Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
RLR
(UK) Rural Land Register.
SCIMAC
(UK) Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops, representing
UK industry organisations throughout the primary supply chain
(member organisations are BSPB, CPA, NFU, UKASTA and
BSBSPA).
Separation distance
The distance between the boundary of a GM crop field and the
boundaries of other crops which are sexually compatible with the GM
crop.
Soil Association
(UK) An organic certifying body.
Sustainable Ireland Co-operative
A registered charity which works to promote sustainable development in the Republic of Ireland. Oganises the annual Convergence Festival. See their website at www.sustainable.ie for details.
Threshold level
A quantity set by weight or number to define the maximum or
minimum presence of one material in another (for example, the
presence of GM grain in a batch of non-GM grain).
Tort
A civil wrong or injury arising out of an act of failure to act,
independent of any contract, for which an action for damages may be
brought.
Transgene / transgenic
Genes inserted by the direct incorporation of DNA, as opposed to
endogenous genes.
UKAS
UK Accreditation Service, a non-profit-distributing company, limited by
guarantee, which is the national accreditation body recognised by
government to assess, against internationally agreed standards,
organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and
calibration services.
UKASTA
UK Agricultural Supply Trade Association.
UKROFS
UK Register of Organic Food Standards.
Varietal association
A crop variety containing more than one plant type (usually two, of
which one acts as the pollinator, the other the pollinated).
Variety
A subdivision of a species: an agricultural variety is a group of similar
plants that by structural features and performance can be identified
from other varieties within the same species.
Volunteer
A crop plant growing in the wrong place, from self-sown or
accidentally dropped seeds.
WTO
World Trade Organization; a controversial non-democratic and non-transparent international body whose laws supersede those of its member states; aggresively promotes so-called "free trade" so as to enable transnational corporations to maximise profits at the expense of people and the environment.
