The idea for a highly focused, multi-disciplinary risk assessment workshop emerged from conversations with scientists, regulatory officials and members of public interest groups. Discussions about the environmental release of transgenic crops, either for field tests or for commercial use, seemed always to touch on what constitutes the basis for decisions, and how those decisions could be strengthened.

In 1989, the National Research Council published Field Testing Genetically Modified Organisms; Framework for Decisions, the so-called Green Book. Ten years later, it’s worth taking a look at one of the issues surrounding the use of genetically engineered crops—the impact of introducing pest resistance into crops, and the potential for related species to benefit by acquiring the trait. Combining our collective experience with conventional crops and what we know about engineered varieties brought into focus what we know now, and helped identify the gaps in our knowledge. From this came recommendations for experimental approaches that would generate the needed data.

Most participants found the multi-disciplinary science-based approach used in this workshop to be surprisingly effective in bridging gaps between participants from different disciplines, and in stimulating new ideas for research. This format could well serve as a model for similar evaluations of other risk issues associated with the commercial use of transgenic crops in the US and other countries. It is our hope that the reports in this volume will serve to support decision making at all levels and will stimulate greater interest in and funding for risk assessment research.