Glossary

A

adventitious presence
unintended presence of genetic material or whole seeds from another variety, crop, or weed, in a seed or grain shipment

Africa stockpiles programme (ASP)
partnership between international and nongovernmental organizations, governments, industry, and multi-lateral funds who jointly support the goal of clearing all obsolete pesticide stocks from Africa in an environmentally sound manner and putting in place measures to avoid their accumulation in the future

agricultural (or plant) biotechnology
a tool to make seeds with special qualities that can allow farmers to grow plants that are more nutritious, more resistant to pests and more productive

agrochemical
generic term for the various chemical products used in agriculture

B

bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)
a bacterium that kills insects; a major component of the microbial pesticide industry

biodegradable
able to be broken down by micro-organisms in the environment

biodiversity
the wide diversity and interrelatedness of earth organisms based on genetic and environmental factors, the variety of flora and fauna in the natural environment

biosafety protocol
(see Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety)

biotechnology
the application of biological research techniques to the development of products which improve human health, animal health, and agriculture

broad spectrum herbicides
herbicides that kill a wide range of plant types

bt corn (maize)
genetically engineered to provide protection against the European corn borer

bt cotton
genetically engineered to control tobacco budworms, bollworms, and pink bollworms

bt crops
genetically engineered to carry the gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. The bacteria produces a protein that is toxic when ingested by certain lepidopteran insects. Crops containing the Bt gene are able to produce this toxin, thereby providing protection throughout the entire plant

buffer zone (or ‘separation distance’)
a strip of land separating different types of crop, wide enough to minimise the level of cross-pollination between them

C

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
it seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology

Codex Alimentarius
This is the "food code," consisting of standards, codes of practice, guidelines, and recommendations for producing and processing food. It is administered by the Codex Alimentarius Commission

coexistence
existing peacefully together

conservation agriculture
aims to conserve, improve and make more efficient use of natural resources through integrated management of available soil, water and biological resources combined with external inputs

Crop protection products (pesticides)
Crop protection products are both naturally occurring and man made (synthetic) chemicals, that control the diseases, insects and weeds which harm or destroy our food crops. Insecticides, fungicides and herbicides are all crop protection products

crop rotation
a farming technique whereby different types of crops are grown over successive seasons

D

detection methods

E

ecosystem
the organisms in a plant population and the biotic and abiotic factors which impact on them

expressed gene
see 'gene expression'

F

FAO code of conduct
The Food and Agriculture Organization's code of conduct on the distribution and use of pesticides. The objectives of the Code are to set forth responsibilities and establish voluntary standards of conduct for all public and private entities associated with the distribution and use of pesticides, particularly where there is not yet adequate legislation to regulate pesticides

functional food
food enriched or fortified with components or ingredients offering a specific health benefit other than a strict nutritional effect

fungicide
a substance that kills fungi

G

gene expression
the process by which the information in a gene is used to create proteins

gene flow
gradual exchange of genetic material between populations caused by the dispersal of gametes or the migration of individuals

genetic engineering
altering the genetic material of cells or organisms in order to make them capable of making new substances or performing new functions

genetic modification
a technique whereby individual genes can be copied and transferred to another living organism to alter its genetic make up and thus incorporate or delete specific characteristics into or from the organism

genomics
the study of genes and their function

GM, GMO
see genetic modification

golden rice
a strain of genetically altered rice to combat vitamin A deficiency, containing three transplanted genes that allow plants to produce rice kernels containing beta-carotene, a compound that is converted to vitamin A in the human body. Vitamin A deficiency is the world?s leading cause of blindness and a malaise that affects as many as 250 million children

GURTS
Genetic Use Restriction Technologies. Methods that regulate gene expression

H

herbicide
any substance that is toxic to plants; usually used to kill specific unwanted plants

herbicide tolerant
a plant that is tolerant of (specific) herbicides. Herbicide-tolerant crops were developed to survive certain herbicides that previously would have destroyed the crop along with the targeted weeds, and allow farmers to use them as postemergent herbicides, providing an effective weed control. The most common herbicide-tolerant crops (cotton, corn, soybeans, and canola) are Roundup Ready (RR) crops resistant to glyphosate, a herbicide effective on many species of grasses, broadleaf weeds, and sedges. Other genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops include Liberty Link (LL) corn resistant to glufosinate-ammonium, and BXN cotton resistant to bromoxynil

I

ICM
see Integrated Crop Management

insect resistant
a plant that contains substances (proteins) which kill or deter plant-eating insects

insecticide
a substance that kills insects

integrated crop management
a farming system that meets the requirements of long-term sustainability. It is a whole-farm strategy which involves managing crops profitably, with respect for the environment,in ways which suit local soil, climatic and economic conditions. It safeguards the farm's natural assets in the long term. It includes practices that avoid waste, enhance energy efficiency and minimise pollution. ICM is not a rigidly defined form of crop production but is a dynamic system which adapts and makes sensible use of the latest research,technology, advice and experience

integrated pest management
a pest management system that, in the context of the associated environment and the population dynamics of the pest species, utilises all suitable techniques and methods in as compatible a manner as possible and maintains the pest populations at levels below those causing economically unacceptable damage or loss

intellectual property (rights)
legally protected property such as copyright, patents, and registered designs, as well as ideas and information of commercial value which an organisation has developed

IPM
see integrated pest management

L

living modified organism (LMO)
a living organism that has a new combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology

M

multiple tolerance (to herbicides)
of a plant, being able to tolerate a number of different herbicides

N

narrow spectrum herbicides
herbicides that kill a limited range of plant types

novel trait in a plant
a plant possessing characteristics not normally found in that species where the new characteristic has been created through specific genetic manipulation, transformation, mutation, etc

O

obsolete stocks
stockpiles of old crop protections products that have built up in regions around the world - usually as a result of centrally-planned economies or locust control programmes - and are often stored under poor conditions.

P

patent
a grant issued by the government, which gives the patent holder the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling a patented invention for a certain term. In most countries, the term begins on the date on which the patent issues ends and 20 years from the date on which the application for the patent was filed. Patents are granted on inventions which meet the requirements of novelty, non-obviousness, and utility. A patent holder cannot use a patented invention dominated by the patent of another, absent a license or cross-license

persistent organic pollutants
class of chemicals that persist in the environment, are capable of long-range transport, bioaccumulate in human and animal tissue, and have significant impacts on human health and the environment

pesticide
a substance that kills harmful organisms (for example, an insecticide or fungicide)

PIC
see Prior Informed Consent

plant science industry
invents, develops, manufactures and sells products and services designed to improve the global production of food, feed, fibre and other useful products in a sustainable way

POPs
see Persistent Organic Pollutants

Precautionary principle

Prior informed consent
procedure for formally obtaining and disseminating the decisions of importing countries as to whether they wish to receive future shipments of chemicals which have been banned or severely restricted

protective clothing/personal protective equipment
clothing and equipment selected or designed to protect the wearer against contamination; to be worn, as recommended, when handling, mixing and applying crop protection products

R

resistance
the development of a characteristic within an organism (e.g. an insect) whereby it becomes able to protect itself from the effects of a particular substance (e.g. an insecticide)

Rotterdam Convention
multilateral environmental agreement designed to promote shared responsibility and cooperative efforts among Parties in the international trade of certain hazardous chemicals (see also Prior Informed Consent)

S

stewardship (product stewardship)
the life-cycle approach to product management - is the responsible and ethical management of a crop protection or biotechnology product from its discovery or development through to its ultimate use and beyond

Stockholm convention
international agreement on persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

sustainable agriculture
whereby the farmer is able to increase or maintain crop yields long term, whilst conserving natural resources and protecting the environment

T

tolerance
the range of an environmental factor (also pathogens and pests) within which an organism or a population can survive

toxin
a poison, usually originating in a plant or micro-organism

trait
a distinguishing characteristic or quality of an organism

transgenic
an organism whose genome has been altered by the inclusion of foreign genetic material. This foreign genetic material may be derived from other individuals of the same species or from wholly different species. Genetic material may also be of an artificial nature. Foreign genetic information can be added to the organism during its early development and incorporated in cells of the entire organism. As an example, transgenic organisms have been produced that provide enhanced agricultural and pharmaceutical products

V

variety
a group of organisms within a species, having similar characteristics but not distinct enough to be a separate species