Potential impacts of GM trees on the environment and on plant 'omics': questionnaire-based responses

A questionnaire has been formulated among the participants of the COST action FP0905 “Biosafety of forest transgenic trees” and other scientists in order to collect comments and personal opinions on some general aspects of the impact of the introduction of transgenic forest trees and on the use of “omics” strategies for environmental risk assessment (ERA). Beyond the personal opinions in perceiving the complexity of the topic, some interesting hints have emerged. Almost all responders agree that important biosafety issues can only be addressed by conducting field releases of transgenic trees. Despite the recent publication of numerous “omics” studies in relation to GM crop assessment, large-scale methods that can be internationally certified and accepted are presently not available.