Development of a Decision Support System (DSS) for an integrated test system towards the effective and competitive risk assessment on transgenic plants

Transgenic plants need specific approaches to analyse their potential impact on environment and consumer. The procedures used to date are often too extensive and time-consuming and associated with high costs. The BioOK network was established to develop an effective and competitive risk assessment on transgenic plants based on interdisciplinary research. New and effective methods for the risk assessment were established which focus on transgene-specific effects measured in in vitro systems in the laboratory or greenhouse whenever possible. Nevertheless event-specific field experiments have to be carried out in addition to implement environmental effects e.g. on non-targets or the variability of transgene expression. The novel methods are combined with traditional procedures to form a multiplicative integrated decision support system (DSS) for the analysis of transgenic plants. The DSS is supported by a computerized tool using specific algorithms following a decision dendrogram. The decision rules are based on baseline, indicator and threshold data identified for the specific plant species. The prototype of the DSS is developed using potato as a model plant and to be validated on a cereal. The final decision is made by scientific expert judgment.