The Center for Environmental Risk Assessment
The Center for Environmental Risk Assessment (CERA) was established by the ILSI Research Foundation in March 2009. CERA builds on that organization’s strengths in risk assessment, tripartite engagement with government, academia and the private sector, and developing and disseminating new scientific knowledge.
CERA develops and applies sound science to the environmental risk assessment of agricultural biotechnologies so their contributions to sustainable production of food, fuel and fiber may be safely realized. The Center’s research projects are currently focused on genetically modified plants. This scope will be broadened over time to include transgenic arthropods and animals.
CERA’s particular focus on environmental risk assessment is supported by an outstanding Advisory Council of eminent scientists, scientific staff with considerable risk assessment and regulatory expertise, and an international network of regulators and scientists from government, academia and the private sector who contribute to CERA’s program of work.
CERA works collaboratively with key international and donor organizations like the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United States Agency for International Development. In October 2009, the Center was officially recognized as an Observer to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Working Group for the Harmonization of Regulatory Oversight of Biotechnology. CERA also works bilaterally with governments, research organizations and ILSI Branches to ensure that the Center’s programs are both relevant and accessible to partners in developing and developed countries.
CERA's Advisory Council
CERA's Staff
The GM Crop Database provides accurate, factual, safety-related information about regulatory evaluations and approvals of genetically modified (GM) plants. Previously hosted by AGBIOS, this searchable database is used extensively by regulatory agencies, the academic and product developer communities, and members of the value chain.
CERA’s Bibliography contains a comprehensive collection of over 3000 citations from peer-reviewed literature, books, and conference proceedings relevant to agricultural biotechnology. Users may customize their queries by searching the Bibliography by keyword, author, date, and source.
Publications
- A Review of the Environmental Safety of the Cry1Ab Protein. CERA. December 22, 2011.
- Genetically modified crops and aquatic ecosystems: considerations for environmental risk assessment and non-target organism testing. Carstens, et al. Transgenic Research. October 7, 2011.
- Problem Formulation for the Environmental Risk Assessment of RNAi Plants: Conference Proceedings. June 1–3, 2011.
- A Review of the Environmental Safety of the PAT Protein. CERA. April 11, 2011.
- Recommendations for the design of laboratory studies on non-target arthropods for risk assessment of genetically engineered plants. Romeis et al. Transgenic Research. October 13, 2010.
- A Review of the Environmental Safety of the CP4 EPSPS Protein. CERA. May 26, 2010.
- A Review of the Environmental Safety of the Cry1Ac Protein. CERA. May 26, 2010.
- Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants. Wolt, et al. Transgenic Research. September 15, 2009.
- Problem formulation in environmental risk assessment of genetically modified crops: a Brazilian workshop. Fitzpatrick et al. BioAssay. Published online August 10, 2009.