Agricultural biotechnology has generated much debate about the environmental consequences of field trials and commercialization of transgenic crops. Thus far, the debate has focused on opponents' claims of alleged risks presented by transgenic crops and the proponents' responses to those asserted risks. To date, three issues have dominated the debate:

. the risk of gene flow;

. the risk of weediness; and

. the risk of insect-resistance.

When debates regarding the environmental consequences of agricultural biotechnology have addressed potential benefits, the discussions have largely concentrated on general issues, such as whether agricultural biotechnology will result in less pesticide use and whether agricultural biotechnology will protect a larger area of wildlife habitat from conversion to agricultural uses than other agronomic methods.