JRC-ESTO New case studies on the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops in European agriculture

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Publications : Agriculture : Biotechnology



New case studies on the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops in European agriculture, A. Messean, F. Angevin, M. Gómez-Barbero, K. Menrad and E. Rodríguez-Cerezo (2006) EUR No: 22102 EN, ISBN: 92-79-01231-2, (OPOCE): LF-NA-22102-EN-C

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Abstract

On the basis of the model simulations and expert opinions gathered in this report, for the case studies covered (maize, sugar-beet, cotton), coexistence in seed production is technically feasible for a threshold of 0.5%, with few or no changes in current practices. For maize, this holds true for coexistence between non-GM and GM seed production. However, coexistence of non-GM maize seed production with GM maize crops would need changes in current practices, namely introduction of larger isolation distances (from the current 100-200 m distances to 400-600 m).

If GM presence in seeds does not exceed 0.5%, coexistence in crop production is technically feasible for the target threshold of 0.9%. For maize, additional measures are needed for some specific situations defined by climatic, landscape and agronomic parameters. The report evaluates measures found to be technically simple and effective. These measures, targeting GM maize growers, have variable farm-level economic consequences that will affect the farmer's decision whether or not to grow GM maize varieties.

The report illustrates the power of novel gene flow models that actually take into account the spatial patterns of landscapes and agricultural practices. It is now possible to estimate levels of adventitious GM presence in non-GM production resulting from multiple fields and sources, over extended time periods, propose numerous coexistence measures and quickly test their feasibility and consequences at regional level.

The information obtained from model simulations, such as the decision tables presented in this report, is valuable for helping decision-makers set up coexistence strategies. Models simulations are not a substitute for field experiments, but a way of overcoming the limitations (time scale, spatial coverage, costs) inherent to field work.

Contents

Foreword
Table of Contents
Executive Summary and Conclusions
Introduction
Rationale for this coexistence study
Objectives
Scope
General methodology

I. Maize
I.1. Biology
I.2. Background
I.3. Methodology
I.4 Effect of genetic structure
I.5. Crop production
I.6. Seed production
I.7. General conclusions for maize

II. Sugar Beet
II.1. Background
II.2. Sources of admixture
II.3. Coexistence in sugar beet crop production
II.4. Seed production
II.5. Conclusions on coexistence in sugar beet production
II.6. Weed beet: an agronomic issue to be considered 62 II.7. General conclusion for sugar beet

III. Cotton
III.1. Background
III.2. Identification of possible sources of admixture
III.3. Definition of farm types
III.4. Estimation of Levels of Adventitious Admixture
III.5. Practices Adapted to Coexistence Scenarios
III.6. Economic effects of coexistence measures in cotton production

IV. Effect of Time and Seed Purity on the Level of Adventitious GM Presence in the Case of Rapeseed
IV. 1. Material and methods
IV. 2. Effect of seed purity on the adventitious presence of GM in non-GM crop production
IV. 3. Effect of time on adventitious GM presence in harvests
IV. 4. Use of farm-saved seeds
IV. 5. Effect of the genotype of GM varieties
IV. 6. Conclusion

Bibliography
Figures and Insets
Tables
Acronyms and Definitions

Appendix 1: Description of the MAPOD€-maize model (Angevin et al, 2001)
Appendix 2: Example of field patterns used for the landscape scale study in Poitou-Charentes (France)
Appendix 3: Percentage of the area where adventitious GM presence in the-trailer is below 0.1% or 0.9% for non-GM strips of 0, 9 and 18 m
Appendix 4: Effect of difference in flowering time
Appendix 4a: For inter-cluster coexistence
Appendix 4b: For intra-cluster coexistence
Appendix 5: Costs of buffer zones for maize crop production at landscape level in France
Appendix 6: Review of gene flow models
Appendix 6a: Summary of mechanisms considered by each model
Appendix 6b: For each model, summary of model characteristics
Appendix 7: Impact of the amount of pollen produced by both GM and non-GM varieties on the rate of cross-pollination in the case of maize seed production
Appendix 8: Opportunity costs of combining coexistence measures for maize seed production in France
Appendix 9: Seed production techniques used in beet seed production
Appendix 10: Summary of expert opinion on each of the specific practices used to limit admixture levels to 0.1%, 0.3% and 0.5% in sugar beet seeds and the feasibility of these measures.
Appendix 11: Description of the GeneSys€-beet model (Sester et al, 2003)
Appendix 12: Farm types in the sugar beet study
Appendix 13a: Location of the agricultural area chosen for simulation in Santerre and layout of the 149 chosen fields around a village
Appendix 13b: Location of the agricultural area chosen for simulation in Bavaria and layout of the 100 chosen fields.
Appendix 14: Scenarios used for sugar beet simulations