GM and non GM arable crops can co-exist in the EU without problems: says new research paper

14th May 2004 PG Economics Ltd today announced the release of its latest research paper on GM and non GM crop co-existence – Co-existence of GM and non GM crops: the non GM and organic context in the EU 

The key findings of the report are:

1. GM crops can co-exist with conventional and organic crops in the EU without causing any economic or marketing problems.
2. Claims by anti GM groups that GM and non GM crops cannot co-exist are exaggerated.
3. Attaching onerous co-existence and liability conditions to GM crop plantings would be inequitable and disproportionate.

These conclusions are based on the context of the crops in which GM crops are being developed and the extent to which non GM demand exists, the experiences of European arable farmers in successfully implementing and managing the co-existence of specialist crops with other crops for many years and practical, commercial experience of growing GM crops in North America.

If highly onerous GM crop stewardship conditions are applied to all EU farmers who might wish to grow GM crops, even though the vast majority of such crops would not be located near to organic-equivalent crops or conventional crops for which the non GM status is important, this would be disproportionate and inequitable.  In effect, conventional farmers, who account for 99.59% of the current, relevant EU arable crop farming area could be discouraged from adopting a new technology that is likely to deliver farm level benefits (yield gains, cost savings) and provide wider environmental gains (reduced pesticide use, switches to more environmentally benign herbicides, reduced levels of greenhouse gas emissions).

Market for non GM products in the EU

This market (ie, where buyers actively request that supplies are certified as being non GM) currently accounts for about 27% of total soybean/derivative use and 36% of total maize use.  For crops like oilseed rape and sugar beet, there is no real GM versus non GM market in the EU because, in the case of oilseed rape, no GM product is currently permitted for planting or importing for use, and in the case of sugar beet, no GM sugar beet crops are currently grown commercially anywhere in the world. 

Organic sector context

The share of EU crops planted to organic for which GM traits are currently available, or are likely to become commercially available in the next five years is extremely low (about 0.41%).  This very low level of importance reflects a combination of reasons including adverse agronomic factors (eg, the nutrient demanding nature of crops like oilseed rape), limited demand, and market preference for competing (imported) produce (eg, cane sugar).

Co-existence of GM and non GM crops

GM crops growing commercially in the EU and in North America have co-existed with conventional and organic crops without economic and commercial problems – only isolated instances have been reported of adventitious presence of GMOs occurring in organic crops, even in North America where GM crops dominate production of soybeans, maize and canola[1].

For the future, the likelihood of economic and commercial problems of co-existence arising remains very limited, even if a significant development of commercial GM crops and increased plantings of organic crops were to occur. 

Notes to editors

For further details contact Graham Brookes  Tel: +44 (0)1303 840958 or Peter Barfoot +44 (0) 1300 321501.  Email: peter.barfoot@pgeconomics.co.uk or graham.brookes@pgeconomics.co.uk

A pdf version of the paper is available on www.pgeconomics.co.uk