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Zaragossa, 14 October -
Five key principles are all it takes to ensure the
successful co-existence of GM, organic and conventional crops. This is
according to a new research paper released today by PG Economics.
Co-existence is
currently high on the agenda of opponents to GM technology who believe that
GM crops cannot ‘co-exist’ along side their organic and conventional
equivalents and are calling on EU governments to set up
liability rules to
protect non GM farmers from ‘contamination’. The
research paper “Co-existence
of GM and non GM crops: current experience and key principles”
– highlights fundamental flaws in many of their ‘exaggerated’
arguments.
According to the report,
on-farm experience in North America and Spain since 1995 has demonstrated
that through the application of sensible farm level practices (e.g. the separation of crops by space
and time, good communication with neighbours and the use of good husbandry
practices) successful co-existence between GM and non GM crops has been
possible, and without government involvement.
Speaking in
Zaragossa, Spain, Graham
Brookes, author of the report said:
“Like all good farm management practice, the co-existence of
different agricultural production systems requires mutual respect and shared
responsibly by all parties including both GM and non GM growers. If you
apply the five key principles outlined in the report and adapt these to
local circumstances on a crop by crop basis, effective co-existence
practices can be achieved.”
The five key principles1 are:
1.
Context:
Determine the relative commercial and agronomic importance of different crop
production systems based on planted area, production and economic value.
2.
Consistency:
Producers should be consistent in dealing with the adventitious presence of
all unwanted material, including GM, organic and conventional.
3.
Proportionality: All co-existence measures established should be proportionate, non
discriminatory and science-based.
4.
Equity (fairness): Any economic liability provisions (that compensate non GM growers for
adventitious presence of GM) should be equally applicable to GM growers for
adventitious presence of non GM crops. No one sector should be able to veto
another – access and choice works both ways
5.
Practicality:
All co-existence measures should be based on legal, practical and scientific
realities.
Co-existence is based on the premise that farmers should be
free to cultivate the crops of their choice using the production system they
prefer whether they are GM, conventional or organic. Despite claims from
opponents, co-existence is not a crop safety issue but one that
relates solely to the production and marketing of crops approved for use.
ENDS
For
further details contact Graham Brookes:
t: +44 (0)1303
840958
e-mail:
graham.brookes@pgeconomics.co.uk
OPEN PDF DOCUEMENT:
Co-existence of GM and
non-GM crops: current experience and key principles
Co-existence in
North American agriculture: can GM crops be grown with conventional and
organic crops?
GM and non GM arable crops can
co-exist in the EU without problems: says new research paper
Co-existence
of GM and non GM crops in the UK can occur without problems
Co-existence of GM
and non GM crops: economic and market perspectives - PDF format
Co-existence
of GM and non GM crops: case study of maize grown in Spain - PDF format
Co-existence
of GM and non GM crops in the UK can occur without problems - PDF format
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