Genetically modified maize has been successfully grown on a commercial
basis in Spain for several years. A study of farmers’ experience of
growing Bt maize in the Huesca region has recently been undertaken by
Brookes West; a full report will be published shortly.
Some of the key conclusions from the report are summarised below:
- Spain is an important maize-growing country, accounting for
approximately 11% of the total EU crop.
- In the 2001/2002 growing season, 20,000-25,000 hectares of insect
resistant GM maize (Bt maize) was grown. This is 4-5% of the total
Spanish maize crop. Growing on this scale has taken place since 1998,
but further expansion has been restricted through a voluntary agreement
by the seed supplier (Syngenta).
- There is no size barrier to the successful use of the technology: in
Spain, Bt maize is being grown on farms of only 50 hectares on average.
- The Bt maize grown in Spain is sold through the usual channels for
animal feed use. The supply chain has not seen a need for segregation,
and normal commodity prices apply. Indeed, grain quality is perceived to
be higher because of the lower levels of mycotoxins.
- Given the future availability of the Bt trait in all leading
varieties and the dropping of voluntary seed supply restrictions, it is
estimated that GM seed would account for 36% of all maize production in
Spain; some 173,000 hectares in total.
- At this scale of use, a conservative estimate of the average
improvement in yield (a range of 1.8 to 2.5%) suggests an increased crop
of 88,000 to 125,000 tonnes. This would give the farmers an extra €11 –
15 million in income at current prices.
- The primary pest which is controlled in this crop is the European
Corn Borer. Because of the difficulty of timing treatment accurately, Bt
maize is more effective at reducing yield loss than insecticides used on
conventional crops. For the Huesca region, in areas of high pest
pressure, use of Bt maize gives an average yield increase of 15% where
no insecticide was previously used, and 10% even where the conventional
crop had been sprayed.
- There is a cost premium of €18-19 per hectare for the GM seed. This
is more than offset by the increased yield and savings in spraying
costs.
- In the Huesca region, the average income rose by nearly €150 per
hectare of maize, representing an increase of 12.9% in the gross margin
for the farmer.
- For farmers who do not normally spray to control pests, a yield
increase of only 1.5% is necessary to cover the increased cost of seed.
Even in areas of low to medium pest pressure, this is likely to be
exceeded in a significant proportion of crop years.
- For such low infestation areas, the use of Bt maize acts as a form
of insurance, offering increased certainty of consistently high yields.
For this reason, some farmers choose to plant Bt maize even though the
impact on profitability may be neutral when averaged over several years.
Source: ABE
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Full Report PDF
GM Maize in Spain
GM Maize in Spain Summary
Bt Fact Sheet
European Corn Borer Fact
Sheet
Long term success of Bt corn on controlling European Corn Borer
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