Co-existence of genetically modified crops with conventional and organic crops

By Birte Boelt & Karl Tolstrup, Danish Institute for Agricultural Sciences

Production of genetically modified crops outside EU is increasing, and the European Commission has initiated discussions “to clarify the need, and possible options, for agronomic and other measures to ensure the viability of conventional and organic farming and their sustainable co-existence with genetically modified crops”.

In November 2003, The Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences will host the first European Conference on Co-existence of genetically modified crops with conventional and organic crops.

In conjunction with the conference, DARCOF will organise a pre-conference tour, which will introduce both research and practical organic farming and food production in Denmark together with some of the problems, which the sector is facing due to genetically modified crops.

The Conference will address the question of

• How to maintain the farmers’ free choice to grow the crop they choose – GM, conventional or organic?
• What are the implications of introducing genetically modified crops in European cropping systems?
• Which protective measures are needed to prevent / minimize admixtures – within the crop production system?
• What are the costs?

GMO is not allowed in organic farming. However, the development of the organic farming systems is at the moment dependent on the use of non-organic seed, feed and nutrients.

With an increased use of GM-crops in conventional farming systems it is expected that the risk of GM-contamination will increase through the use of non-organic products. Consequently, it is concluded that the development of organic farming rely on the availability of GMO-free organic seed, feed and nutrients as well as the possibility to sell the organic products. At the moment the availability of organic seed is insufficient to supply the demands in a number of species. Some of these species are cross-pollinated and they are characterised by a high risk of contamination by GMO.

Possible sources of adventitious presence of GM material in conventional and organic productions have been identified as seed, pollen and straw. Transmission may occur by wind, insects, and hybridisation with wild relatives, volunteer seed, or by harvesting machines, transport equipment and storage facilities during the handling of products.

The most evident way of reducing GMP-contamination to organic farming is to exclude non-organic products. However, under the prevailing conditions this will affect the organic farming systems dramatically.

The report The consequences of genetically modified crops for organic farming (DARCOF, 2002) identifies risks of plant biotech development for the organic production in Denmark.

In 2002 a working group was established by the request of the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries with the aim of evaluating co-existence between genetically modified, conventional and organic crops. An English summary of the working group report presented in 2003 is available on-line (pdf).