Managing the coexistence of conventional and genetically modified maize from field to silo

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Managing the co-existence of conventional and
genetically modified maize from field to silo

• A French initiative
• Pascal COQUIN

AGPM23-25, avenue de Neuilly75116 PARIS, France
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The A.G.P.M. French Corn Growers Association

• The maize organisation since 1934
• ? 150 000 maize growers
• Maize in France 1,5 million ha of grain maize
• 1,4 million ha of silage maize
• 25 000 ha of sweet corn
• 48 000 ha of seed maize

? 2 main missions
? An economic mission and trade-union
? A lobbying mission at national and
international levels
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A.G.P.M. position on the G.M. maize

• ? Maize growers must have the possibility to get
  all the production inputs adapted to their farm,
  the way of production and the markets they
  choosed conventional, organic or G.M..

? The G.M. technology is subordinated to precise
and rigorous authorization s procedures
conducted by scientific, lawful and political
authorities ? on the G.M. event by the
E.F.S.A. and the national food safety
agencies ? on the G.M. varieties by the
national Agencies in charge of the
variety registration
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A.G.P.M. position on the G.M. maize
? The G.M. varieties have assets - on
a technical view ? development of
European Corn Borer Stem Corn Borer ?
News pests (Corn Root worm) ? problem of
mycotoxins - on a environmental view
? reduced and reasoned use of the plant
protection products - on an economic view
? protection of the yield ? better
competitivity ? real markets for G.M.
maize
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Brief regulatory situation
? European level one of the most strong
regulation in the World ? release into the
environment, ? traceability, ?
labelling, ? post market control. By
directive 2001/18 following 90/220
Regulations 1829/2003, 1830/2003, 65/2004,
641/2004 3 GM maize events authorised for
culture 5 GM maize events authorised only for
import and consumption
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Brief regulatory situation
? French level - authorisation to
grow the 3 GM maize events in authorised
varieties - coexistence rules not yet at
official level but professional rules are used
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Bt maize production in France
Background

• 1997 - 1998 15 Bt maize varieties authorised
  in France
• 1998 between 1 800 and 3 000 ha cultivated
• 1999 ? 2004 - No commercial production, no
  market
• - Few studies on co-existence and benefits
• - EU rules (0,9 for labelling)
• - P.O.E.C.B. defining professional rules

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Operational Programme for Evaluation of
Biotechnology Crops (POECB)
2002 2004 Results
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Project background

• an experiment to examine traceability of GM
  maize crops under controlled natural
  conditions from field to silo
• Result an analysis of the conditions governing
  co-existence between conventional and GM maize
  based on the specificity of each crop
• a programme conducted by a Scientific Committee
  made up of experts from research and
  industrial organisations

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Three programme objectives

• Feasability study of coexistence between
  conventional and GM maize crops in real field
  conditions
• thematic pollen dispersal
• thematic traceability
• Analysing benefits of maize tolerant to ECB and
  sesamia (Bt technology) and providing platforms
  for biovigilance studies
• thematic biovigilance
• Obtaining operational scientific information on
  crop traceability and economics from field to
  storage
• thematic co-existence management

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POECB A three-year experiment

• Identical crop configuration
• 0,5 to 2,5 ha of Bt maize surrounded by
  isogenic maize
• Worst-case scenario conditions to obtain
  maximum cross-fertilization
• Bt maize and conventional maize are isogenic
• Synchronous pollen emission
• Conventional maize is sowed downwind of the Bt
  emitter crop

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Results at the field level (case of
representative plots)
Prevailing wind direction
Cross-pollination levels in the conventional
field identical in size to the Bt plot, and sowed
downwind, are less than 0.9 .
LQ 0.1 LD 0.01
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Traceability from field to storage

• Setting up a Quality Management System with
  traceability procedures at each step of the maize
  chain
• sowing
• harvest
• transport
• drying
• storage
• A controlled harvest
• Harvest is planned after sampling analysis to
  measure the cross pollination rate,
• Checks on maize harvester, trucks and transport
• Drying and storage
• PCR analysis of maize batches

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From seed to feed industry How to ensure
traceability?
Analysis and controls along the maize chain to
better identify contamination,
Transport/storage
Feed industry
Sowing
Pre-harvest
Transport
Harvest
Flowering
Dryer
Seed purity analysis and seed drill checkl
Pollen dispersal evaluation
Sampling strategy PCR analysis for harvest plan
Harvester check
Control procedures PCR analysis
Trailers control procedures
Trailers control procedures
Control procedures
to control critical factors and ensure
traceability
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Trials designed to assist the maize sector
Gathering scientific data
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From POECB to PACB

• 16 maize producers
• 100 ha of Bt maize
• 7 regions in France
• GM plots from 1 to 25 ha
• Utilisation of the scientific information
  gathered by POECB with a Good Practice Guide for
  GMO cropping, safeguarding the specificity of
  each type of production.

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Co-existence guidelines
Dissemination of technological information

• Information

• Buffer zone (10 m border strip)

• Cleaning of equipment

• Quality Management System

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A basis for co-existence legislation in France
Professional standard guidelines
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Benefit n1 yield protection
Grain maize production concerned
Economical risk larvae number gt 0,8/plt
Between 300 000 to 700 000 ha
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Benefit n1 yield protection
Economical interest for the farmer

• Yield protection level (on average) 7 70
• Cost of an insecticide treatment 50
• Cost of the technology 40 to 50
• Level of efficiency
• Insecticide 75
• Bt 100

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Benefit n1 yield protection
Average situation
Price basis 100 /t 1ltLarvae number/pltlt2
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Benefit n2 grain quality
3 examples (2005)
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Benefit 3 Reduce the impact on environment
Non-targeted insects population evolution
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Tomorrow crop perspectives

• 2006 vs 2005 Bt maize development confirmation
  within the European Union
• - Czech Republic ? 1 200 ha (x 5),
• - Germany ? 1 000 ha (x 4),
• - France ? 5 200 ha (x 10),
• - Portugal ? 1 250 ha ( 50 ),
• - Spain ? 65 000 ha ( 25 ),

• 2007 and after increase of Bt maize area based
  on 2006 technical results

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Thank you for your attention