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

• The maize organisation since 1934

150 000 maize growers

• Maize in France : 1,5 million ha of grain maize1,4 million ha of silage maize25 000 ha of sweet corn48 000 ha of seed maize

The A.G.P.M. : French Corn Growers Association

An economic mission and trade-union

A lobbying mission at national and international levels

2 main missions

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

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

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 culture5 GM maize events authorised only for import andconsumption

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

• 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

Bt maize production in FranceBackground

2002 – 2004 Results

Operational Programme for Evaluation of Biotechnology Crops (POECB)

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

Project background

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”

Three programme objectives :

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

Results at the field level(case of representative plots)

Prevailing wind direction

=0.5% GM DNA

100 m

200 m

Bt maize

Conventional maize

200 m

<0.1% GM DNA

<0.1% GM DNA

<0.1% GM DNA

< 0.1% GM DNA

= 0.2% GM DNA

= 0.15% GM DNA

100 m

200 m

Bt maize

Conventional maize < 0.1% GM DNA

200 m

< 0.1% GM DNACross-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%

Setting up a Quality Management System with traceability procedures at each step of the maize chain

• sowing• harvest• transport• drying• storage

A controlled harvestHarvest is planned after sampling analysis to measure the cross pollination rate,Checks on maize harvester, trucks and transport

Drying and storagePCR analysis of maize batches

Traceability from field to storage

Sowing

Flowering

Pre-harvest

Harvest Dryer

Transport/storage

Seed purity analysis and seed

drill checkl

Pollen dispersal

evaluation

Sampling strategy &

PCR analysis for harvest plan

Harvester check

Control procedures & PCR analysis

Transport

Trailers control

procedures

Trailers control

procedures

Analysis and controls along the maize chain to better identify contamination, …

… to control critical factors and ensure traceability

From seed … to feed industryHow to ensure traceability?

Control procedures

Feed industry

Trials designed to assist the maize sector

Gathering scientific data

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.

PACB

Programme d’Accompagnement des Cultures issues des Biotechnologies

PACB

Programme d’Accompagnement des Cultures issues des Biotechnologies

Co-existence guidelines

Dissemination of technological information

PACB

Programme d’Accompagnement des Cultures issues des Biotechnologies

PACB

Programme d’Accompagnement des Cultures issues des Biotechnologies

• Information

• Buffer zone (10 m border strip)

• Cleaning of equipment

• Quality Management System

A basis for co-existence legislation in France

Professional standard guidelines

Benefit n°1 : yield protection

Economical risk : larvae number > 0,8/plt

35%

20%

25%

20%Low risk

low attack

Economicalrisk

Direct interest

Between 300 000 to 700 000 ha

Grain maize production concerned

Benefit n°1 : yield protectionEconomical 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 %

Benefit n°1 : yield protectionAverage situation

Type 1 Tr. 2 Tr. Bt

Yield (t) 10 10 10,7

Cost (€) 50 100 45

Gain (€) * Bt/other

+ 75 + 125 -

* Price basis : 100 €/t

1<Larvae number/plt<2

Benefit n°2 : grain quality

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

BT1 C1 BT2 C2 BT3 C3

Fumonisines B1

Fumonisines B2

(ppb)

3 examples (2005)

Benefit 3 : Reduce the impact on environmentNon-targeted insects population evolution

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

5-ju

in

12-ju

in

19-ju

in

26-ju

in

3-ju

il

10-ju

il

17-ju

il

24-ju

il

31-ju

il

7-ao

ût

14-a

oût

21-a

oût

28-a

oût

4-se

pt

11-s

ept

18-s

ept

25-s

ept

2-oc

t

Dates

Bt maize

Isogenic spraid

Isogenic

Spraying 9/07

Arvalis, 2002

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

Thank you for your attention