GMOs GMOs IOPD IX San Francisco June 16—17, 2006 GMOs: CURRENT STATUS.

GMOsGMOs

IOPD IX

San Francisco June 16—17, 2006

GMOs: CURRENT STATUSGMOs: CURRENT STATUS

FROM 1995 to 2005: VERY RAPID GROWTHFROM 1995 to 2005: VERY RAPID GROWTH

1995: First marketing of GMOs

In 2005: 90 million hectares (80 million ha in 2004)

8.5 million producers

21countries including 11 developing countries

Annual Report of the ISAAA: International Service for the Agrobiotech Applications.

GMOs: INTERNATIONAL GROWTHGMOs: INTERNATIONAL GROWTH

Soybeans remains the most widespread GM crop worldwide, with 54.5 Mha ahead of corn (21.2 Mha, cotton (9.8 Mha) and rapeseed (4.6 Mha). 6% of acreage under soybeans is GM versus 28% under cotton, 17% under rapeseed and 15% under corn.

MAJOR GM CROPSMAJOR GM CROPS


Mha

Acreage under GMOs

% of GMOs2005 20042004

Soybeans

Corn

Cotton

Rapeseed

54.4

21.2

09.8

04.6

48.448.4

19.319.3

09.009.0

04.304.3

60

15

28

17

Herbicides tolerant 71%

Insect resistant

Varieties with both characteristics 10 Mha (gene stacking).

Anticipated: . Nitrogen air fixation (fertilization). Resistance to drought. Qualitative changes

MAIN FEATURES:MAIN FEATURES:HERBICIDE TOLERANT - INSECT RESISTANTHERBICIDE TOLERANT - INSECT RESISTANT


MAJOR COUNTRIES (in Mha)MAJOR COUNTRIES (in Mha)

• USAUSA 50 Mha Soybeans, Corn, Cotton, Rapeseed

• ArgentinaArgentina 17 Soybeans, Corn, Cotton

• Brazil Brazil 10 Soybeans (out of 22 million hectares)

• CanadaCanada 6 Rapeseed, Corn, Soybeans

• ChinaChina 3 Cotton

• ParaguayParaguay 2 Soybeans

• IndiaIndia 1.5 Cotton

Remark: Brazil, its decision to authorize is recent (March 2004):Remark: Brazil, its decision to authorize is recent (March 2004):Rapid growth expected in the next few years: 5 million ha in 2004 and 10 million Rapid growth expected in the next few years: 5 million ha in 2004 and 10 million in 2005.in 2005.


5 Member States are growing GMOs5 Member States are growing GMOs

Acreage in production

Spain 50,000 haFrance 500 to 1,000 ha (5,000 to 6,000 considered in 2006)

Italy 780 haGermany 400 haCzech Republic 300 ha

Cultivation of GM faces strong opposition,Cultivation of GM faces strong opposition,but progress is being made neverthelessbut progress is being made nevertheless

GMOs: SITUATION IN THE EUROPEAN UNIONGMOs: SITUATION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

A MAJOR PATH TO IMPROVEMENTSA MAJOR PATH TO IMPROVEMENTSBUT THAT STIRS CONTROVERSY AND PASSIONSBUT THAT STIRS CONTROVERSY AND PASSIONS

Arguments AGAINSTArguments AGAINST Arguments FORArguments FOR

Food risk(mostly mentioned when GMOs were beginning to spread)

Agricultural productivity(yields, lower inputs)

Environmental riskThe spreading of the gene

Environmental gains(decrease in chemical treatments, controlling soil erosion)

Ethics and politics(transgression of nature and appropriation of the living by a few multinational corporations)

The quality of farm produce(the second generation of GMOs brought qualitative changes)

GMOs: PROGRESS AND OBSTACLESGMOs: PROGRESS AND OBSTACLES

• USA – Canada - ArgentinaUSA – Canada - Argentina Well accepted

• BrazilBrazil Opposition is real: a decision has unlocked the situation

• EuropeEuropeVery strong obstacles

GMOs: DIFFERENT ANSWERS DEPENDING ON GMOs: DIFFERENT ANSWERS DEPENDING ON THE COUNTRYTHE COUNTRY

Carthagena ProtocolCarthagena Protocol

• 2002: recognition of the precautionary principleprecautionary principle

• Mach 2006: agreement on mandatory labelingmandatory labeling (applicable in 6 years) for international trade.

WTO Compliance with SPS and ADPIC rules

GMOs: INTERNATIONAL RULES ARE BEING GMOs: INTERNATIONAL RULES ARE BEING DRAFTEDDRAFTED

EUROPE: A PARADOXICAL SITUATIONEUROPE: A PARADOXICAL SITUATION

• A major GMO importerA major GMO importer (soybeans), and of meat from (soybeans), and of meat from livestock farming using GMOs.livestock farming using GMOs.

• Production that is still insignificant Production that is still insignificant (the planting of only (the planting of only a few varieties is authorized, problems in implementing co-a few varieties is authorized, problems in implementing co-existence).existence).


• Politicians are reluctant to make decisions.

• European Parliament: a very strong opposition.

• Some Regions (40 regions within 6 countries) claiming a right to declare themselves GMO-free.

Decision-making is left to the European Commission as a last resort.

EU: PUBLIC OPINION IS HARD TO PERSUADEEU: PUBLIC OPINION IS HARD TO PERSUADE


Citizens declare themselves reluctant, but how would Citizens declare themselves reluctant, but how would consumers behave?consumers behave?

European consumers are not necessarily prepared to pay more for GMO-free produce.

The responsibility of the retailer companiesThe responsibility of the retailer companies

“GMOs-free” has been used as a marketing argument…


AUTHORIZATIONAUTHORIZATION (2001/18)

Risk assessment (EFSA) Renewable 10 year authorization Monitoring after commercialization

MARKETINGMARKETING (1829 and 1830/2003)

Labeling for food and feed Traceability: along entire food chain Threshold 0.9 % for unintentional contamination

Under discussion: coexistence and seeds (everything dealing with cultivation)


Established legal provisions

Subsidiarity principle: The Commission has set guidelinesMember States must define national rules (in compliance with the guidelines)

Guidelines: - The two types of crops must be made possible everywhere,

under viable economic conditions

- Liability issues in the event of an accidental GMO dissemination shall be assessed in terms of economic loss

- Possibility of implementing insurance systems or compensation funds


COEXISTENCECOEXISTENCE:

National laws:

Spain: real experience in coexistence (50,000 hectares of BT corn)

Germany, Denmark, Hungary, Portugal, Czech Republic, and France enacted laws (or are debating new legislation)


COEXISTENCECOEXISTENCE:

Waiting for a Commission proposal setting unintentional contamination thresholds

Requesting an economically viable threshold: 0.5%

(A study by the Joint Research Center recently concluded that a threshold of 0.5% for seeds was compatible with the 0.9% threshold for crops)


SEEDSSEEDS:

A need to maintain A need to maintain competitivenesscompetitiveness of European of European productionsproductions::

- Openness to innovation: support for research, and for the expansion of biotechnologies in the European Union

- Implementation of cultivation practices ensuring coexistence under economically viable conditions

- Equal treatment between Community production and imports.

Importance of communication and transparency towards consumers and citizens

EUROPEANS PRODUCERS IN THE FACE OF GMOs EUROPEANS PRODUCERS IN THE FACE OF GMOs

GMOs GMOs IOPD IX San Francisco June 16—17, 2006 GMOs: CURRENT STATUS.

Documents

Transcript of GMOs GMOs IOPD IX San Francisco June 16—17, 2006 GMOs: CURRENT STATUS.