"Scenarios for co-existence of genetically modified, conventional and organic crops in European agriculture"

Co-existence means that farmers should be able to freely adopt the agricultural production system they prefer. Production systems can be differentiated into conventional systems including GM crops, conventional systems using non-GM crops and organic farming systems using exclusively non-GM crops.

Of course, different types of agricultural production are not naturally separated. The cultivation and use of GMOs is strictly regulated in the European Union. However, the adventitious presence of GM crops in organic or in conventional crops cannot be excluded during cultivation, harvest, transport, storage and processing.

If GM crops increase their share in EU agriculture, the question arises as to whether adventitious presence of GM crops in organic or in conventional crops at farm and at regional level could significantly increase if current farming practices are maintained.

In the Communication on "Life Sciences and Biotechnology - A strategy for Europe", the Commission has committed itself to take "initiatives to develop, in partnership with Member States, farmers and other private operators, research and pilot projects 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 GM crops".

This study which was commissioned by the Agriculture Directorate-General and co-ordinated by the Commission's Joint Research Centre, is a first step towards addressing these issues and trying to assess the consequences of the introduction and possible increase of GM crops, and to identify appropriate measures at the farm level to minimise the adventitious presence of GMOs below the thresholds laid down in Commission legislation (for labelling of GM food).

The study also aims at developing possible monitoring systems needed for verification, and at estimating the costs of relevant changes in farming practices, monitoring systems and of potential insurance systems to cover possible financial losses due to adventitious presence of GM crops in non-GM crops.

Published in May 2002.

Full text [pdf, 1MB]

Press release [22/05/2002]