Policies for the regulation of coexistence between GM and conventional crops

Pollen-mediated gene flow is one of the main concerns associated with the introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops, since growers of GM varieties normally do not take into account its possible impact on conventional and organic growers therefore generating negative externalities. Should a premium for non-GM varieties emerge on the market, 'contamination' with GM pollen would generate a revenue loss for growers of non-GM varieties. The existence of such externalities has led the European Union (EU) to put forward the concept of coexistence in order to guarantee farmers' freedom to plant both conventional and GM varieties without generating economic losses to conventional farmers. The first part of this paper develops a simple economic model analysing the problem of pollen-mediated gene flow as a particular kind of production externality. The model, although simple, provides useful insights into the policy needed to regulate coexistence. Since pollen-mediated gene flow is distance-dependent, the externalities will depend on the spatial structure of GM adoption in the landscape. The second part of the paper, taking GM herbicide tolerant oilseed rape (Brassica napus) as a model crop, uses a Monte Carlo experiment to generate data and then estimate the effect of some important policy variables (i.e. number of GM and conventional fields in the landscape, width of buffer zones and spatial aggregation) on the magnitude of the externality associated with pollen-mediated gene flow. Our results show that buffer areas on conventional fields are more effective than those on GM fields and that the degree of spatial aggregation exerts the largest marginal effect on the externality to conventional growers. The implications of the results for the coexistence policies in the EU are then discussed.coexistence, pollen-mediated gene flow, Monte Carlo simulation, Crop Production/Industries,

A Descriptive Analysis of Conventional, Organic and GM Crop and Certified Seed Production in the EU

Recently, the introduction of GM crops and GM seeds in agricultural production in the EU and elsewhere has raised the issue of adventitious presence of GM seeds in conventional seed lots. Article 21(2) of Directive 2001/18/EC provides that for products where adventitious or technically unavoidable traces of authorised GMOs cannot be excluded, a minimum threshold may be established below which the products shall not have to be labelled in accordance with the provisions of the Directive. In the absence of such thresholds, which is the current status of seed production, the legislation requires the labelling of conventional seed lots which contain any detectable adventitious traces of GM seeds (which have been authorised for cultivation under Community legislation) (Directive 2001/18/EC). The legal requirement is not new and has been in place since labelling provisions were introduced under Directive 90/220/EEC and maintained under Directive 2001/18/EC (which replaced Directive 90/220/EEC). It remains illegal to place on the market conventional seed lots that contain GM seeds that have not been approved for cultivation. This has been the case since Directive 90/220/EEC entered into force in 1991. The Commission is currently examining the possibility to establish thresholds and the impact associated with the introduction of different threshold values, as regards to agronomic (technical) feasibility of production and to economic impacts for seed producers, farmers, food and feed producers, and the necessary freedom of choice between genetically modified, conventional and organic crops. In this context, understanding the current status and likely evolution of crop and seed production in the EU is necessary as a basis to carry any further assessment of the effects of the regulation of adventitious GM presence in seeds. Understanding the likely distribution of GM commercial crop and GM seed production in the EU is also important when looking at the adventitious presence of GM material in conventional seeds. Data on the likely adoption and regional distribution of GM crops in the EU for short-medium term could be significant for this purpose. The aim of this study is to gather basic information/data on the EU crop and seed production for a number of crops. The crops under considerations are maize, sugar beet/fodder beet, cotton, oilseed rape, soybean and potato. Data will refer to conventional, GM and organic varieties. With respect to seed production, in the present study (given the time constraint) the attention will be focused on certified seeds. Also the study will focus on commercial seed production, therefore excluding farm saved seeds from the analysis. Given these premises, the study's objectives entail: � Collection of data on volume, acreage and trade of crops in EU 25 and major trading partners (e.g. U.S.) and identification and analysis of main changes over time and analysis of future developments. � Collection of data on volume, acreage and trade of certified seed production in relevant Member States, analysis of main changes over time and identification of main future developments in key MS. � Identification of main seed producing regions in the EU and collection of information/data relative to the potential adoption by farmers of GM varieties of the above mentioned crops in these regions.JRC.J.5 - Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Econom

Effetti del cambiamento climatico e indicatori di stress per le specie ittiche

La definizione di strategie di adattamento ai cambiamenti climatici si articola su un ampio spettro di scale spaziali e temporali, e richiede un concerto di azioni diverse, integrate e sussidiarie a seconda del contesto considerato. L’Autorità di bacino del fiume Arno ha sviluppato da tempo una linea di ricerca tesa a valutare le peculiarità del cambiamento globale in atto nel territorio del bacino, attraverso l’attività di uno specifico laboratorio territoriale permanente. I risultati mostrano la validità dell’approccio e l’evidente deriva che caratterizza la non stazionarietà del regime delle portate alle scale d’interesse per la pianificazione territoriale. Ai fini del presente lavoro si pone particolare attenzione alla deriva del regime di portata che, a partire dagli anni ’70, mostra una sensibile riduzione della disponibilità idrica e una progressiva asimmetria rispetto agli usuali contributi stagionali. Tale effetto al suolo rispecchia gli aspetti del cambiamento climatico in termini di distribuzione spaziale e temporale delle precipitazioni e dell’andamento delle temperature. Tra gli indicatori di vulnerabilità l’evoluzione dell’Area Disponibile Ponderata (ADP, Bovee et al. 1998), in funzione dei diversi regimi, si è mostrata un indicatore efficace al quale è possibile affiancare specifici segnali di stress. Per questo si è effettuato un rilievo di dettaglio del fondo dell’alveo in un tronco posto nella sezione di chiusura del bacino laboratorio e, fissata la specie bersaglio nel barbo in fase riproduttiva, si è calcolata l’ADP utilizzando un modello idrodinamico bidimensionale a elementi finiti. Si è poi effettuata l’analisi della serie storica (quasi secolare) delle portate osservate scegliendo, come riferimento, la permanenza della portata media giornaliera al disotto del 50% e del 70% dell’ADP per due giorni consecutivi ed oltre. I risultati mostrano una forte dinamica del dato che, sopratutto negli ultimi dieci anni, indica un incremento notevole del numero di eventi e dei giorni di permanenza. Mostrano inoltre la validità dell’approccio seguito che tende a fornire una indispensabile dimensione temporale all’analisi alla scala del meso- e del microhabitat

The extent to which potential benefits to EU farmers of adopting transgenic crops are reduced by cost of compliance with coexistence regulations

This article forecasts the extent to which the potential benefits of adopting transgenic crops may be reduced by costs of compliance with coexistence regulations applicable in various member states of the EU. A dynamic economic model is described and used to calculate the potential yield and gross margin of a set of crops grown in a selection of typical rotation scenarios. The model simulates varying levels of pest, weed, and drought pressures, with associated management strategies regarding pesticide and herbicide application, and irrigation. We report on the initial use of the model to calculate the net reduction in gross margin attributable to coexistence costs for insect-resistant (IR) and herbicide-tolerant (HT) maize grown continuously or in a rotation, HT soya grown in a rotation, HT oilseed rape grown in a rotation, and HT sugarbeet grown in a rotation. Conclusions are drawn about conditions favoring inclusion of a transgenic crop in a crop rotation, having regard to farmers’ attitude toward risk

Interdisciplinary approaches to zoonotic disease

Zoonotic infections are on the increase worldwide, but most research into the biological, environmental and life science aspects of these infections has been conducted in separation. In this review we bring together contemporary research in these areas to suggest a new, symbiotic framework which recognises the interaction of biological, economic, psychological, and natural and built environmental drivers in zoonotic infection and transmission. In doing so, we propose that some contemporary debates in zoonotic research could be resolved using an expanded framework which explicitly takes into account the combination of motivated and habitual human behaviour, environmental and biological constraints, and their interactions

The impact of secondary pests on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops

The intensification of agriculture and the development of synthetic insecticides enabled worldwide grain production to more than double in the last third of the 20th century. However, the heavy dependence and, in some cases, overuse of insecticides has been responsible for negative environmental and ecological impacts across the globe, such as a reduction in biodiversity, insect resistance to pesticides, negative effects on nontarget species (e.g. natural enemies) and the development of secondary pests. The use of recombinant DNA technology to develop genetically engineered (GE) insect resistant crops could mitigate many of the negative side effects of pesticides. One such genetic alteration enables crops to express toxic crystalline (Cry) proteins from the soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Despite the widespread adoption of Bt crops, there are still a range of unanswered questions concerning longer term agro-ecosystem interactions. For instance, insect species that are not susceptible to the expressed toxin can develop into secondary pests and cause significant damage to the crop. Here we review the main causes surrounding secondary pest dynamics in Bt crops and the impact of such outbreaks. Regardless of the causes, if non-susceptible secondary pest populations exceed economic thresholds, insecticide spraying could become the immediate solution at farmers’ disposal, and the sustainable use of this genetic modification technology may be in jeopardy. Based on the literature, recommendations for future research are outlined that will help to improve the knowledge of the possible longterm ecological trophic interactions of employing this technology