4th quarter 2004

Co-Existence — Where does it beginn, where does it end?

Co-existence is often seen mainly in connection with crops on the field - genetically engineered pollen carried by the wind to an adjoining conventional or organic field "contaminate" the plants which are grown there. This results in liability issues: Who will indemnify conventional or organic farmers for losses they incur by having to label their produce as "genetically modified" and not being able to charge the full price?

But co-existence or compliance with prescribed thresholds is not only dependent on the distance between the GM field and the conventional or organic field. A large number of other factors come into play.

Co-existence starts with GM seeds becoming mixed with conventional seeds at the seed producing company. Machines used for working the fields may also transfer small amounts of soil (containing genetically modified seeds) from one field to another. Also, some seeds from a previous, genetically modified crop may germinate the following year and be harvested together with the new crop.

When the crops are on the field, pollen may be transferred by the wind or insects. Pollen transfer by the wind depends not only on the distance from the adjoining field, but also on the size of the field, the number of adjoining fields, pollen barriers such as hedges and rows of trees, topographic factors and wind strength. Pollen transfer through insects depends on the number of insects, their behaviour, distribution and pollen-carrying capacity.

Mixing and contamination may also occur during harvest, storage, transport and processing.

As a consequence of all of the above, absolute zero tolerance cannot be maintained. It is impossible to define a distance beyond which contamination is guaranteed to be excluded.