Field cross-fertilization between GM and non-GM maize in Mallorca: a Mediterranean insular approach
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Vives Vallés, Juan Antonio [1] ; La Paz, José Luis [2] ; Corujo, María [2] ; Martínez Cañellas, Anselm [1] ; Galmés, Jeroni [1]
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[1] Universitat de les Illes Balears
Universitat de les Illes Balears
Palma de Mallorca, España
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[2] CSIC-IRTA-UAB
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- Localización: International Conference on Coexistence between Genetically Modified (GM) and non-GM based Agricultural Supply Chains (GMCC), 2015
- Idioma: inglés
- Enlaces
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Resumen
Under EU policy, Member States have developed national strategies or regulations for co-existence. Spain is the EU member state with largest area destined to grow genetically modified (GM) maize. However, still lacks of a national co-existence strategy and regional attempts to regulate this issue have been unfruitful. Several studies of real situation of coexistence in maize have been realized in a continental land context in Catalonia region, Spain, but Mediterranean insular microclimatic conditions such as land and sea breezes phenomenon, humidity or rains regime among other factors, might have an effect over flowering and pollination. The present study shows the first field trial on cross-fertilization between MON810 GM and non-GM maize in Mediterranean insular conditions. Our objective was to perform a trial that could be used as a scientific base for a future regional regulation on co-existence in Balearic Islands, Spain. To that end, we analyzed the adventitious presence of GM material in a non-GM maize adjacent field by cross-fertilization in a real situation in Mallorca; the size, distance and orientation (affecting the slope and wind direction) of GM and non-GM fields as well as the synchrony of flowering, were designed to favor maximum cross-fertilization. Our results suggest that, under these conditions, an isolation distance of 10-30 m between GM and non-GM maize fields might be sufficient to keep the adventitious presence below the EU labeling threshold of 0.9%.
