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Immagine: Manu Friedrich

Economic Issues in the Coexistence of Organic, Genetically Engineered (GE), and Non-GE Crops in the US

Two decades after the first genetically engineered (GE) seeds became commercially available for major field crops, GE varieties have been widely adopted for U.S. corn, soybean, cotton, canola, and sugar beet production. The small, longstanding market for organically grown food (which excludes GE seed and material) continues to expand and a market for conventionally grown foods produced without GE seed has also emerged. In order to maintain the integrity of GE-differentiated markets, organic farmers—and other farmers using non-GE seeds—employ a variety of practices to avoid the accidental mixing of GE material in their crops. The US Department of Agriculture USDA examined organic and conventional product markets in the United States. In their report, they describe commonly used coexistence practices and discuss the economic impacts when GE material is detected in organic crops.

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Immagine: Plattform Biologie

The accidental comingling of GE material in organic products was seen as a major risk by U.S. organic producers as early as the early 2000s (Hanson et al., 2004). Although findings from USDA’s recent organic producer survey showed that only 87 certified organic producers suffered economic losses from the unintended presence of GE material during 2011-14, the share has increased during every survey period since 2000. Also, while only nine crops were grown with GE varieties by 2014, GE varieties have recently been approved for several major fruit and vegetable crops. Coexistence may become more difficult for organic and conventional non-GE producers as more fruits, vegeta- bles, and other crops are genetically engineered.
Whereas GE seeds are used on more than 90 percent of planted corn and soybean acres, organic production accounts for less than 0.3 percent of total acreage in these crops. Organic systems have been much more widely adopted for fruits and vegetables. Organic systems have also been adopted more widely for rice, wheat, and other field crops that are primarily used for food.
This report examines economic issues related to the coexistence of GE, organic, and non-GE crops. Research is needed on the practices used by grain and oilseed processors and other handlers to facilitate coexistence, as well as to assess the impacts of unintended GE presence on this part of the supply chain. More research is also needed to examine the cost and effectiveness of various coexis- tence strategies, and the impact of alternative strategies on producers and consumers.
The findings in this report reflect uneven data availability. For example, USDA collects data on the extent of U.S. acreage planted with GE seed for only three (soybeans, corn, and cotton) of the nine crops that currently have commercial GE production. Public data on GE-differentiated production systems and markets is improving, with USDA now reporting non-GE grain prices, for example. However, many data gaps on GE, non-GE, and organic production systems remain.

Categorie

  • Economia (Disciplina)
  • Organismi geneticamente modificati (OGM)
  • Piante utili