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Coexistence in the EU—return of the moratorium on GM crops?

Nature Biotechnology volume 26, pages 1223–1225 (2008)Cite this article

To the editor:

The decision of European Union (EU; Brussels) commissioner for environment, Stavros Dimas, to defer market approvals of maize Bt11 and 1507 against the recommendation of his scientific advisers is an indication that Europe remains in a state of quasi-moratorium regarding the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops. Here, we outline another challenge that threatens to paralyze the cultivation of GM crops in Europe: regulations on the coexistence of GM and non-GM crops.

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Figure 1: Cumulative Bt maize plantings (ha) per member state in the EU (1997–2008).
Figure 2: Isolation distances (m) proposed by European member states to ensure coexistence between GM and conventional non-GM maize (adapted from the EC's report on the implementation of national measures on the coexistence of GM crops with conventional and organic farming3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Yann Devos

  2. Africa Rice Center (WARDA), Senegal, Africa

    Matty Demont

  3. Centre for Agricultural and Food Economics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

    Matty Demont

  4. Agroscope Reckenholz Tänikon Research Station ART, Switzerland

    Olivier Sanvido

Authors
  1. Yann Devos
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  2. Matty Demont
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  3. Olivier Sanvido
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Devos, Y., Demont, M. & Sanvido, O. Coexistence in the EU—return of the moratorium on GM crops?. Nat Biotechnol 26, 1223–1225 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1108-1223

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