The Hague, The Netherlands
June 13, 2006
USDA/FAS GAIN report NL 6015
HIGHLIGHTS
The Dutch Ministry of
Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality asked the Wageningen
University to develop a genetically modified (GM) potato
with resistance to late blight (Phytophthora infestans). Six
field trials with the GM maize hybrid Mon810 will be
conducted this year to establish the size of buffer zones
for coexistence purposes.
In a press release of March 31,
2006, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality
stated that they tasked the Wageningen University to develop a
genetically modified (GM) potato with resistance to late blight
(Phytophthora infestans). The Dutch Government pays the project
costs of Euro 9.9 million from the Economic Structural Fund
(FES).
COGEM approved field trials
with the GM potatoes.
The Netherlands Commission on Genetic Modification (COGEM)
advised the Dutch Government about the risks of field
experiments with the GM potato. COGEM concluded that the risk of
cross breeding with other potato breeds is limited as potatoes
are vegetatively propagated and potato tubers do not survive the
Dutch winter. COGEM concluded that the risks for humans and the
environment are negligible.
The new GM potato breed will
have huge potential benefits for the Dutch sector.
According to the press release of the Dutch Ministry of
Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, potato farming accounts
for 80 percent of the fungicides used in The Netherlands. The
Ministry reports that production of the new potato breed will
require only half the level of the fungicides used for
conventional potatoes. If the GM potato is successfully grown on
a wide scale it would save the Dutch potato sector about Euro
150 million annually. For developing the GM potato, exclusively
potato genes will be used. The primary objective is to use the
research results for developing GM starch potatoes for the
non-food market. But breeders could also use the research
results for developing GM table potatoes. The project will take
about ten years.
Cumbersome regulations and
activists impede field trials.
Until today, successful experimental planting of biotech crops
is almost impossible in The Netherlands. Crop trials are either
effectively prevented by cumbersome regulations imposed by the
Dutch government or impeded by the threat of protests from
environmental groups. In July 2005, Dutch activists destroyed
field trials with GM starch potatoes developed by the starch
company Avebe. This GM potato breed contained an elevated
content of amylopectin. The Dutch government has issued over 30
licenses for field trials of biotech crops. In 2006, only seven
of these licenses are being used: five for field experiments
with GM potatoes, one with GM apples, and one with GM flowers
(carnation).
Corn trials will confirm buffer
zone requirements.
Starting this week, six one-hectare field trials of the GM maize
hybrid Mon810 will be conducted. The goal of these trials is to
double-check the necessary buffer zones with conventional and
organic maize crops. The Dutch Commission for Primary Sector
Coexistence has previously determined the buffer zones for
conventional and organic crops to be 25 meters and 250 meters,
respectively. For these trials no license is needed as this
maize breed is approved in the EU.
Rules on coexistence for
growing GM potatoes and corn are in place.
On November 2, 2004, the Commission for Primary Sector
Coexistence presented an agreement for coexistence to the Dutch
Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. The commission
was set up to represent all sectors of Dutch agriculture. The
agreement is set within the framework of the EC Directives
2001/18/EC and 2003/556/EC, and Dutch Civil Law. The agreement
covers rules and regulations for the production of three
products: potatoes, sugar beets and maize (see also GAIN Report
Number: NL4033 and NL5028). The Dutch sector still needs to
reach agreement on the scope of a compensation fund for possible
damage to conventional and organic crops, and a monitoring
system in the field.
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE
The Hague, The Netherlands
March 31, 2006
Minister Veerman
van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit (LNV) brengt
op woensdag 5 april een bezoek aan
Oostenrijk in het kader van de conferentie 'Co-existence
of genetically modified, conventional and organic crops, freedom
of choice'. Tijdens deze conferentie houdt Veerman een
toespraak met als titel 'The Dutch approach to
co-existence' over de Nederlandse aanpak van coëxistentie
en de positie van Nederland in het Europese debat hierover.
Coëxistentie betekent het naast
elkaar bestaan van gangbare teelt, biologische teelt en teelt
van genetisch gemodificeerde organismen
(ggo). De Nederlandse aanpak om tot
co-existentie te komen is gebaseerd op het principe 'van
zorgen voor naar zorgen dat'. Dit houdt in dat de eigen
verantwoordelijkheid van de betrokken partijen de basis was
waarop de partijen tot coëxistentieafspraken zijn gekomen. De
vrijheid van consument en producent is daarbij leidend.
Veerman zal tijdens zijn
presentatie ook internationaal bekend maken dat er in Nederland
9,9 miljoen euro uit het Fonds
Economische Structuurversterking (FES)
gaat naar het project voor de ontwikkeling van een genetisch
gemodificeerde aardappel die resistent is tegen de
aardappelziekte phytophthora. De phytophthora resistente
aardappel is een voorbeeld van een toepassing van biotechnologie
die bijdraagt aan een duurzame landbouw.
Voor meer informatie over de
conferentie en het programma zie
www.europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/coexistence/index_en.htm |
