GMO Research Programme - Reports
Gene Flow Monitoring from the GM Crop Farm-Scale Evaluation Sites: Monitoring Gene Flow from the GM Crop to Non-GM Equivalent Crops in the Vicinity
Ref EPG 1/5/138
Synopsis
Part 1: Forage Maize
This study was commissioned to monitor gene flow from genetically modified (GM) crops to adjacent non-GM equivalent crops. It was undertaken to validate assumptions made in the original risk assessments concerning gene flow from GM plants. Gene flow was monitored at the farm-scale evaluation (FSE) sites of fodder maize crops.
Overall, results showed that there was a rapid decrease in the rate of cross-pollination within the first 20m from the donor crop and beyond this distance the rate of decrease was much slower. There was significant variation in levels of GM/ non-GM cross-pollination between sites in each year, although the variation between years across all sites was not significant.
Results from individual fields was related both to wind direction during the flowering period, synchrony of flowering between the two (GM and conventional) crops and to separation distances between the crops.
Evidence of low level gene flow was detected, beyond both the 80m and 200m separation distances recommended for forage maize and sweetcorn respectively. However the report concludes that a separation distance of only 24.5m would be required to meet the 0.9% threshold recommended by the EU, and that the 80m separation distance recommended by SCIMAC would be sufficient to ensure that cross-pollination levels were below 0.3%. These findings are in-line with expectations based on previous work.
Completion dates
The project started in 2000. The forage maize component was completed in September 2003. Results from oilseed rape monitoring will follow in due course.
Final report
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format (650 KB).
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Contact details
Contractors
Dr. Christine Henry
CSL
Sand Hutton
York
YO41 1LZ
c.henry@csl.gov.ukDr. Roger Daniels
CEH Dorset
Winfrith Technology Centre
Dorchester
Dorset
DT2 8ZD
red@ceh.ac.ukDefra
Dr Nick Brickle
3/E8 Ashdown House
123 Victoria Street
London, SW1E 6DE.
020 7082 8082
gm@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Page published 13 October
2003;
Page last modified
2 March, 2004