Organic, GM crops can co-exist says expert

Genetically modified and organic crops can co-exist provided some accidental contamination is accepted, says a visiting United States crop expert.

The question for New Zealand was whether organic farmers could co-exist with GM farmers, said Professor Patrick Byrne, from the Colorado State University's department of soil and crop sciences.

"If each side refuses to compromise, co-existence is going to be difficult to achieve," he said at the United States Embassy in Wellington yesterday.

He will spend this week working with Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry officials on achieving co-existence in New Zealand.

Professor Byrne said farmers in Colorado were encouraged to stagger planting and harvesting times to avoid pollen from one crop contaminating another. Failing that, a 50m buffer zone between crops reduced accidental contamination to one kernel in 200, or 0.5 per cent.

If farmers wanted greater guarantees, they should increase buffer distances to 200m to reduce accidental contamination to 0.1 per cent, he said.

In the event of GM contamination, the offending farmer would be liable for damage to conventional crops, including organic crops.

But it was not realistic to insist on zero tolerance, said Professor Byrne.

"Organic and biotech should be encouraged as parallel approaches to agriculture. We should not put all our eggs in one basket."

GE-Free New Zealand spokesman Jon Carapiet said he was concerned at Professor Byrne's willingness to accept contamination of conventional crops.

If GM crops that produced drugs were planted, people could inadvertently eat medicines they did not want.

"That's removal of choice - it's a gaping hole."

A moratorium on the commercial release of GM crops will expire in October.

Francis Wevers, of Life Sciences Network, said Professor Byrne's "balanced approach" would help the GM debate in New Zealand.

- NZPA