What is coexistence? Coexistence is different agricultural systems working side by side
(www.gmo-compass.org/eng/home)
Some Questions and Answers about coexistence:
Q: Does coexistence only refer to crops derived through biotechnology? A: No all crops have coexistence concerns.
Q: Is coexistence a new issue? A: Farmers have faced coexistence questions from that point in history where two crops were
grown adjacent to each other
Q: Are new rules needed to address these coexistence issues? A: No, farmers have successfully dealt with these issues for many generations.
Q: Biotech crops cannot be grown near conventional crops without contamination occurring A: Numerous studies have concluded that using good farming practices reduces contamination to a
level well below EU established thresholds for levels in non-GM crops. (Benetrix and Bloc 2003)
Q: When an organic grower has crops test positive for GM they lose their organic status A: Organic crops are those crops grown in fields that have not had GM seeds or synthetically
produced fertilizers put on them in the 36 months prior to harvest. The process is regulated, not
the product. Therefore, an organic grower will not be penalized for adventitious presence of GM
crops.
This section has a number of testimonials from growers who successfully grow varying crops-organic,
conventional and GM, and details the practices they use to ensure that they deliver the corps consumers
expect.
Click here to read “Proceedings of the Pew Initiative Meeting on Peaceful Coexistence Among Growers of GE, Conventional and Organic Crops” - PDF
Click here to read the North Dakota State University report Suggested Best Management Practices for the Coexistence of Organic, Biotech and Conventional Crop Production Systems
KEY ISSUES
What is coexistence? Coexistence is different agricultural systems working side by side