APEC tackles co-existence of GMO with organic farming vis-a-vis food security in the region

Member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have tackled the co-existence of genetically modified organism-based (GMO) farming and organic farming in relation to ensuring food security in the region.

On the margins of the High Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and the Blue Economy (HLPD-FSBE), public and private sectors of APEC economies held the Forum on Global Alliance for Agri-Biotech Trade (GAABT) Model Policy on Low-level Presence (LLP) and GM and Organic Farming Co-Existence, at the Iloilo Convention Center inIloilo City on Wednesday (Sept. 30).

The forum discussed emerging trends in agricultural biotechnology, as well as the importance of harmonizing regulatory issues that will facilitate trade and development of this technology.

These developments aim to improve agricultural productivity to ensure food security among APEC economies.

Chair of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Biotechnology Advisory Team Saturnina Halos mentioned that the rate of adoption of organic farming is higher than GM farming since the former was introduced in the 1920s while the first commercial GMO was planted only in 1996.

Halos cited that 18 out of 21 APEC member economies have organic agriculture areas.

On the other hand, seven of the APEC economies have adopted GM-crop production -- Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Mexico, United States, and the Philippines.

Halos mentioned that Vietnam and Indonesia are also following other APEC economies in adopting GM farming.

Globally, about 43.2 million hectares of land are allotted for organic agriculture, while 18.5 million hectares are for GM farming.

Organic farming, which relies on traditional techniques of production, and GM farming, using modern biotechnology techniques for crop production, aim for an economically viable, safe, and environment-friendly agricultural system.

Both aim for a sustainable agriculture sector amid challenges, such as climate change.

Co-existence practice, on the other hand, is the simultaneous cultivation of organic and genetically engineered crops -- which have different quality or intended for different markets -- in the same geographic area.

Halos however noted that the common issue in gaining support for GM and organic farming co-existence is cross-pollination.

“The possibility of interbreeding among the plants in each farming type is high because of proximity and if plants are of the same stage of growth and flower at the same time. This may lead to the adventitious presence of GM crops in non-GM crops,” she explained.

She said for GM and organic farming to co-exist while preventing cross-pollination, the following measures must be considered: different planting times; use of buffer zones; sufficient distance between farms; and physical isolation.

The forum on GAABT Model Policy on LLP and GM and Organic Farming Co-Existence targets to come up with strategies for APEC to push this development in agricultural technology. (PNA/PCOO News Release)