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2H - GMO's (TUP/125) Roundup Ready® sugar beets: ecological and economic implications for Europe. Tencalla, Francesca1, Coyette, Brigitte1, Brants, Ivo1, Roever, Achim1, 1 Monsanto Europe, Brussels, Brabant, Belgium ABSTRACT- The discussion on the environmental effects of plant protection products is intensifying across Europe. In the framework of the 6th Environmental Action Programme (EAP), the European Commission (EC) was mandated to develop seven thematic strategies for priority environmental problems and, in 2002, adopted a communication entitled "Towards a thematic strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides". This communication suggests measures addressing five strategic objectives, including decreased pesticide use in agriculture. Genetic modification (GM) is one of the technologies considered. The present paper evaluates the potential contribution of one crop, genetically modified (Roundup Ready®) sugar beet tolerant to the herbicide Roundup®, to meeting the objectives set out under the 6th EAP. Sugar beet is an important crop for Europe but weed management is traditionally labour intensive, since farmers must apply three or more mixed sprays per season containing a total of four to six different active ingredients. With the GM alternative, farmers treat the fields with one single active ingredient, in this case glyphosate, a compound with a favourable environmental profile, and spray only one to three times in total. Recent estimates for Europe suggest that, depending on market penetration, Roundup Ready (RR) sugar beet could help reduce pesticide use by 28 to 53%. Because of the flexibility in application timing, RR sugar beet can also allow to preserve biodiversity in the field during the early part of the season, as demonstrated in several field trials. Moreover, estimates for Germany indicate that GM sugar beets on average lead to an increased gross margin for farmers. In conclusion, RR sugar beet is an example of a technology that can contribute to making European agriculture more sustainable. Key words: Roundup Ready, sugar beet, pesticide reduction, biodiversity |
