www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

In Northern Italy (Padana Plain), the gene flow of maize, in optimal
conditions, falls below the critical threshold of 0.9% at a distance of 17.5
metres from pollen sources, and to below 0.5% at a distance of 30 metres.
Amongst the measures that can be used to limit gene flow, the use of buffer
zones and the use of varieties that have different blossoming times has
proved to be particularly effective. The use of open spaces between the
different crops is less efficient and is able to reduce gene flow only in
the absence of wind or when more than thirty metres of empty space separates
the crops, January 2006.

These are some of the results collected by researchers in 2005 in Lombardy
(northern Italy), within the most extensive cooperative experiment ever
conducted in Italy, and one of the largest in Europe. Its aim was to
evaluate gene flow between adjoining maize crops, and the results were
presented today at the Vegetalia Expo, an agricultural fair held in the city
of Cremona. For experimental purposes, traditional coloured maize was used,
as experimentation with genetically modified plants in open fields is banned
in Italy. The results of the experiment will be available on www.cedab.it
alongside the Podcast of the seminar.

The experiment was conducted in Lombardy by researchers and technicians,
both from the public and private sector. They simulated the behaviour of
pollen and gene flow in maize using conventional varieties with coloured
kernels. These conventional varieties are homozygous for kernel color (100%
of pollen has the marker gene) and, therefore, the resulting values has to
be considered overestimated if compared to homozygous varieties, as in the
case of many genetically modified varieties, where only 50% of the pollen
has marker gene.

The research was conducted in order to integrate and verify, in the context
of agriculture in the Padana Plain, the information available for
coexistence in maize. In particular, 4 different types of experimental trial
were carried out to measure the gene flow in maize and to verify the
effectiveness of some measures in order to limit it, including the adoption
of open spaces within the crops, the use of "buffer zones" which hinder the
pollen fow, as well as the use of varieties with different blossoming time.

In terms of coexistence, maize is the most relevant crop for Italian
agriculture as it covers 1.4 million hectares and occupies slightly over 10%
of the total national agricultural surface. Maize represents 38% in value of
the total Italian production of cereal crops.

The results of the Italian field trials carried out on the 40 hectares are
similar to those yielded by field trials conducted in Germany by Prof. Dr.
W.E. Weber of the Istitut für Pflanzenzüchtung und Pflanzenschutz in Halle,
and in Switzerland by Dr. Michael Banner of the Istitut für
Pflanzenwissenschaften in Zurich, both of whom presented their findings at
the Vegetalia expo in Cremona.

The results of the research will be made available to the international
scientific community (a paper will be submitted soon to a scientific journal
to be peer-reviewed), the maize production industry, and to professional
agricultural associations; the experimental designs and tecnical data will
also be passed on to commissions and scientific committees working for the
Italian Ministry of Agriculture and the Regional Authorities, as a
scientific contribution obtained in loco, to define guidelines for the
development of coexistence rules among genetically modified, conventional
and organic crops. Fulfilment of the latter by Regional Authorities is
sanctioned by the law dated 28, January 2005, n° 5 titled "Urgent measures
to insure coexistence of transgenic, conventional and organic crops".

Researchers, technicians and farmers worked side-by-side during the entire
experimentation period, sharing their respective experiences, sampling
methods and initial result evaluations. Particular attention was paid to
comparing indications obtained from the different experimental designs.

The experimentation carried out in Lombardy was made possible thanks to the
collaboration of numerous organisations, amongst which CRA - Istituto
Sperimentale per la Cerealicoltura di Bergamo, Parco Tecnologico Padano,
Hylobates Consulting, Agricola 2000, Associazione dei Produttori di Semi
Oleosi e Cereali Lombarda (APSOCLO) - which put at the researchers' disposal
seven plots of land in the provinces of Brescia, Mantova, Milan, Cremona and
Lodi all in the maize growing area in Italy. The research activity was
promoted by CEDAB.

The aim of the Milan-based CEDAB (Centro di Documentazione sulle
Agrobiotecnologie), is to promote and disseminate scientific and economic
information relating to the use of biotechnologies in agriculture. CEDAB?s
activities are financed by CropLife, a non-governmental association based in
Brussels, in turn funded by the major international companies operating in
field of life sciences.

[www.cedab.it]

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