February 22, 2010

Canada scientists find GM crops need buffer zones

Research conducted by Canadian scientists found that it is essential to keep an 800-metre buffer zone between GM crops and non-GM crops.

Dr Hugh Beckie, from the Federal Department of Agriculture in Western Canada, said preventing gene flow from GM crops to non-GM crops is important to maintain market purity.

But it is also important to keep different GM varieties separate, he said.

For example, a Roundup Ready canola should not be growing next to a LibertyLink canola, which will cause Roundup and LibertyLink resistance in the next year, he added.