14013 - Case study from Santa Catarina, Brazil: GM contamination detected in maize variety

Resumo

Genetically modified (GM) maize has been planted in Brazil since the 2007/2008 growing season. Crosspollination from GM to non-GM maize, i.e. GM contamination, may have severe negative impact on genetic diversity, in addition to lost access to non-GM markets. Such contamination has previously been detected in Latin America, and is of great concern for farmers who wish to grow non-GM maize. In this study, we aimed to detect genetic contamination from GM maize to non-GM maize, and analyze the social context of such GM contamination, in a model system in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The transgenic protein Cry1Ab was detected in one non-GM maize field using lateral flow strips, and a Polymerase Chain Reaction confirmed the presence of the p35s promotor. In this case, lack of information about the national regulations of minimum distances between GM and non-GM maize might have enabled the GM contamination event.