THE slated international conference on coexistence between genetically modified (GM) and non-GM based Agricultural Supply Chains will surely benefit the country especially on new technology, said Alice Ilaga, Department of Agriculture (DA) Biotechnology Program Office director.

The conference which will run from Nov. 10 to 12 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Australia is expected to gather public and private stakeholders from different parts of the world, she said.

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From Negros Occidental, invited by the DA to join the conference include Provincial Board members Enrique Miguel Lacson, Adolfo Mangao Sr., and Nehemias De La Cruz.

The conference, Ilaga said is the only international forum focused on coexistence between GM and non-GM agricultural supply chains.

The conference, she said, is expected to reinforce scientific findings that GM and non-GM can coexist, citing the case of the Philippines, wherein a GM corn more popularly known as Bacillus thuriengensis or Bt corn, was approved for commercial plantation in 2005.

The Philippines, Ilaga said, stand to benefit from the valuable lessons that can be learned from the exchanges of valuable information and possibly technology transfer, to better apply GM technology in the Philippines in the future.

The production of Bt corn was primarily used for animal feed, although government regulators, as well the seed’s producer, Monsanto, claim it is safe for human consumption, she said.

Prof. German Spangenberg, Executive Director of the Biosciences Research Division of the Department of Primary Industries said the conference will cover key issues on coexistence between GM and non-GM agricultural supply chains ranging from production level to the market place.

The topics include gene flow in agricultural systems, strategies for coexistence and organizational measures across the supply chain, socio-economics of coexistence and cost/benefit analysis of coexistence strategies, legal and policy issues of coexistence frameworks, and traceability and control of coexistence.

This is the first time that such a GMCC event will be held outside of Europe, Spangenberg, this year’s GMCC’09 event chairman, said.

The conference will highlight the progress of the Australian approach to coexistence between GM/non-GM canola, and attempt to address the planning of coexistence measures in advance of other GM crop introductions.

The GMCC’09 conference will be highly relevant for industry, policy, agricultural biotechnology R&D and agribusiness communities, he said.

Coverage of the conference includes farming systems in the developing world, rather than focus on Europe and Americas.

Ilaga said the GMCC series is moving away from the primary attention on maize and oilseed rape that has characterized the first three meetings.

The conference is expected to come up with a paper dealing with the potential impact of GM technologies in the developing world with emphasis on Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, as well as the strategies that need to be in place to ensure that the benefits are captured by the local producers and industries and that the market access is protected and market returns preserved where local or international consumers discriminate between GM and non-GM produce.*