Cultivation of biotech-crops, control of co-existence and environmental monitoring of GM plants in Slovakia

The information on and selected results of biotech-crops cultivation, control of coexistence, and the environmental monitoring of genetically modified (GM) plants in Slovakia are presented. The cultivation of GM crops for commercial use in Slovakia started in 2006, the cultivated GM maize hybrids being based on the event MON 810. The testings of neighbouring conventional maize fields contamination were performed using a real-time PCR procedure for MON 810 maize quantification according to EN ISO 21570 and EU-RL GMFF methods. Minimum isolation distances according to the Slovak national legislation are 200 m for conventional maize and 300 m for ecological farming. The determined GM contamination of neighbouring fields varied between 0.01% and 0.83% (mean level 0.07%) in mass % of MON 810. The relationship between the GM contamination and isolation distance was documented. GM admixtures in harvested crops are caused due to combined factors as crosspollination, contamination by sowing, harvesting, transport, storage, etc. Consumer and producer risks (α-risk and β-risk) were analysed for minimum isolation distances in conditions of actual GMO limits, determined GM admixtures, and the testing procedures used. The calculated values gave good results for the conventional maize production, i.e. for 0.9% GMO limit, isolation distances of 200 m, and approximately 0.2% GMO level of impurities. The obtained value of consumer β-risk was 4.8% (or better), that of producer α-risk was 0%, and they both are sufficient for conventional maize production, confirming the optimum and sufficient value of minimal isolation distance (200 m) in Slovakia. No illegal cultivation of GM crops was found within the frame of environmental monitoring.