Technische Universität München Cost of coexistence in Germany Maarten Punt, Technische Universität München

Technische Universität München

Cost of coexistence in Germany

Maarten Punt,



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Introduction

• Statement of the EC (2003):

“In principle, farmers should be able to cultivate the types of agricultural crops they choose – be it GM crops, conventional or organic crops”

• In the same document:

“to provide European consumers with a real choice between GM and non-GM food"


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Introduction ctd

• In order to prevent outcrossing and adventitious presence -> Coexistence measures

• BUT:– Different Coexistence measures = different costs

– Different Coexistence measures = different effectiveness

• Free choice = C.M. should not tip over the balance!

• Case study in Germany


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GM cultivation in Germany

• GM cultivation = outlawed

• GM cultivation 2005-2008: Bt maize

• # farmers involved = ±90

• Area wise <1% of total maize area in Germany

• Obligatory registration @ government


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German cultivation in 2008

Standortregister,http://apps2.bvl.bund.de/stareg_visual_web/data.do


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Sampling strategy

• Approached former Bt farmers through registration office

• Approached former Bt farmers through Innoplanta (farmers organisation)

• Approached neighbours through Bt farmers

• Face to face interviews

• Total Sample Size: 47 farmers. 27 Bt, 20 non-Bt


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Distribution

Not sampled

1-4 farmers

5-9 farmers

10-15 farmers


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Our average farmSample Population

(sampled states)

Farm type Mixed (80%)

Farm focus Milk (44%) or cereals (40%)

Farm land 1147 (897) ha 71 ha

Percentage rented 65% 70%

Maize area 218 (209) ha

People employed on farm

22 (21) 3.3


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Our average farmer

Job experience 31 (13) years

Age 51 (11) years

Sex Male

Education level University of applied science

Profit/Operating income >€ 60,000 (75%)>€ 100,000 (45%)


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Attitudes of farmers


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Reasons for non Bt


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Coexistence measures: Burden


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Measure Time (h/year) Cost (€/ha)

Neighbour informing 6.2 13.0 11.93 32.92

Informing rangers 5.3 13.9 7.58 12.52

Registering 9.5 39.1 4.22 7.91

Liability 6.1 12.9 1.21 1.63

150 meter distance 3.4 5.3 1.47 3.10

300 meter distance 5.0 10.5 5.70 14.98

Goverment permission 5.1 11.7 1.94 3.41

Separate storage seeds 0.7 0.87 1.36 3.10

Separate storage yield 2.6 4.7 3.72 6.90

Cleaning machines 8.0 11.4 20.94 41.20

Volunteer control 2.6 4.7 4.35 9.20

Record keeping 19.0 46.0 6.69 13.87

Waiting/Rotation 1861.8 5551.8 130.9 351.44

Top 4


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Measure Time (h/year) Cost (€/ha)

Neighbour informing 6.2 13.0 11.93 32.92

Informing rangers 5.3 13.9 7.58 12.52

Registering 9.5 39.1 4.22 7.91

Liability 6.1 12.9 1.21 1.63

150 meter distance 3.4 5.3 1.47 3.10

300 meter distance 5.0 10.5 5.70 14.98

Goverment permission 5.1 11.7 1.94 3.41

Separate storage seeds 0.7 0.87 1.36 3.10

Separate storage yield 2.6 4.7 3.72 6.90

Cleaning machines 8.0 11.4 20.94 41.20

Volunteer control 2.6 4.7 4.35 9.20

Record keeping 19.0 46.0 6.69 13.87

Waiting/Rotation 1861.8 5551.8 130.9 351.44

Bottom 4


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Regression analysis: informing the neighboursModel

Effects

Intercept Number of

neighbours

(N)

Farm size (S

in ha)

Interaction

(N*S)

Adjusted R2

T = ß0+ß1*N 128 (53)* 7.5 (2.1)** - - 0.33

T = ß0+ß1*S 199 (92)* - 0.02 (0.05) - -0.03

T = ß0+ß1*N+ ß2*S33 (92) 8.2 (2.2)** 0.06 (0.05) - 0.35

T = ß0+ß1*N+

ß2*S+ ß3*N*S-36 (87) 14 (3.1)*** 0.21 (0.07)** -0.01 (0.005)* 0.48


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Correlation analysis

• Analyse correlation of Likert scale with farm characteristics (kendall‘s tau, non parametric)

Isolation

distance 150 mLiability

Requesting

government

permission

Waiting for two

years

Farm size -0.26 0.07 0.06 -0.39*

% GM maize

planted-0.12 -0.07 0.29 0.14

% area maize 0.20 -0.31 -0.19 0.03


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Summary

• Small sample, but still sampled roughly 30% of all Bt-farmers in Germany

• Results, so far, seem mostly consistent

• Coexistence measures overall seem not to bother farmers too much

• Farm size is not always an important characteristic

Documents

Technische Universität München Cost of coexistence in Germany Maarten Punt, Technische Universität München