Only a few genetic engineering finds in domestic harvest

"In Baden-Württemberg, sowing and harvesting is being sampled to genetic engineering changes annually. A positive balance can also be drawn for 2022. Only in two, out of a total of 103 samples, genetically modified organisms (GVO) are not only pleased. have to be ”, said the Minister of Nutrition, Rural Area and Consumer Protection, Peter Hauk, on the occasion of the publication of the Examination results (pdf) des chemical (Cvua) Freiburg and the Agricultural Technology Center (LTZ) Augustenberg on Wednesday, March, 2023.

For over 19 years now, official food and feed monitoring has been examining randomly harvest products from Baden-Württemberg on genetically modified components. In the examinations of 36 corn, 26 rapeseed, 19 soybeans and 16 linen samples and six sugar beet samples carried out last year, there were no alarming indications of genetic engineering changes in the harvest. Only in two samples were genetically modified components in traces of just over 0.03 percent as part of the analysis.

No cultivation of genetically modified plants in the country

"In Baden-Württemberg, no cultivation of genetically modified plants is still taking place-conventionally and ecologically. Genetically modified plants do not fit into the small-scale agricultural structure of our country. That is why we will continue these examinations in the future," emphasized Minister Hauk.

In particular by the international flows of goods and global trade in agricultural products as well as seeds, high efforts and comprehensive preventive measures are still necessary to prevent the illegal spread of GMO and to protect consumers. In order to counteract the spread of genetically modified food, careful handling is necessary both in retail as well as on all processing and production levels.

"Who products with the quality sign Baden-Württemberg (QZBW) Secure origin.

harvest monitoring program since 2004

In Germany there is still no approval for the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMO). However, the cultivation of GMO outside of Europe is widespread. The main growing areas for genetically modified corn and soy are the USA, Argentina and Brazil. Due to the worldwide trade in seeds and harvest products, it cannot therefore be excluded that, despite precautionary measures, GMO is also detected in domestic harvest products. In order to be able to evaluate the success of these measures in the country, studies on GMO in the chemical and veterinary investigation office (CVUA) Freiburg and the Agricultural Technology Center (LTZ) Augustenberg have been carried out annually in a harvest monitoring program. The rehearsals are taken in agricultural detection centers and mill companies immediately after the harvest. A total of 1,767 harvesting samples have been examined since the beginning of monitoring in 2004, and genetic engineering changes were detectable in 32 samples.

In 2022, the examination of corn, soy, linseed, rapeseed and sugar beet continued. As in recent years, one focus of the monitoring program is on the examination of corn games. As a diverse cultural plant in some regions in Baden-Württemberg, Mais represents the most important fruit type. Findings compared to previous years without GMA, in one of the 36 samples of the harvest 2022 genetically modified corn was detected in traces. The detection limit is approximately 0.03 percent. It cannot be finally evaluated whether the small entry came from the harvested corn plants or it was contamination according to the harvest.

examination of soybeans of particular interest

In order to have an alternative to the often genetically modified importsoja due to the increasing importance of domestic soybean construction, the examination of soybeans is also of particular interest. In the 19 soy samples from Harvest 2022, a genetic engineering change could be demonstrated in a sample. In this case, it should be emphasized that no soybeans, but the processed product, was sampled. Here, too, it can no longer be concluded whether the genetically modified material was already contained in the harvested soybeans or whether the entry took place after the harvest. For seven years it has been the first positive finding for the examination of soy in the context of harvesting monitoring.

It must also be emphasized that both of the proven GMOs are just over 0.03 percent, as well as in the European Union for use as food and feed, but not for cultivation.

Report harvestemonitoring 2022

The detailed report on the GVO-Hernonitoring 2022 with further information can Online (PDF) . The CVUA Freiburg is the central laboratory for studies on GMO for food surveillance in Baden-Württemberg. The LTZ Augustenberg is responsible for the corresponding studies in seeds and feed.