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Question

would herbicide tolerant maize be beneficial to belgian farmers?

Submitted by: me


Answer

Expert response from René Custers

Regulatory & Responsible Research Manager, VIB Flemish Institute of Biotechnology

Friday, 23/01/2015 12:59

In Belgium, weeds in maize are mostly a problem in the early phases of the development of the crop. The application of current herbicides on non-GM maize may have a negative impact on the development of the maize, depending on the time of application and the concentration of herbicide used. Maize that would be tolerant to broad-spectrum herbicides, such as glyphosate would make weed control much easier, without a risk of effects on the development of the crop. It would also lead to a lower environmental impact from weed control, because the Environmental Impact Quotient of glyphosate is generally lower than other currently used herbicides. One warning though: one should refrain from creating a monoculture with the herbicide because this would lead to the development of weeds that are tolerant to the herbicide. Rotation is the magic word here.