what steps are being taken to avoid the spread of genetically modified traits from GMA crops e.g. herbicide resistance to nontransgenic crop plants or wild plants growing nearby?

Expert response from Fran Castle

Former Global Senior Manager, Communications, BASF

Tuesday, 08/09/2015 14:31

Several steps can be taken to prevent the spread of pollen from genetically modified crops to either non-GM crop plants or wild plants that are growing near the GM crops. These steps depend upon the type of plant or crop being grown.
 
Wild Relatives
 
Michael Horak, Week Resistance Platform Lead at Monsanto Company, answered a similar question and explains that cross pollination, a natural process that occurs between closely related plants, has to happen for genes to move from one plant to another. In addition, he points out that, "for any crop gene to move to a crop relative, the two species need to occur in the same location, flower at the same time, and be compatible with one another so that the viable offspring is produced."
 
Many GM crops are not cultivated in the same areas as any compatible wild species of the same crop, which helps avoid the transfer of genes. In the case that a GM crop is grown near a wild relative (for example, canola in Canada), and a GM hybrid is produced, regular farming practices, such as weed management, can limit the plant's survival. You can read more about this here.
 
Non-GMO Crops
 
Dr. Peter Davies from Cornell University discusses agriculture and biodiversity in this response, and provides an in-depth explanation of how cross pollination can be prevented between GM and non-GM crop varieties, especially in papaya.