Can Biotech and Organic Crops Coexist?

Can biotech and organic crops coexist without biotech material finding its way into organic plants, compromising their economic value? What practices do farmers follow to maintain the integrity of organic and genetically enhanced crops? Coexistence: A Familiar Challenge for Farmers The issue of coexistence predates the introduction of biotechnology. The ease of cross-pollination can compromise the purity of all types of seeds — in the field and beyond. Consider supply streams. Seeds and plant material can inadvertently mix during transportation. And they can commingle at local elevators, processing plants and other facilities that house and handle organic, biotech and conventional material at different times — or even simultaneously. While the coexistence of biotechnology and organic farming has received much attention of late, farmers, producers and consumers can rest assured knowing that previous generations successfully addressed the challenges of other forms of coexistence. According to the International Seed Federation, which represents the seed industry: "The farming community and the seed industry have a long history of growing different crops side-by-side and producing pure seed stocks." Whole article: "www.whybiotech.com":[ http://www.whybiotech.com/index.asp?id=5596]

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