The impact of GM corn in Spain

The report examines the deployment of Bt 176 GM corn in Spain, highlighting a lack of independent monitoring and the failure of the Spanish government to enforce mandatory 'Prevention Plans'. It documents cases of genetic contamination in organic crops in Navarra and presents evidence from the ITG-A suggesting that corn borers are developing resistance to the Bt toxin. The document further argues that GM corn does not provide superior yields compared to conventional varieties and poses risks to non-target species and human health via antibiotic-resistance genes.

• Spain is the only European Union member state that allows the commercial cultivation of GM crops, with an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 hectares of Bt corn planted as of 2002.
• The Spanish government and seed companies have failed to provide public data on the exact location and area of GM plantings, contradicting EU Directive 2001/18/EC which requires public registers.
• Syngenta failed to comply with legal requirements to submit a 'Prevention Plan' by March 2000, and the Spanish administration has not ensured the fulfillment of monitoring requirements for the Compa CB variety.
• Genetic contamination has occurred in Spain; in 2001, traces of the Bt 176 event were found in organically cultivated maize in the Navarra region due to cross-pollination.
• Research by the ITG-A in Navarra (1998-2000) indicates that corn borers can survive on Bt plants, suggesting a high level of insect resistance to Bt 176.
• Bt 176 corn does not consistently provide higher yields than conventional varieties; ITG-A data from 1998-2000 shows Compa CB often produced less than the regional average variety.
• The use of Bt 176 corn poses risks to non-target species, including increased mortality in Monarch butterfly larvae and reduced growth rates in Black Swallowtail caterpillars.
• The presence of an ampicillin-resistance marker gene in Bt 176 corn is identified as a public health risk, as these genes could transfer to bacteria in the human gastrointestinal tract.
• The report argues that the low incidence of corn borers in Spain does not justify the risks of GM corn, as the pest is considered a minor problem with effective conventional alternatives.

APA

Spendeler, L., & Carrasco, J.-F. (2003). The impact of GM corn in Spain. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Algranoingles03-08.pdf

Chicago

Spendeler, Liliane, and Juan-Felipe Carrasco. The impact of GM corn in Spain. Friends of the Earth International, 2003. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Algranoingles03-08.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Spendeler |first1=Liliane |last2=Carrasco |first2=Juan-Felipe |title=The impact of GM corn in Spain |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=August 2003 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Algranoingles03-08.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{spendeler2003impact, author = {Spendeler, Liliane and Carrasco, Juan-Felipe}, title = {{The impact of GM corn in Spain}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2003}, month = aug, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Algranoingles03-08.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }