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Seed completely free of GMO contamination in 2022

12/12/2022 - GMO-free works well: For the first time in over ten years, no GMO contaminations were found in seed in 2022. Monitoring by authorities should include new genetic engineering.

German states have analysed 776 seed samples

From 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2022, a total of 776 seed samples from 12 different crops were tested for containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by the official testing agencies of the German states in the analysis year 2022. The focus was on maize/corn, winter rapeseed and soybeans. Since the discovery of genetic contamination in sweetcorn and linseed in Baden-Württemberg in 2020, samples of these two crops have also been tested as part of a pilot project.

Extending monitoring to traces of illegal new genetic engineering

"The encouraging results of the seed monitoring show that GMO-free seed can work very well," comments Alexander Hissting, Managing Director of the Association Food without Genetic Engineering (Verband Lebensmittel ohne Gentechnik - VLOG). "It is all the more important to preserve the current European legal framework on genetic engineering and not to weaken it. This is the only way for the European agriculture and food industry to secure the international competitive advantage of GMO-free production in the long term. The official monitoring must be extended as soon as possible to include traces of illegal new genetic engineering."

Bioland: Integrate existing detection methods into monitoring

Greenpeace, Bioland and IG Saatgut also welcome the results of seed monitoring. Bioland President Jan Plagge also calls for their expansion to include new genetic engineering: "Seed monitoring for contamination with genetic engineering only works if all known GM plants are targeted in the search. There are gaps here. Genome-edited plants, such as soybeans, are already being cultivated in North America. Existing detection methods must be integrated into national monitoring."

BVL: Genetic engineering and seed - results of monitoring by the German states in the analysis year 2022 (in German)

Infodienst Gentechnik: Seed controls: All 776 samples free of genetic engineering (in German)

Bioland, Greenpeace, IG Saatgut: Seed inspections 2022: No contamination - expand seed monitoring (in German)

Science.lu: Inspectors find no traces of genetic engineering in seeds for the first time since 2009 (in German)

Genetically modified linseed: 10,000 kilogrammes of seed may be contaminated