Genetically modified sugarcane
Commercial cultivation in Brazil for the first time
June 2018. Genetically modified soybean, corn, canola and cotton have been grown globally for more than 20 years. On small areas there also is or was a cultivation of GM tomato, rice, papaya, sugar beet, pumpkin, potato, alfalfa and aubergine. In 2018, the cultivation of genetically modified sugarcane began in Brazil. Bt-sugarcane from the company CTC (Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira) was approved for cultivation in Brazil in 2017. The commercial cultivation of this GM sugarcane is scheduled for 2018 on an area of 400 ha.
Sugarcane is grown in tropical and subtropical countries worldwide and accounts for more than 70 % of global sugar production. The most important sugar cane producing countries are Brazil, India, China and Thailand. About 40 % of the world’s sugarcane comes from Brazil.
Brazil is the second country after Indonesia which approved genetically modified sugarcane for commercial cultivation. As early as 2013, three different, dry-resistant genetically modified sugarcane events were approved for cultivation in Indonesia, but commercial cultivation has not yet taken place in Indonesia. Raw sugar and refined sugar produced from Bt-sugarcane (CTS175-A) was approved for sale in Canada in April 2018.
Overview of genetically modified sugarcane1
|
Event |
Characteristic |
Approvals |
|
CTB141175/01-A |
insect-resistance |
Brazil (food/feed; cultivation); Canada (food) |
|
NXI-1T |
dry-resistance |
Indonesia (food, cultivation) |
|
NXI-4T |
dry-resistance |
Indonesia (food, cultivation) |
|
NXI-6T |
dry-resistance |
Indonesia (food, cultivation) |
1: Source: International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA)
Genetically modified sugarcane is not authorised in the EU. Therefore, food and feed consisting of or produced from GM sugarcane cannot be marketed in the EU.
Our expert Ulf Rathjens will gladly answer your questions about the current approval situation and recommended analysis strategies for your products.
Relevant documents
- Reuters: Brazil approves world's first commercial GM sugarcane: developer CTC
- Government of Canada: Sugarcane CTC175-A
- BiofuelsDigest: Brazil to trial GMO sugarcane on about 1,000 acres this year
- Genetic Literacy Profect: With GMO insect-resistant sugarcane approval, Brazilian farmers poised to reap benefits of biotech pipeline
