By Robert Derham, Checkbiotech

A report stemming from an interview with a Syngenta employee and French newspaper caused some confusion when it determined that Syngenta’s Bt-11 enhanced sweet corn will not be marketed in Europe.

Earlier this week, the French newspaper Les Echos, interviewed Syngenta employee André Goig. The interview noted that current food industry trends do not see a market for Syngenta’s sweet corn, Bt-11.

However, Syngenta will continue to market the sweet corn variety to the six countries that have approved Bt-11 for cultivation purposes and human consumption. In addition to these six countries, there are an additional seven other countries that have approved Syngenta’s sweet corn variety for food usage. The EU became the eighth international governing body to approve the Bt sweet corn variety last week.

Checkbiotech has learned that Syngenta will continue to sell its Bt-11 seeds in the six countries where it is currently approved for cultivation. In return, the producers in those countries will decide, in coordination with the food industries in EU countries, whether or not Bt sweet corn will be sold in grocery stores for consumers.

According to consumer studies in Germany and other countries, a key driving force in consumer demand for enhanced food crops is the price. A recent study by the German television broadcasting company ARD, demonstrated that consumers in Germany were willing to purchase genetically enhanced produce that was clearly labeled as such, if the price was less than conventional or organic produce.

Reduced prices for Bt sweet corn can be realized since a gene, isolated from a bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis, provides the sweet corn with a protein that gives the sweet corn a natural resistance to specific groups of insects that damage corn crops. This natural resistance translates into dependable yields for producers and reduces the need for growers to use other crop protection methods—all of which can translate into savings for the consumer.

Farmers have been using the Bt protein as a pesticide in agriculture for the past 40 years and are commonly used in organic crop cultivation, because it readily breaks down in the environment and causes no harm to humans or animals.

In January 2003, Syngenta re-submitted a request to the EU to approve Bt-11 for cultivation purposes within EU member states. Currently, the cultivation request has been forwarded to the European Food Safety Authority and is awaiting their judgment.

Countries who have approved Syngenta’s Bt-11 sweet corn for all purposes: Argentina, Canada, Japan, South Africa, and the USA

Countries who have approved Syngenta’s Bt-11 sweet corn for food consumption only: Australia, China, EU, Korea, New Zealand, The Philippines, Russia, and Switzerland

Sources: ARD, Les Echos, Syngenta