| |
|
|
Research |
Herbicide tolerance, product characteristics |
|
Field trials |
EU 2
in other countries |
|
Approvals |
USA: 1
Canada, 5 other countries |
|
Cultivation |
USA: ca. 80.000
ha (2006) |
|
Traits |
Herbicide tolerance |
|
Perspectives |
No commercial utilisation of GM lucerne is expected in the
EU at present. |
Cultivation
Lucerne, also know as alfalfa, is grown worldwide
as a single crop or as part of a mixed crop for long-term grasslands
and pastures. Since it produces a good harvest for several successive
years, it is also known under the name "perpetual clover".
Lucerne can be harvested up to five times a year and is usually
harvested before it flowers and produces seeds.
Lucerne can be grown in regions with moderate, subtropical or
tropical climates. In Canada, alfalfa is cultivated on over 4.5
million hectares, and in the USA on ca. 9.3 hectares.
Utilisation
The protein- and vitamin-rich lucerne (alfalfa) is worldwide the
most important green and fodder plant. It is mainly fed to dairy
cows, but also to cattle, sheep and horses.Other uses:
Foodstuff
-
A substantial proportion of the lucerne harvest is consumed as food;
in Africa, the shoots especially are a valued vegetable.
Gene technology: aims of research and development
Agronomic traits
Weed control
-
 Herbicide tolerance:
when cultivating alfalfa weed control is particularly important.
The harvest is often mixed with wild plants, which reduces the quality
of the animal feed with regards to taste, energy levels and content
of nutrients. These weeds also frequently contain substances that
are harmful or even poisonous for domestic animals. A system comprising
herbicide-tolerant lucerne and the complementary
herbicide should provide an effective method to combat this
undesired weed contamination.
Resistance against pathogens
Resistance to pests
Adaptation to climate and location factors
Quality traits
Modified composition of components
-
The aim is an optimised exploitation as animal feed,
and this includes reducing the content of lignin. High lignin contents lower
the value for ruminants significantly.
-
Enrichment with isoflavonoids to increase the quality
as fodder
Renewable primary products
Production of pharmaceutically active substances
Field trials with GM lucerne
| EU |
|
Applications |
2 |
| Countries |
Belgium, Spain |
| Period |
1994 |
| Traits |
Modified product quality, virus resistance |
| Worldwide |
| USA |
about 400 |
| Period |
1989-2010 |
| other
countries |
Argentinia, Japan |
Utilisation of GM lucerne
| Approvals worldwide |
| |
For cultivation |
As
foodstuff/feed |
| USA |
1 |
1 |
| Canada |
1 |
1 |
| Australia |
|
1 |
| Japan |
1 |
|
| Mexico |
|
1 |
| Philippines |
|
1 |
| Traits |
Herbicide tolerance |
| Listed are
the different GM-lucerne bean lines (Events). |
| Cultivation |
| USA |
In the USA, in 2006, RoundupReady alfalfa was cultivated on about
80.000 hectares. This corresponds to almost one percent of all the
acreage of alfalfa cultivation. In March 2007, the approval for
cultivation was withdrawn after a complaint, and an extensive safety
check has been demanded. GM-lucerne that was sown before March 2007
could have been harvested and sold, but has been by law specifically labelled.
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