Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to evaluate the economic implications of the use of genetically modified organisms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3588/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that I have no plans at present to commission any further evaluations on the economic implications of the use of genetically modified organisms. The Deputy will recall that Teagasc, at my request, carried out in 2006, a study on evaluation of the possible national economic implications for the Agri-Food industry from the use of GMOs in crop and livestock production. Teagasc based their study on the following scenarios:

(i) The economic implications of only allowing the importation into Ireland of certified GM-free soyabean and maize livestock feed ingredients; and

(ii) The economic implications of GM-free crop cultivation in Ireland.

In the first scenario the study showed that substantial additional costs would be placed on the livestock sector, particularly on specialist dairy and beef farmers, if they were to use certified GM free soya and maize only in feedingstuffs. In the second scenario the study examined five hypothetical GM crops which could be grown here — herbicide tolerant sugar beet, Septoria resistant winter wheat, Fusarium resistant winter wheat, Rhyncosporium resistant spring barley and blight resistant potatoes. This study showed that increased profits could be generated for growers of these crops compared to their conventional equivalent. However, the study showed that there is a significant cost in relation to Identity Preservation for conventional growers in a coexistence arrangement.