Are GM plants sterile, obliging farmers to buy new seeds every year?

No, all GM plants commercialized so far are as fertile as their conventional counterparts. Where does this rumour come from? In fact, GMO opponents have called ‘terminator’ a gene technology that was developed and patented a couple of years ago under the real name ‘GURT’, for Genetic Use Restriction Technology. This genetic programming of seed sterility allows to prevent unlicensed seed multiplication, but also ensures efficient control over transgene escape and over the spread of transgenic volunteer plants in the fields and in the wild. Despite these agroecological advantages, socioeconomic concerns were raised and vividly advocated by NGOs and some international organizations, defending as top priority the right of seed multiplication on the farm.  Although GURT technology would only be introduced in a few varieties, leaving space to conventional varieties, corporate developers pledged not to commercialize the technology. Nevertheless, GURT technology might be convoked and well accepted in the future for special applications, like the production of pharmaceuticals in field-grown plants, for which gene flows must be under very strict control.

back