Using Simulation Models and Data Mining to Study Co-Existence of GM/Non-GM Crops at Regional Level

Abstract

Genetically-modified (GM) crops increased their share in EU agriculture, so the adventitious presence of GM varieties in non-GM seeds and crops has become an issue and poses the problem of their co-existence with conventional and organic crops. Therefore, there is a need to propose appropriate measures at the farm and regional levels to minimize adventitious presence of GM crops. Outputs from the previously developed GENESYS model for gene flow between cropped and volunteer oilseed rape were used to make rule-based models that predict the rates of adventitious presence of GM seeds in the central field of a large-risk field pattern. Data aggregation was carried out to investigate if the regional variables improve the prediction quality of the rule-based model.