61% of Greek Farmers Willing to Adopt GM Maize, Study Reveals

A recent study published in the Journal of Agribiotechnology Management and Economics revealed that a considerable number of Greek farmers (61%) would adopt GM maize if Greece lifts the ban on GM maize cultivation. The Greek Government has banned Bt maize cultivation in the country by making use of the safeguard clause according to the European Union's (EU) directive on the release of GMOs.

In terms of the benefits of GM maize technology, 56% of the respondents would adopt Bt maize if it was sold at the same price as the conventional one while 68% would adopt Bt maize for the benefit of decreased production costs resulting from the non-use of insecticides. In general, the study concluded that there is no consensus regarding the rejection of GM crops in Greece and that EU and Greek policymakers should come to this realization.

Access the journal article at http://www.agbioforum.org/v15n3/v15n3a02-skevas.htm.