Broadening the scope of regulation: a prerequisite for a positive contribution of transgenic crop use to sustainable development

Ex-ante regulation of transgenic crop use generally prevails, before the authorization of commercial release. This kind of regulation addresses the concerns of biosafety and coexistence, under pressure of pros and/or cons of GMO. After fifteen years of large scale use of transgenic crops (notably soybean and cotton) in various countries (USA, China, Brasil, India...), ecological and economic phenomena are observed and which could threaten the sustainable use of transgenic varieties. I advocate that the regulation scope must be extended so as to a) promote a systemic and coordinated approach of transgenic crop use, b) ensure seed purity with regard to the transgenic trait, c) maintain research on non-transgenic varieties, and d) warrant fair pricing of transgenic seeds.