An international conference on the coexistence of genetically-and non-genetically modified crops will be held in Melbourne, Australia on Nov. 10-12.

The Fourth International Conference on Coexistence between Genetically Modified (GM) and non-GM based Agricultural Supply Chains will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre with public and private stakeholders from different parts of the world participating.

It is the only international forum that will focus on coexistence between GM and non-GM agricultural supply chains, says the Department of Agriculture - Biotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO).

DA-BPO director Alicia Ilaga said the conference will also dwell on the case of the Philippines, which approved the commercial propagation of Bacillus thuriegiensis (Bt) corn in 2005.

The Philippines stands to benefit from the valuable lessons that can be learned from the exchanges of valuable information and possibly technology transfer, to better apply GM technology in the Philippines.

Bt corn is primarily used for animal feed even as government regulators, as well as the seed's producer, Monsanto, claim it is safe for human consumption.

Prof. German Spangenberg, executive director of the Biosciences Research Division, Department of Primary Industries, said the conference will cover key issues on coexistence between GM and non-GM agricultural supply chains ranging from production level to the market place.

The topics include gene flow in agricultural systems, strategies for coexistence and organisational measures across the supply chain, socio-economics of coexistence and cost/benefit analysis of coexistence strategies, legal and policy issues of coexistence frameworks, and traceability and control of coexistence.

This is the first time that such a GMCC event will be held outside of Europe, Spangenberg, this year's GMCC'09 event chairman, said.

The conference will highlight the progress of the Australian approach to coexistence between GM/non-GM canola, and attempt to address the planning of coexistence measures in advance of other GM crop introductions.

The GMCC'09 conference will be highly relevant for industry, policy, agricultural biotechnology R&D and agribusiness communities, he said.

Coverage of the conference includes farming systems in the developing world, rather than focus on Europe and Americas.

Ilaga said the GMCC series is moving away from the primary attention on maize and oilseed rape that has characterized the first three meetings.

The conference is expected to come up with a paper dealing with the potential impact of GM technologies in the developing world with emphasis on Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, as well as the strategies that need to be in place to ensure that the benefits are captured by the local producers and industries and that the market access is protected and market returns preserved where local or international consumers discriminate between GM and non-GM produce.