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RESEARCH PRODUCT

French collective expertise on herbicide-tolerant varieties

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The primary objective in creating herbicide-tolerant varieties is to offer the farmers with an efficient tool to ensure weed control and solve weed problems, but their use could eventually have expected or unexpected consequences according to conditions of implementation. A few of those varieties, obtained either through classical breeding or through induced mutagenesis are now on the European market (especially oilseed rape and sunflower) while a majority, which was obtained through genetic engineering, is not allowed for cultivation in this area. The report describes how CNRS and INRA experts dealt with the scientific literature, extracts key elements, points out necessary watchfulness on potential impacts detected by the expertise, and considers their use in the framework of the French "Ecophyto 2018" plan that aims at reducing the use of agrochemicals.