Simulation and evaluation of GM and non-GM segregation management strategies among European grain merchants

Abstract Considering the European regulations, a product needs to be labelled as containing GM when the adventitious presence of GM material exceeds 0.9%. During collection, crops from many fields are combined to fill a silo. Three management strategies to avoid the risk of mixing GM and non-GM crops were identified by a descriptive work based on cases studies in various region of France: defining GM and non-GM silos and production zones; specifying the timing of GM and non-GM crops delivery at silos; or using local management rules at each stage of the supply chain. To evaluate these strategies and to compare them to the actual supply chain management we propose a model of elevators’ supply chain management. The allocation of specific silos to GM and non-GM crops allows all the non-GM production to be segregated, but with a 700% increase in transportation cost. Specifying the timing of GM and non-GM crops deliveries allows all the non-GM crops to be segregated without any cost increase. Using local management rules does not allow more than 50% of the non-GM crops to be segregated without an increase in costs.

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