This was the finding of an exclusive survey conducted by CSA for the GNIS and AGPM on October 17 and 18, 2007, questioning a nationally representative sample of one thousand people.

The survey also showed that most French people are aware of the reasons for choosing to grow GM maize, and list them in order:  “improved yield,” “lower production costs”, “better resistance to disease and parasites” and “reduced use of pesticides”.
It should be noted that 24% of those questioned did not express an opinion, which supports the view that many people still need information on the issue of GMOs.
 
The survey shows that the French are fully aware of the risk of GM crops being torn up, with 62% agreeing with the statement that “a farmer growing GM maize runs the risk of having his field destroyed by anti-GM activists”.  And there are 50% who believe that the illegal attacks destroying trial plots and GM crops have deterred French researchers.
 
Why do farmers grow GM maize?
AGPM, France’s association of maize producers, has also been surveying opinions, through the Kleffmann Institute, questioning farmers growing GM and non-GM maize.  The survey was carried out in July 2007 and covered 234 maize-growers in the regions of Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrenees.
This year, Bt maize has been grown over a total of 22 000 hectares, which means sufficient acreage and a sufficient number of farmers to collect the opinions of maize producers and to hear arguments of the farmers who chose to plant a Bt crop, despite strong pressure from GM opponents.
 
Reducing losses caused by parasite damage
It is not surprising to see that farmers choosing this protection are in maize-growing areas where there have been severe attacks by the corn borer and the stem borer.  Resistance to corn borer and stem borer (53%) and resistance to lodging caused by insect damage (36%) are the main reasons given by farmers.  They have also observed improved quality in the stem and see it as a way of avoiding losses when ears fall to the ground.
Bt maize offers farmers a solution that is simpler and more effective than chemical and biological pesticides.
 
Producing better quality maize
Damage caused by corn borer and stem borer creates an environment where parasitic fungus develop on the ears, damaging the quality.  But quality is what the maize sector is demanding, and constantly, particularly for animal feed.
48% of farmers growing Bt maize mentioned the improvement in the health of the plant and the kernels.  The quality of the harvest also relates to the improvements in yield noted by 30% of farmers growing Bt maize.
The increase in yield (an average of 15% for GM maize compared to conventional maize) is directly related to the level of parasite infestation of the crop.
 
Farmers therefore have both technical and financial arguments.  They believe Bt maize is good for trading, for qualitative reasons (“as a response to the legislation on mycotoxins”, “as a reliable and saleable product”), but also to respond to high market demand, mainly from Spain.  87% of GM maize-growers in 2006 sowed a GM crop again in 2007.
 
An ecological crop
Farmers believe that by growing Bt maize, they are helping  protect the environment, by reducing the use of insecticides (for 21%), and also by economising on fuel with less movement of farm machinery in the field to tend the crop.  They have also noted that Bt maize has no effect on auxiliary animal life.
 
Sharing experience:  a key factor when making the choice
For farmers who had opted for a GM crop, the determining factor in making the decision was the visit to see a trial and to share the experience of a neighbouring farmer:  this was reported by 33% of farmers, and for 28% there were discussions with their fellow maize producers.  They also stated clearly that they wanted to make up their own minds for themselves (33%).
For non-GM farmers, fear of social pressure was a factor that is a strong deterrent (for 30%).  Nearly half of those questioned said it was a difficult subject to discuss. 
And 63% of the maize-growers questioned maintained that the issue of GMOs is important.
  
 Contacts :                 AGPM :  Béatrice GUENEBEAUD – 06 84 51 00 96
                                  E-mail : beatrice.guenebeaud@agpm.com
                                  GNIS : Christian Saber - 01.42.33.86.74
                                  E-mail : christian.saber@gnis.fr