GM Crops Back on the Agenda in Brussels

VIDEO NEWS RELEASE

NEW CAMPAIGN CALLS FOR REVIVED TALKS ON

GM CROPS IN EUROPE TO BE KILLED OFF

• FRANKENFOOD BACK ON THE AGENDA IN BRUSSELS
• FARMERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS CALL ON EUROPEAN UNION TO BLOCK CULTIVATION OF NEW GM-CROPS

Story: Farmers and green groups are coming together to launch a new campaign – ahead of the Environmental Council meeting held on 21 March in Brussels – calling on EU politicians to halt the authorisation of 25 GM crops currently being considered for cultivation in Europe.

The ‘Stop the Crop’ campaign highlights the devastating impacts already experienced in other countries as a result of the increased pesticide use in large-scale GM crop production. Campaigners – including Friends of the Earth Europe and Corporate Europe Observatory – are warning EU Member States that the expansion of GM cultivation and increased use of toxic pesticide Roundup in Europe will endanger the environment and potentially human health – similar to those experienced in South America.

The EU currently imports soy from large-scale monoculture plantations in South America and the region has experienced several negative effects through farming the crop. In some cases, areas experienced both deforestation and displacement of local people and increased public health issues amongst rural communities living in close proximity to the farms. In a bid to challenge the use of the crop, citizens in the affected areas have taken local action and brought soy farmers and agribusiness companies to court.

In the coming months, the Environment Council is expected to decide on the approval of 25 new GM crops for cultivation in Europe – including Roundup-resistant and insecticide-producing varieties of GM maize, soybean and sugarbeet. The next step will be a vote amongst the same experts, the outcome of which will govern whether the European Commission decides to authorise their cultivation in Europe.

OTHER KEY INFORMATION

• GM crops can contaminate conventional and organic crops as the pollen and seeds are transported by wind and insects.
• GM crops are patented therefore allowing biotech companies to sue farmers for using patented property even if those crops got into the farmers’ fields through accidental contamination. By December 2012 Monsanto had sued 410 farmers and 56 farm companies for patent infringements in the USA.
• The European Commission presented several Roundup Ready crops to the countries for authorisation in EU. Roundup Ready soybeans (technical name 40-3-2 from Monsanto) and maize (technical names Mon88017 from Monsanto and GA21 from Syngenta) were discussed by national experts in January and September 2012.
• The ‘Stop the Crop’ campaign is supported by Friends of the Earth Europe, Corporate Europe Observatory, La Via Campesina, the European Environmental Bureau, Bioforum (Belgium), Oikos (Belgium), Climaxi (Belgium), GM Watch (UK), InfOGM (France), Save our Seeds (Germany), and Slow Food Germany.

IN THIS VIDEO: In 2012 the results of a two year study into the toxicity of Roundup were published. French researchers fed rats with low levels of the chemical formulation and others ate genetically modified maize grown with Roundup.

Roundup is a herbicide developed by Monsanto and is now the most widely used herbicide in the world – sprayed onto fields to kill weeds through its active ingredient glyphosate.

Very few GM crops are grown in the EU, but millions of tonnes of GM soya are imported every year as animal feed. However some farmers feel Roundup residues in the feed have affected their livestock – including Danish pig farmer lb Borup Pedersen.

Stuart Agnew, MEP for UKIP and Pro GM campaigner, asks whether we can afford not to use this technology – since GM crops have passed all of the relevant safety checks that non GM crops have.

Aside from health concerns, British farmer Michael Hart claims glyphosate becomes ineffective over time as weeds become intolerant to it. The Cornish farmer speaks to GM farmers in the US to get their view on whether the UK should go down the GM crop route or whether it should be avoided.

The video includes:

• Interviews with; Patrick Holden, Sustainable Food Trust, Danish pig farmer whose stock was affected by GM soya, Stuart Agnew, MEP UKIP and advocate from GM Food, British farmer Michael Hart, US farmers, Nina Holland campaigner from Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)
• Farmers and green groups unite to launch the ‘Stop the Crop’ campaign to highlight the devastating impacts GM crop production has had in other countries.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For more information please visit the Stop the Crop website: https://www.stopthecrop.be

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