7 February 2011

GM still controversial despite slackening of EU Regulations

GM clearly remains a controversial issue as tensions run high in the advent of a potential change of legislation in the EU and debate rages on in the USA after traditional farmers say the recent deregulation of GM alfalfa could spell disaster for their operations.

Highly controversial plans are expected to be approved this week that would see genetically modified crops being permitted to enter the UK without requiring regulatory clearance. The Observer reported on Sunday that Britain intends to back EU plans permitting animal feed imports to contain traces of GM crops.

If a vote on Tuesday 8 Feb, put forward by the EU standing committee on the food chain and animal health, comes out in favour of the initiative, it will overturn the EU’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy on the import of unauthorised GM crops. Imported feed containing GM must currently be authorised by the EU regulators, a cessation of the zero tolerance policy would be a boon to US producers, who have in the past had shipments turned away after they have been found to be contaminated.  

The plans, which would mark a significant victory for the pro-GM lobby, have sparked outrage from environmental groups in the UK. Speaking in the Observer, Eve Mitchell, food policy adviser at public interest group Food and Water Europe said, "Rather than ignoring EU food safety laws to help the US soy industry cut costs, we should simply buy the stuff from countries that segregate their GM properly. If it hasn't been tested, why eat it?"

"Invoked Reasons"

Furthermore, as efforts by the GM-lobby to stimulate the introduction of the technology in the EU continue to meet with widespread disapproval, La France Agricole reported Friday (4 Feb) that, in order to block the process of authorisation of GMOs, the European Commission has proposed a state-based system for GMO legislation. The commission suggests leaving the regulatory decisions over growing GM to member states on a state-by-state basis. On the 11 February the Commission will submit seven ‘invoked reasons’ to follow this procedure, these include avoiding anti-GM public protests, preserving traditional crops and consumer assurance that GM-free crops will still be available.

Bulgaria has recently decided to forbid the growing of GM crops, joining France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Greece and Austria in opposing the technology. Only two GM crops are currently grown commercially in the EU; GM maize and potatoes cover just over 100,000 hectares, mostly in Spain.

GM crops responsible for ‘super-weeds’

Detractors state that herbicide resistant modified crops are responsible for the creation of ‘super-weeds’ plaguing US farmers, which result in increased pesticide use. The fact that the crops are the property of private companies has also led many to view the technology with suspicion. Genetically modified seeds cannot be saved from year to year and have to be purchased each season, which has led to more cynical applications of GM technology including the infamous terminator seeds. There are fears that such biotechnology could lead farmers into bondage to large companies.

Some have also speculated that, should GM technology be adopted in the UK, growers would encounter the same problems as US beet farmers. In the US, regulatory decisions aimed at protecting organic beet farmers have had to be reversed when sugar-beet processors said there were no longer enough traditional seeds available for farmers to plant this spring; years of growing genetically modifed beet in the US meant it accounted for 90% of the entire beet crop. This comes as no surprise to critics such as Helen Wallace, director of GeneWatch UK, who has said, "[the GM industry’s] long-term aim is to contaminate the food chain to such an extent that GM-free food will disappear."

US alfalfa deregulation ‘going to be a problem’

In the US, despite Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack's assurances to the contrary, farmers and environmentalists claim that recently deregulated GM alfalfa will contaminate traditional crops.

The USDA say crop geneticists have been tasked with identifying ways to protect unmodified alfalfa from GM strains and Vilsack has proposed research to improve detection. $1 million has been promised for research into the flow of pollen, to better determine the optimal size for buffer zones between modified and unmodified fields to prevent contamination.

Nevertheless, experts remain sceptical. Jeff Wolt, an agronomist at Iowa State University's Seed Science Center has warned that, "Some degree of cross-pollination will occur regardless of what mechanism is going to be put in place."

Unmodified corn, soybeans, canola and rice have all suffered contamination after genetically engineered varieties were introduced. Kristina Hubbard, director of advocacy for the Organic Seed Alliance in Washington has said measures to protect unmodified and organic crops should have been in place before the genetically engineered alfalfa was deregulated. Hubbard has said she is not interested in talking about ways the two groups of farmers can co-exist until protection for traditional farmers is assured.

Haitian farmers burn Monsanto seeds

While GM’s supporters claim the technology promotes higher yields and represents one of the key weapons in the arsenal against global hunger, the attitude of many in developing countries is at odds with their thought.

In observance of World Environment Day, after Monsanto donated nearly 60,000 seed sacks of hybrid corn seeds and other vegetable seeds in the wake of a devastating earthquake, 10,000 rural Haitian farmers gathered in Papaye to march seven kilometers to Hinche where they burned the seed. The farmers chanted in unison, "Long live the native maize seed!" and "Monsanto's GMO and hybrid seed violate peasant agriculture!"

Catherine Thélémaque of Action SOS Haiti axplained their actions, saying, "Our people will never be autonomous if Haiti has to suffer through what is called generosity, but makes us dependent on corporate control in agricultural production."