*[Enwl-eng] This could change our food system forever
enwl
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Big chemical companies have convinced the EU Commission to stop labelling GM foods in our supermarkets. There would be no way to know whether we're buying genetically modified food. Our governments still have a chance to make the EU stand up for safe, healthy and transparent food. It's up to us to make sure they do. |
In Europe, we have strict regulations on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) – for our safety and transparency. Genetically modified foods have their DNA changed via genetic engineering - a way that does not occur naturally.
But now, big chemical companies have convinced the EU Commission to stop checking and labelling some GMOs. [1, 2] They're trying to increase their profits by getting the "GMO" label off their products. [3] More of us would buy their products without knowing that we're eating GM food.
As a result, farmers would start using more patented seeds that rely on toxic pesticides. Many new GM plants are resistant to pesticides, such as those that are "Roundup ready". This could put the fate of our entire food system directly into the hands of Bayer-Monsanto and other big corporations. Deregulating these GMOs would be a huge step backward for farming communities, people and the environment.
Our national governments need to stand up for safe, healthy, and transparent food. Only a few do at the moment. That's why it's so important that we send a strong message to all our governments and the EU Commission that we want them to prioritise safety and transparency over corporate profits.
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Exempting new GMOs from the rules is an industry attempt to divert our money and attention away from the real solutions we need. Agroecology and permacultures can lead Europe toward true sustainability - new GMOs cannot.
Now, the Commission is gauging public opinion for its deregulation plans. It's running a biassed consultation that's framed almost all questions in a way to support deregulation. [4] Alongside this, our national ministers will discuss their positions within the month! This could be our last chance to raise our voices before the EU moves ahead. Will you add your voice as well?
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Thank you for fighting for a better Europe,
David (London),
Aleksandra (Warsaw) and the entire WeMove Europe team
References:
[1] The GMOs in question are produced with "New Genomic
Techniques" (NGTs). These are used to create new GMO food. NGTs are techniques
capable of altering an organism's genetic material and that have emerged or have
been mainly developed since
2001.
https://friendsoftheearth.eu/press-release/eu-commission-serves-big-agribusiness-interests-with-latest-consultation-on-new-gmos/
https://viacampesina.org/en/more-than-80-organisations-call-on-the-european-commission-to-wait-for-cjeu-clarifications-on-new-genomic-techniques/
https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/commission-reopens-gene-editings-box-amid-sustainability-claims/
https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/meps-demand-eu-funding-for-research-into-gene-editing-surveillance/
[2]
The main corporations that are dominant both in the pesticide and in the
commercial seed market are also lobbying for deregulation of new GMOs: Bayer,
BASF, Corteva and
Syngenta
https://corporateeurope.org/en/2021/03/derailing-eu-rules-new-gmos
[3]
The patents on these types of GM seeds are currently dominated by the 'Corteva
group', which, apart from its own patents, controls access to many other patents
needed by breeders who want to use CRISPR/Cas technology. The other main
companies are Calyxt, Bayer, BASF, Syngenta and
Keygene.
https://www.testbiotech.org/sites/default/files/Patents_on%20new%20GE.pdf
[4]
https://friendsoftheearth.eu/press-release/eu-commission-serves-big-agribusiness-interests-with-latest-consultation-on-new-gmos/
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