A Biotechnology Manifesto European Union Must Read
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The European Association for Bioindustries has unveiled a Green
Biotechnology Manifesto, which spells out the road map for genetically
modified organisms (GMOs) adoption in Europe.
Released at a biotechnology gathering in Lyons, France, organized by
BioVision, an international platform that fosters dialogue, debates
and proposals in Life Sciences, the manifesto underscores the
importance of agricultural or "green" biotechnology to Europe.
It calls on Europe to rethink its stand on agricultural biotechnology
noting that, "planting [of genetically modified crops] in Europe has
been much slower, but is accelerating as farmers start realizing the
benefits of biotech crops."
"Biotechnology is being exploited at an accelerating rate by Europe's
competitors, but if allowed to flourish, it will contribute to the
increased economic and environmental sustainability of European
agriculture and to efforts to ensure world food stocks keep up with
rising demand," Adds the manifesto.
Perhaps, the most interesting observation one can make from this
manifesto is its call on Europe to respect other countries' freedoms
to grow and trade in genetically modified commodities.
"New biotech products and crops continue to be approved, cultivated
and commercialized at a higher speed and in greater numbers in other
parts of the world such as North America, South America, Asia, and
South Africa," It observes, adding, "...the EU (European Union) does not
permit any presence of biotech material, approved outside the EU, to
be present in traded commodities entering the EU."
I have repeatedly pointed out in this blog that Europe needs to put
its act together on GMOs. Europe's current anti-GMOs policies hurt
farmers in developing countries more than it does its own. As the
manifesto notes, the EU strictly prohibits agricultural imports
containing minutest of GMOs. What this means is that most developing
countries won't dare touch GMOs for fear of losing lucrative European
markets for their agricultural products. By default, the EU has barred
them from growing genetically modified crops.
This is unfair, to say the least. The EU accords member countries
flexibility to grow or not to grow genetically modified crops. They're
even free to trade their biotech agricultural products within the EU
block unhindered. And the EU won't object if they donate, as relief
aid, some of their surplus biotech food to developing countries. In
fact, the European Commission (EC), the EU's executive organ, itself,
hauls tones and tones of food, some of it biotech, to poor countries,
"to feed the hungry and malnourished."
So, it seems that it's alright for developing countries to be
recipients of biotech food originating from EU countries, but it's
unacceptable for them to grow their own biotech crops. This is
hypocrisy and demonstrates how the EU is least interested in promoting
sustainable development programs in poor countries.
It's every farmer's solemn right, whether in Europe, Africa, Asia, or
America, to experiment on new agricultural technologies such as
biotechnology. Unfair laws, such as the ones being maintained by the
EU, should never be allowed to stifle such endeavors.
James authors GMO Africa Blog. On the net at http://www.gmoafrica.org/