New genetic engineering: farmers increasingly dependent on agribusiness

2023-09-04 09:21:07

GLOBAL 2000 appeals to EU agriculture ministers: pull the brakes on genetic engineering deregulation and ensure sustainable agriculture!

This legislative proposal by the EU Commission brings farmers into a dangerous dependency on agricultural corporations, endangers Austria’s agriculture and takes away the freedom of choice from producers and consumers. Federal Minister Totschnig, together with the EU Ministers of Agriculture, must do everything in his power to ensure that new genetic engineering in agriculture continues to be strictly regulated and clearly labelled!”

Brigitte Reisenberger, GLOBAL 2000 genetic engineering spokeswoman

Wien, Cordoba (OTS) – The EU agriculture ministers are advising on a informal Council of Ministers of Agriculture until tomorrow, September 5th about the Proposal for a law to deregulate the new genetic engineering (NGT). GLOBAL 2000 points out key sticking points and appeals to Federal Minister Totschnig: “This legislative proposal by the EU Commission brings farmers into a dangerous dependency on agricultural corporations, endangers Austria’s agriculture and takes away the freedom of choice from producers and consumers. Federal Minister Totschnig, together with the EU Ministers of Agriculture, must do everything in his power to ensure that new genetic engineering in agriculture continues to be strictly regulated and clearly labelled!”

Agribusinesses: Patents pending on NGT crops

Agribusinesses file patents for NGT crops, while the EU Commission Patentability of new genetic engineering ignored in the legislative proposal has. The Commission only plans to monitor the effects of deregulation on the market and breeding innovations until 2026. GLOBAL 2000 warns of the risks of growing farm dependency as major corporations such as Bayer and Corteva have already patented many NGT products, including seeds and crops. These patents would create royalties for everyone in the production chain and huge patent infringement risks. The European Patent Office (EPO) confirmedthat NGTs comply with the current criteria for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in practice EU Biopatent Directive are patentable.

“The implementation of this deregulation proposal could lead to a flood of patented seeds in the EU. For breeders and farmers, the possibility of free use of genetic resources would be massively restricted or made impossible. Patents would block the natural breeding of climate-friendly crops”warns Brigitte Reisenberger, GLOBAL 2000 genetic engineering spokesperson. “Die The EU Commission is turning a blind eye to a flood of patents and ignores this danger to rural agriculture. The Ministers of Agriculture are called upon to pull the brakes on genetic engineering deregulation”says Brigitte Reisenberger.

Danger for organic and GMO-free agriculture in Austria

According to the proposed law, the use of NGT plants in organic farming would still be prohibited, which is positive. However, as a result of the lack of traceability of NGT plants and NGT products, it is completely unclear how this can be implemented in practice for non-GMO and organic farming. So far, an EU member state can ban or restrict cultivation on its own territory. According to the draft law, the cultivation of NGT crops nationally should no longer be restricted by this Opt-out mechanism prohibited or may be restricted. So far, there has also been genetic engineering law in the EU Measures for the coexistence of GMO-free and GMO food production. In the current proposal, the EU Commission shifts responsibility for the coexistence rules to the member states, but without providing the necessary instruments for enforcement in the legislative proposal. This point is particularly relevant for Austria because Austrian agriculture has succeeded in maintaining GMO-free cultivation and the organic share is the highest in the EU.

Out of transparency in GM foods?

For large parts of the production chain and for trade, according to the legislative proposal of the EU Commission no labeling required apply anymore. “Consumers’ freedom of choice when buying groceries, which is enshrined in the EU’s basic laws, would thus be lost”, criticizes Brigitte Reisenberger, spokeswoman for GLOBAL 2000 genetic engineering. The current EU regulations on the labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMO) provide: Food and feed that are genetically modified or contain GM ingredients must be labeled up to the end product.

Next steps in the legislative process

After the draft law was presented in July 2023, it is now the turn of the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament to find a position on the law. The Spanish Presidency has given the negotiations high priority. When both bodies have defined their positions, the legal negotiations begin in the trilogue between the Council, Parliament and Commission.

Questions & contact:

Selina Englmayer, GLOBAL 2000 press officer, [phone], [e-mail]
Brigitte Reisenberger, GLOBAL 2000 genetic engineering spokesperson, [phone], [e-mail]

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