GMW: MONSANTO TARGET'S EUROPE'S MAIZE (Corn)

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GMW: MONSANTO TARGET'S EUROPE'S MAIZE (Corn)

" GM WATCH " <info

Tue, 10 Jan 2006 11:43:57 GMT

 

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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Lots of good info here on how Monsanto is ambitiously talking up the

numbers and yet how pathetic its actual delivery on GM crops in Europe

has been.

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MONSANTO TARGET'S EUROPE'S MAIZE

 

10 years of biotech crops fail to deliver benefits for consumers and

environment

 

MEDIA ADVISORY

Friends of the Earth Europe

 

January 10, 2006

 

Brussels (Belgium) January 10, 2006 – US-based biotech giant, Monsanto,

is aiming to genetically modify all of Europe's maize over the next 4

years, reveals a new Friends of the Earth report released today. The

report also concludes that in the ten years since the introduction of

genetically modified (GM) foods in Europe, the biotech industry has

failed

to deliver any benefits for consumers or the environment, and has not

played any role in solving hunger and poverty.

 

The Friends of the Earth report highlights that over the past 10 years

Monsanto and its trade bodies have consistently worked to weaken

European laws to protect consumers, the environment and farmers and that

despite overwhelming public rejection in Europe, Monsanto and the biotech

industry have an unacceptable influence over many parts of European

food, research and agriculture policy. [1]

 

The report reveals that in November 2005 Monsanto announced to its

investors that it sees Europe as a " Next Opportunity " . It highlighted

that

in the four years up to 2010 there is market potential to introduce 59

million hectares of its Roundup Ready maize and 32 million hectares of

its YieldGard insect-resistant maize. In other words, it is targeting

the whole of the European continent's maize production. In addition, it

is aiming to introduce 1 million acres of its GM soybeans [2]. Monsanto

has currently permission to grow only one type of insect-resistant

maize in the EU

 

However, despite Monsanto's efforts, the Friends of the Earth report

reveals that:

 

* There have been no new GM crops approved for cultivation in the EU

since 1998, and despite 30 years of research and public money the

industry has only delivered two GM traits: herbicide tolerance and insect

resistance.

 

* Commercial growing on any scale in the EU is still limited to just

Spain, and even there the number of GM events permitted has now been

reduced to just one.

 

* The number of countries banning GM products has increased over recent

years and the number of regions in Europe declaring themselves GM Free

zones has grown to 165, with 4500 smaller areas declaring themselves

also GM free. In November the Swiss voted in a referendum for a five year

ban.

 

* Europeans continue to reject GM foods. European polls show that 70%

of the public do not want to eat GM foods, and all major food

manufacturers and retailers prohibit the use of GMOs in their

products, in

particular Monsanto's GM soya.

 

* GM crops have failed to tackle hunger and poverty. Most GM crops are

destined for animal feed, and none have been introduced to address

hunger and poverty issues. GM crops in developing countries have been

grown

mainly as export cash crops, sometimes at the expense of local food

production. Other developing countries, such as Indonesia and India, have

experienced substantial problems with Monsanto's GM crops, often

leaving farmers heavily indebted. Monsanto continues to introduce

aggressive

royalty initiatives in South America to increase its profits.

 

Adrian Bebb, GM Campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe said:

 

" Monsanto's plans to take-over and genetically modify all maize

production in Europe should be ringing alarm bells for farmers and

consumers.

It is crucial that Europe and its national Governments thwart

Monsanto's plans to control our food and countryside. "

 

" Our report shows that in the ten years since genetically modified

crops were introduced we have seen crops fail in developing countries

leaving poor farmers destitute, we've seen an increase in the use of

pesticides and we've seen a small number of very big corporations buy

up the

world's seed supply. "

 

Paul de Clerck, Friends of the Earth Europe's corporate campaigner

said:

 

" Monsanto has been in the driver's seat as the US, Brazil and other

countries developed their GM policies, and their influence has been

obvious. In Paraguay and Brazil Monsanto's GM products were grown even

though they were forbidden, and in Indonesia the company was reduced to

bribing government officials. Governments should stop serving the

interests

of big companies such as Monsanto and put the interests of their

citizens and the environment first. "

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

 

Adrian Bebb mobile +49 1609 490 1163

Paul de Clerck + 32-2-5426107

 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

 

[1] The executive summary of the report will be available on January 10

online at

http://www.foei.org/publications/pdfs/gmcrops2006execsummary.pdf

 

The full report will be available upon request from ann

 

A fact sheet on GM crops is online at:

http://www.foei.org/publications/pdfs/gmcrops2006factsheet.pdf

 

[2] Brett Begemann, Executive Vice President, Monsanto Bienniel US

Investor Day, 10 November 2005,

www.monsanto.com/monsanto/content/investor/financial/presentations/2005/11-10-05\

e.pdf

 

 

 

 

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