GM CROPS IN EUROPE

The area dedicated to GM crop cultivation in Europe, which is limited to MON 810 maize and the ‘Amflora’ potato, has fallen steeply over the last two years. At the same time popular opposition to GMOs in the EU has increased to 61%.22 These concerns over GM contamination are warranted, and new cases of GM potato contamination have also led to bans:23 the 2010 approval of a new GM potato by the European Commission has resulted in bans on the potato in Austria, Luxembourg and Hungary.

However, whilst these are the only two GM crops permitted for cultivation in Europe, a number of GMOs are approved for feed and food imports. The feed industry is currently exerting pressure on the EU to repeal its zero tolerance regulation of non-approved GM feed and food. Furthermore, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which assesses the risks associated with GMOs with respect to food and feed safety, has had its close relationship with biotech corporations exposed.24

Gm Cultivation Declining In Europe

As the biotech industry continues to be hit by legal proceedings, scandals and public concern over the safety of GM crops, their cultivation continues to fall in the European Union. Between 2008 and 2010, the total area under GM crops has declined by 23% (see

Table 1). In Romania, the area under cultivation declined by 87%, in Slovakia by 55% and in Czech Republic by 42% (see Table 1). Over 80% of the total area of land dedicated to growing GM crops in Europe is in Spain, which cultivates Monsanto’s GM maize MON 810. Even within this exceptionally GM-receptive European country, official data shows there was a 15% drop over two years, with 11% of that drop taking place between 2009

and 2010 (see Table 1). In Spain, GM crops have contaminated conventional and organic

maize, and the human food chain, which has in turn had negative economic impacts and resulted in some of the largest ever demonstrations against GM crops in Europe.25 Yet new evidence shows the Spanish Government collaborating with the US to push for greater acceptance of GM crops in Europe.26

Crystal

www.foei.org/en/resources/.../pdfs/.../who-benefits-from-gm-crops-2011