Brussels, Belgium
October 26, 2007
As part of a statement yesterday
on the results of
the Grenelle de l'Environnement, the French President
announced the suspension of the commercial cultivation of
biotech crops in France. This suspension would be in force until
a new body, which is expected to be created before the end of
the year, has been able to assess the subject.
In the statement the French President justifies his decision on
the basis of supposed doubts on the value of biotech crops, the
ability to manage their dissemination and their health and
environmental benefits.
President Sarkozy's call for the creation of a new independent
body shows distrust in the accumulated scientific evidence to
date, of the expert opinions from both the French Food Agency
(AFSSA) and the European
Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and of the European approval
system generally.
A suspension also flies in the face of the overwhelming
scientific evidence and positive commercial experience of
biotech crops around the world. In 2006, 10.3 million farmers in
22 countries cultivated genetically modified (biotech) crops on
102 million hectares. The adoption rate has seen double-digit
annual growth since 1996.
A suspension will greatly damage the competitiveness of French
farmers who have benefited from this technology for the past 3
years. An exclusive CSA Institute survey for the French Maize
growers shows that 52% of the French are in favour of using the
cultivation of biotech crops to safeguard the competitiveness of
French farmers.
French farmers should have the right voluntarily to choose
whether or not to grow approved biotech crops (1).
EuropaBio welcomes the
reported remarks by EU Agriculture Commissioner Fischer Boel on
the illegality of a ban on biotech crops in France and EU
Environment Commissioner Dimas asking France's President
Niclolas Sarkozy to revoke his proposed suspension of the
commercial cultivation of biotech crops because it is contrary
to European law.
As far as health and environmental benefits of biotech crops are
concerned, they are a tool for farmers to fight disease,
increase yields and reduce the inputs needed to grow crops. This
is reflected by the fact that French farmers grew 70% more GM
maize in 2006 compared with the previous year.
The environmental benefits of insect resistant corn are equally
well documented. Thus, biotech crop-related carbon dioxide
emission savings in 2005 are equivalent to the removal from the
roads of nearly 4.01 million cars for a year, equal to about 17%
of all registered cars in the UK.
Crop yields of biotech maize can increase up to 15% in areas of
the highest corn borer pressure.
Experience with the same crop in France since 2005 and in Spain
for 10 years has shown that the coexistence of biotech,
conventional and organic agriculture is readily feasible. The
steady growth of both organic and biotech cultivation in those
countries clearly shows that reports of intermingling are
unfounded.
(1) Experience of growing Biotech maize - A French farmer's
witness account -
http://www.liberation.fr/actualite/economie_terre/286682.FR.php
EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries, has 85
direct members operating Worldwide, 12 associate members and 5
bioregions as well as 25 national biotechnology associations
representing some 1800 small and medium sized enterprises
involved in research and development, testing, manufacturing and
distribution of biotechnology products. |
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