GMO-free Europe conference – 7 September 2023
On 7 September, the 10th GMO free Europe conference gathered policymakers, scientists, farmers, and representatives of the organic and the GMO-free movement. Green Members of the European Parliament Martin Häusling, Tilly Metz and Sarah Wiener hosted the event with the aim of examining and discussing the potential impact of the Commission proposal on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) on environmental protection, agricultural practices, food markets, farmers and consumers rights.
After keynote speeches from national, regional, municipal and grassroots levels across Europe, there were 3 thematic panels:
- The new GMO proposal of the Commission and its scientific and practical foundations,
- Traceability and labelling of new GMOs,
- Potential impact on food systems and agricultural practices including patents
Speakers raised several concerns regarding the Commission’s proposal, including the issue of consumer choice and traceability, and warned against the dangers of ignoring the precautionary principle.
We noted below highlights:
- MEP Sarah Wiener opened the conference by reminding participants that citizens want safe food and environmental action. She added that it is now clear that NGTs do not lead to less pesticide use, on the contrary it increases it. Deregulation is being forced on Europeans and will probably lead to distrust from citizens in EU institutions.
- Leonore Gewessler, Austrian Environment Minister stated that farmers and consumers must have the freedom of choice, which cannot be guaranteed without traceability and labelling. She added that the Commission’s proposal in its current form is simply not acceptable.
- Erika Olsson, organic farmer, stated that as a farmer she sees the past, the present, and can have a say about the future. She knows that the decisions that she takes, or does not take, today will impact the future. Therefore, she chooses not to use NGTs, and that, should they be used, traceability is key. She added that farmers are currently protected from legal threats related to patents. Taking away traceability exposes all actors of the supply chain to significant legal uncertainty, which is an evident threat to the EU model of breeding sector’s innovation.
- Bernard Lignon of Synabio, and IFOAM Organics Europe Board member, stated that the lack of an opt-out option is a hit on sovereignty. He added that there is also a pressing need for financial and technical support for farmers to ensure GMO-free production who should not be held accountable for the contamination from neighbouring farms.
- Margret Engelhard of the German Federal Agency for Nature Protection said that most NGTs are not developed with characteristics that mitigate climate change, but rather have traits that intend food products to look nicer on shelves – e.g. mushrooms that don’t brown after cut. Only a small percentage is modified to address biotic stress tolerance and therefore be more resistant to droughts or floods.
- Corinne Lepage, former French environment minister and former MEP, reminded participants once again about the importance of the precautionary principle and the responsibility that policymakers today have with respect to future generations: once NGTs are allowed, it is impossible to go back.
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