|
Brussels, Belgium
February 12, 2009
Source:
EuropaBio
The number of
EU farmers wanting the choice to cultivate biotech crops is on
the increase, EuropaBio, the biotech industry association,
reported today. The findings, drawn from a set of recent
surveys [1] carried out across Europe, echo the ever increasing
worldwide demand for biotech crops as shown by the release of
yesterday’s global cultivation figures [2].
“European
farmers are increasingly interested in using new technologies
such as agricultural biotechnology to meet the multiple
challenges of feeding a growing population whilst minimising the
impact on the environment” James Ede of the National Farmers
Union of the United Kingdom, speaking at the press conference in
Brussels.
In the coming
weeks, European Ministers will have the opportunity to vote and
end the 11 year moratorium on new biotech cultivation approvals
and to lift unscientific bans in a number of Member States.
“Europe’s political leaders should respond to the demands of
their farmers and offer them the freedom to choose the same
tools available to their competitors globally” said James Ede.
Nathalie Moll
of EuropaBio said:
“Agbiotech cultivation in the EU has increased year upon year in
those countries where farmers can choose. The national surveys
show that even in countries where no agbiotech cultivation is
possible because of unscientific bans, an 11 year moratorium on
new cultivation approvals or vandalism, farmers want the choice
to have access to the technology”.
Only today the
Figaro revealed a suppressed report dating back to last month
where the French Food Safety Agency AFSSA concluded that the
French ban of biotech cultivation, being voted on in Brussels on
16 February, is scientifically unjustified, in line with EFSA’s
opinion of October 2008. This is reminiscent of the suppression,
by Government, of the Italian report on the benefits of GMOs to
increase food safety revealed in November 2007 [3]. “How can we
expect consumer confidence to increase if governments don’t base
decisions on science or worse still, hide the science?”
concluded Nathalie Moll.
In its annual
study the International Service for the Acquisition of
Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA0 [4], found that 13.3 million
farmers in a record 25 countries planted 125 million hectares of
biotech crops in 2008. These results showed an additional 1.3
million farmers planted 10.7 million new hectares of biotech
crops in three new countries, including Egypt and Burkina Faso,
in 2008.
Notes
[1] Excluding
France, surveys
referenced include:
-
“Percezione degli OGM:
sondaggio presso maiscoltori lombardi” Sept 17-Oct 5,
2007 conducted by Demoskopea; Sample size: Maize farmers in
Lombardy, Italy
67% of farmers said they would plant GM maize if Italian law
permitted (equates to an area of GM maize of 216,900
hectares).
81% of farmers agreed it is nonsense to ban GMOs for
cultivation but allow them for feed.
-
“Eurisko Survey of farmers’
acceptance of GMOs”. Italy. Eurisko Sample size: 88.600
growers - Sample qualifier: growing at least 95 ha Results
are reported here:
http://www.cia.it/rassegnastampa/10102005/033.pdf
-
“FSE Grower Survey” UK.
Scimac - All farmers taking part in GM crop trials over the
previous three years - Feedback from questionnaires: 72% -
Responses account for 74% of FSE sites
http://www.scimac.org.uk/files/FSEQuestionnaire2.ppt#271,1,Slide
1
95% of farmers would grow GM crops on their farm if
available commercially.
-
“UK farmer’s attitudes to
Agricultural Biotechnology” Conducted by The National
Farm Research Unit – Sample Size 24,039 farmers in UK. April
2005-March 2008 and published 31 March 2008.
45% of farmers are in favour, 39% don’t know and only 15%
are against.
When asked the same question, in 2004/2005 42% of farmers
were in favour, 40% didn’t know and 18% were against.
-
“Research on knowledge and
opinion of Polish farmers on growing GMO” Poland.
Conducted by Pracownia Badan Społecznych. Commissioned by
Polish Federation of Biotechnology Sample size: 1042 growers
http://www.pfb.p.lodz.pl/main/main.php?idp=30&id=9
In 2004: 59% of farmers agreed that farmers should have the
option to plant or not plant approved biotech crops.
-
“GMO – presentation of the
marketing test results” Poland. Martin & Jacob
http://www.pfb.p.lodz.pl/main/main.php?idp=30&id=9
In 2006: 85% of farmers agreed that farmers should have the
option to plant or not plant approved biotech crops.
-
Spontaneous
signatures‘collection: "Für den Fortschritt in der
Landwirtschaft und gegen Vandalismus und kriminelle
Feldzerstörungen" (In favor of the farmingprogress and
against vandalism and criminal field destruction)
Germany BDP (BUNDESVERBAND
DEUTSCHER PFLANZENZÜCHTER E.V.)
-
Farmer biotech survey,
France. September 2007 conducted by BVA Agribusiness
Farmers representing 62% of the total French maize hectares
said farmers should have the option to plant or not plant
approved biotech crops.
-
"Zur Akzeptanz von
gentechnisch verändertem Saatgut in der deutschen
Landwirtschaft" (GM seeds‘ acceptance in the German
farming industry) University of Göttingen in cooperation
with University Osnabrück
www.unigoettingen.de/de/kat/download/664f04033eb0294e397291012f9de408.pdf/Studie.pdf
33% of farmers are in favour of GM seeds, 38% are undecided
and 29% are against.
-
Farmer Biotech Survey,
Hungary. September 2007 conducted by Ipsos Szonda
Farmers representing 53% of the total Hungarian maize
hectares said farmers should have the option to plant or not
plant approved biotech crops.
-
Farmer Biotech Survey,
Spain. December 2008 conducted by Product & Market
Farmers representing 83% of the total Spanish maize hectares
said farmers should have the option to plant or not plant
approved biotech crops.
|
|
