The European Union research programme named Co-Extra recommends containment (or “confinement”) in GM-dedicated areas. This scenario is unacceptable and is an infringement of the farmer’s freedom of choice.

Field crop producers and members of ORAMA are firmly opposed to the any idea of dedicated areas for any type of farming, whether conventional, organic or GM. Such a system would contravene legislation passed in France in May 2008 allowing production with or without GMOs.

Coexistence of Bt maize, the only GM crop approved for farming in Europe, was investigated over a period of four years with expert studies conducted by the maize sector in partnership with the technical plant institute, Arvalis, covering both a scientific programme and a GM crop monitoring programme. This work and international studies were presented at the conference on coexistence held in Seville by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, reporting that coexistence can be managed and controlled. No difficulties were detected on the 22 000 hectares of Bt maize grown in France in 2007. The principle of zoning as recommended by Co-Extra therefore appears to be totally unfounded.

This would only make things worse, increasing the distortion in competition which already disadvantages French and European farmers. The safeguard clause invoked in 2008, without any scientific foundation, has cost the French agricultural economy 74 million euros plus a loss in competitive standing. Any decision to restrict the development of GMOs in Europe becomes a boon to competitors in third countries. Brazil and Argentina (with experts involved in the Co-Extra study) have everything to gain from Europe abandoning GM crops as they would then have free scope to supply European consumers with foodstuffs containing GM products.

Contact ORAMA : Anne KETTANEH - tél : 01 44 31 10 96 et  06 83 22 05 01