The particular strain of corn (1507) has been modified to be pest resistant, producing the Bt toxin, as well as resistant to the (highly toxic) herbicide glufosinate ammonium. Last week, in the first of a series of votes on the topic, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly against cultivation of the GMO. Now it will be the turn of European foreign ministers to weigh in on the subject.
“At a time when the multinational agribusiness giants Monsanto and BASF are withdrawing from the EU, the European Commission is insisting on 'serving' GM products through the back door,” Greenpeace said in a statement. The environmental NGO also called on Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos, as the meeting’s chair, to lead an initiative to withdraw the proposal.
“We call upon the Greek Foreign Minister to demand the withdrawal of the proposal to approve the cultivation of corn strain 1507 on scientific and legal grounds. Europe’s own Food Safety Authority in 2011 found that the particular toxin produced by the modified corn has negative effects on beneficial insects. Furthermore the environmental consequences of its extensive cultivation have not been adequately investigated,” according to the organisation.
It should be noted that Greece has over the years consistently voted against the use of genetically modified organisms at the European level and has prohibited their cultivation throughout the country.
The 1507 strain of corn is also meeting serious resistance from countries such as France Austria and Poland.
By contrast in Great Britain, Spain and Sweden there is increasing support for the GM crop.
According to a poll conducted by Farmer’s Weekly, 60% of British farmers would cultivate GM crops if it was legal.
(Sources: DW, To Vima)
Today in the EU only one genetically modified plant can be legally cultivated: the MON 810 strain of corn created by Monsanto. MON810 is cultivated in Spain although it is prohibited from being grown in eight member states including Greece.