In a development that will challenge the mindset of those who believe the European Commission's GMO deregulation plans are based on science, the Commission has announced it stands by its decision to treat crops produced with new GM techniques as conventionally bred ones. It will not ask EU food safety authority EFSA to review its scientific assessment in light of a report by the French food safety agency ANSES. ANSES had concluded that there was no scientific basis to the Commission's determination to treat the majority of new GM plants as equivalent to conventionally bred ones. In its determination to abolish risk assessment for most new GMOs, the Commission is even going against the advice of EFSA. EFSA had indeed asked for an assessment – albeit a relatively light one – of the risks of new GMOs, but the GMO industry objected and the Commission decided to go along with the industry. GMWatch

 

 

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has just published the final report on its public consultation on the sale of genetically modified precision bred (PBOs) food and animal feed in England. The consultation, which ran from 8 November 2023 to 8 January 2024 sought public views on plans to remove labelling and traceability from these types of GMOs. Although it was a technically complex consultation, it still received 412 responses. The FSA is openly disdainful of citizen ("consumer") views and fails to live up to its mandate to protect the public interest. In summing up the responses, the FSA has chosen to weaponise citizens’ opposition to the Genetic Technology Act. It notes, correctly, that many citizens and civil society groups oppose the aims of the Act. The implication throughout is that this prejudices and, therefore invalidates, their responses. But it has not taken the same view on the pro-GM civil society groups and businesses (see list opposite) that supported its proposals. Indeed, although the FSA report says that it treated all responses equally, it is the minority view of these groups that underpins the FSA’s decision to push ahead with its deregulatory agenda. Beyond GM

 

 

A Presidential decree has banned the use of GM corn for food in Mexico. But the governments of the US and Canada are using the US-Canada-Mexico trade agreement (USMCA) to challenge Mexico’s actions. The purpose of Mexico’s restrictions on GM corn is to safeguard the integrity of native corn from GM contamination and to protect human health. The purpose of the US and Canadian challenge is to defend the interests of the biotechnology industry. The US and Canada want to force Mexico to open its market to all genetically modified foods and seeds. Canada is supporting the US challenge (as a third party in the dispute) even though Canada does not export any corn to Mexico. Mexico has the right to restrict the use of GM corn. The US argues that Mexico’s actions are not based on scientific principles, but the government has sufficient science to justify its precautionary policies. FoodTank

 

 

On February 26, the World Trade Organization (WTO) will hold its 13th ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi. While few would make the connection between the proceedings at that summit and the plight of impoverished farmers across the world, there is a direct and clear link between the two, write two farmers from the smallholder farmers' organisation La Via Campesina. On that day, members of the European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC) will be protesting against the neoliberal policies in agriculture the WTO has been promoting for decades which have led to the systematic impoverishment of farmers. This tragic state of affairs has been highlighted by the continuing protests of farmers who have been taking to the streets, blocking motorways and logistics platforms across Europe since January. On one side, the big farmers and agribusiness organisations, linked to Copa-Cogeca, want to maintain the neoliberal orientation and have therefore asked for the withdrawal of environmental measures set in the EU’s Green Deal. On the other side, ECVC and other organisations affirm that the environmental and climate crises are real and serious and that it is vital to give farmers the means to combat them in order to ensure food sovereignty for the decades to come. ECVC says it is the neoliberal framework that must be challenged, not environmental regulation. Aljazeera

 

 

Red nets are better at keeping away a common agricultural insect pest than typical black or white nets, according to a new study. Researchers experimented with the effect of red, white, black and combination-coloured nets on deterring onion thrips from eating Kujo leeks, also called Welsh onions. In both lab and field tests, red nets were significantly better at deterring the insect than other colours. Also, in field tests, onion crops which were either partially or fully covered by red netting required 25-50% less insecticide than was needed for a totally uncovered field. Eurekalert

 

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