11/December/20

 

A small but powerful lobby of seed industry organisations continues to push for the de-regulation of old and new GMOs (the latter are called by the industry and lobbyists New Breeding Techniques or NBTs), both at European level and in the Member States. Peasant farming association Via Campesina denounced the attempts to introduce GMOs by trying to change the Italian legislation on seed marketing without any public debate and by refusing to apply European regulations on GMOs in France. Four proposals for decrees are circulating in the Italian Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, which would, in very clear terms, look to authorise the entry of new GMOs into Italy. Italy has been “GMO free” since 2001, and the fruit, wine and vegetable seed sectors that would be affected by the decree change are fundamental to the national agricultural system. European Coordination Via Campesina

 

 

In a comprehensive new study, scientists report that pesticide poisonings on farms around the world have risen dramatically since the last global assessment 30 years ago. Based on an evaluation of available poisoning data from countries all over the world, the researchers conclude that there are about 385 million cases of acute poisonings each year, up from an estimated 25 million cases in 1990. This means that about 44% of the global population working on farms — 860 million farmers and agricultural workers – are poisoned every year. GMWatch