2012-11-07 | permalink

Greenpeace warns against authorising cultivation of new GM crops in the EU

Environmental activists have warned the European Commission against authorising the cultivation of new genetically modified crops in the EU, which could increase herbicide use by up to 15 times. According to a report commissioned by Greenpeace from agricultural economist Dr Charles Benbrook, the introduction of herbicide tolerant GM crops “would lead to substantial increases in the use of glyphosate and other pesticides, sharp increases in seed prices and the spread of corporate domination of food production”. The paper, published on 7 November, predicts increases of over 800% – up to 1,500% in the case of GM soy – in the use of glyphosate in the EU over 14 years (2012-2025) for herbicide-tolerant GM maize, soy and sugar beet.

• Europolitics, Belgium: Greenpeace warns against authorising cultivation of new GM crops
• France 24, France: Greenpeace stages anti-GM ‘toxic warning’ protest
• The Guardian, UK: European Commission could open GM pandora’s box
• Greenpeace EU Unit, Belgium: Report: new GM crops would cause dramatic increase in EU herbicide use