Workshop C4: : STOP THE CROP! Strategy and tactics for keeping the EU GMO-free

Saturday, 25th April 2009
12.30 – 15.00h

Language: English 

Stop the Crop

Organizer and Moderator:

Speakers:

Outline:

Aim of the workshop:
This workshop will look at what GM crops are in the pipeline for approval in the EU starting from the two GM maize that will be voted on by Environment Ministers in June 2009 to the BASF potato, GM maize for agrofuels and other GMOs that industry are pushing.

The workshop will also address National GMO bans which were successfully upheld recently for Hungary and Austria. How to keep these bans in place? How to support other country bans? What is the role of the WTO GMO dispute in this? And what about “coexistence” laws, in particular following the 2009 European Commission report? 

Finally, the workshop will look at the “hidden back door” through which GMOs enter Europe, as animal feed. Due to a loophole in EU labelling laws, the public do not realise that many of the animal products that they are eating are from animals fed on GMOs. How to raise awareness on this and how to ensure that retailers continue to source GMfree?

Programme:

  • GM crop cultivation 
  • National GMO bans
  • In through the back door: GM animal food imports

The workshop will last 2.5 hours, and time for discussion will be prioritized. Introductory statements and short presentations (5-10 minutes each) will be made:

1. GMO cultivation in the EU and national bans: state of play
– Marta Vertier, Greenpeace EU Uni, GM crops in the EU pipeline and the reapproval of Mon 810 
– Róbert Fidrich from Hungary on National GMO bans 
– Strict “coexistence” laws: National or Regional case study (Wallonia)

Campaigns and mobilisation
– Charlotte Berthou, Save our Seeds (European mobilisation on national bans and GM maize cultivation)
– Short input from groups who have run campaigns on bans this year at national level

Discussion on opportunities and challenges.

2. EU imports for animal feed: state of play and alternatives
– Helen Holder, Friends of the Earth Europe (update of EU situation and attempts to weaken EU import rules on GMOs)
– GMfree soy industry representative and /or representative from Brittany region, France (to be confirmed)
– Short input on practical labelling and traceability initiatives (speaker to be confirmed)

Discussion on opportunities, challenges and campaign strategy.

Background and literature:

Stop the Crop cyberaction

Outcomes of the “Stop the crop!” workshop at the Food and Democracy Conference (25 April 2009, Luzern) 

Download the outcomes of the Workshop (pdf, 74 KB, English)

Tools and arguments that can be used to stop GM crops:

  • scientific arguments, evidence, allies
  • work in coalitions
  • economic interests (Hungary)
  • pressure governments and political parties
  • new member states: left out of original decision making
  • national and European campaigns:
  • linking up
  • lobby/media/public
  • cyberactions
  • pledges for European Parliament elections
  • concerned scientists
  • sovereignty
  • 0.1% coexistence laws