Marc Van Montagu, one of the best known plant biotech pioneers in Europe, is convinced that technology transfer and plant biotechnology research oriented to the needs of the developing countries are important: "Fighting the vicious circle of hunger and poverty is the most urgent task that faces our society, and will require a reformulation of current models of agriculture," he said. But he also believes that the technology has already demonstrated considerable benefits in Europe, despite systematic attempts to deny European farmers the right to use a technology widely used in the rest of the world.
Although new figures published last week by ISAAA[ii], The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, show that in 2006 the number of hectares globally cultivated with GM crops increased by 12 million hectares most of this growth came from countries such as China and India. Most EU farmers continue to be held back by a dysfunctional regulatory system and by disproportionate co-existence rules.
Prof. Marc Van Montagu is convinced that in Europe too often the GMO debate "centres on emotional arguments, rather than looking at scientific positives." As a result he believes that EU countries are missing out on the benefits offered by biotech crops. For example the Hungarian government has refused to lift its ban on GMO maize. Mr. Gabor Balla, a Hungarian farmer, told journalists that "as long as Hungarian farmers are denied access to this beneficial and safe technology they are at a competitive disadvantage versus farmers from France, Czech Republic, Portugal, Germany, Spain and Slovakia who are already planting biotech crops. I've spoken with these farmers and they are happy with these new products, so why can't I grow them? "
EuropaBio[iii] welcome the European Parliament's own-initiative report "Biotechnology: Prospects and Challenges for Agriculture in Europe"[iv] and the debate it is creating regarding future prospects and challenges of this promising technology. The Biotech industry encourages the members of the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament due to vote on 24th January 2007 to support Mr. Virrankoski's report which highlights the benefits of agricultural biotechnologies in Europe.
"www.checkbiotech.org":[ http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=14279&start=21&control=182&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1]
Biotech Acres: Global Biotech Plantings Show Double-Digit Growth for 10th Straight Year -
Biotech farm crops grew in 2006 by 13 percent over the previous year — the 10th straight year of double-digit increases, according to a new report from the nonprofit International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) (18.4.2007)
Can Biotech and Organic Crops Coexist? -
Can biotech and organic crops coexist without biotech material finding its way into organic plants, compromising their economic value? What practices do farmers follow to maintain the integrity of organic and genetically enhanced crops?
Coexistence: A Familiar Challenge for Farmers
The issue of coexistence predates the introduction of biotechnology (21.2.2007)
Biotech Plants Help Clean the Environment -
Most people think of plant biotechnology as it relates to agriculture (14.2.2007)
