News in brief: The EU is considering relaxing GMO restrictions, potentially approving genetically modified crops as conventional plants. While the proposal argues that these modified crops could enhance food security and environmental sustainability, the (IFOAM) continues to advocate for GMO-free crops protection. It cites concerns over risks, unproven benefits, and monopolies on genetic material patents.
According to a recent Financial Times report, the European Union (EU) may be planning to relax restrictions on genetically modified organisms (GMO). The media house claimed to have obtained a memo containing the EU’s proposal draft for July 5.
The international organisation claims that crops contained in its proposal could play a vital role in food security. They include wheat that are drought resistant, tomatoes that are fungus resistant and potatoes that contain less acrylamide (a carcinogenic chemical that forms when potatoes are fried). These crops also require less pesticides, fertilisers, and other agro chemicals, making them more climate-friendly.
It will be telling its legislative arm, the European Commission, to approve select crops as conventional plants, the news report said. That is, as opposed to subjecting them to the usual laborious and expensive approval method. Likely, this may also mean removing compulsory labelling and tracing as they make the production process more expensive.
Meanwhile, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) has continued to fight for GMO-free crops. In response to news about the EU’s latest proposal, the organisation restated its stand with 97% of its members approving its latest resolution.
The resolution demands that GMOs must be labelled properly with tracing starting from production to processing, all along its supply chain. Jan Plagge, the president of IFOAM Organics Europe, called genetic modification a short term fix with potential risks and unproven benefits, as this report quoted.
“Genetic engineering with its currently still empty sustainability promises, and a narrow focus on specific genes or traits, ignores the complexity of interactions in a given agroecosystem,” Plagge added.
In addition, the organisation’s head mentioned the problem of giving big agric companies monopoly over patents on genetic material is a concern as well.
The EU is not the only world economic body that is turning towards gene edited crops to solve food security issues. In Africa, at a recent agricultural forum, scientists pushed for more countries to invest in gene sciences and biotech.
