mercoledì 3 marzo 2010

GMO Potatoes

The European Commission has recently given its OK for the genetically modified potatoes in Europe thus re-opening an intense debate about the opportunity to open the door to this kind of products.

In this blog I have many times discussed this topic and now I want just to underline some concepts.

In general terms, the adoption of technological approaches to agriculture, such as in the case of GMOs or the use of chemicals, should be preceded by a deep analysis of their implications for the ecosystem and human health.

The problem of GMOs is firstly linked to food security related to the “precaution principle” or impeding that certain kinds of food are commercialized until their security is completely confirmed. Moreover, many doubts emerge when considering the problem of environmental contamination from GMOs crops.

In particular GMOs seem to be fundamentally no-use resulting essentially from economic and financial speculations rather than scientific research. The development and commercialization of GMOs is mainly concentrated on few corporations capable to determine a quasi total control on agricultural activities: GMOs increase the dependence of farmers from external private subjects who, after having blocked the products patenting and after making sterile seeds for future crops, do not show any interest in defending local resources and competencies, ecosystems and biodiversity.

Consequently, the introduction and diffusion of GMOs in Italy, as well as in Europe, seem not adequately based on adequate and valid motivations. On the contrary, their implementation in agriculture could drive to a deprivation both in entrepreneurship terms and in a restriction of the supply of local products.

For these reasons OGMs have to be considered absolutely incompatible with a strategy for a development of agriculture based on quality, typical products, territorial distinctions, links with the territory and promotion of agrifood traditions.

In Italy a wide debate is now opening. I suggest to see these links (in italian)

OGM: la porta è aperta e Biotech agricolo: chi lo ferma più? by Greenplanet: la rete del biologico
OGM: cui prodest? by Agricoltura Italiana on Line
Ogm, Zaia: la decisione della Commissione ci vede contrari by Agricoltura Italiana on Line
Press release by Federbio
Presse releases on Agrapress

I suggest the reading of the report "Failure to Yeld" (in english) in the publications in the right side of this blog.






Nessun commento: