Dr. Felix Prinz zu Löwenstein
European Parliament Briefing 20.10.04

Brussels, 20.10.2004

European Parliament Briefing

Whatever one might think about the risks and chances of genetically modified plants in Agriculture: there can be no doubt, that there is a right for farmers to produce without genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and for consumers to buy food without GMOs. This right to free choice has implications.

It is the State who has to make sure that farmers who do not use GMOs are protected from those who do. This protection is expensive, but it is indisputable that is not the conventional farmer who has to pay for it, and that the consumer who wants to eat GMO-free food cannot be charged higher prices because she or he desires to continue to do so.

The state has to make sure that those who want to plant GMOs will be held liable for any damage they cause to their neighbours and to nature. This means, of course, a risk for GMO-farmers. But who else should carry the risk of a new technology if not those who want to use it and who want to earn money with its help? All this seems self-evident. But observing the discussions all over Europe one has to admit, that many politicians follow the arguments of the GMO-industry and do not see any need for such measures of protection.

No doubt there is little chance for keeping varieties completely GMO-free once the cultivating of GMO-varieties of the same crop has started. The best thing for both farmers and consumers would be, not to start it anyhow. It would mean less risk for everybody; there is no chance we could miss anything we really would need and there is even a chance for our European agriculture to conquer markets, that American states such as USA, Canada and Argentina are not able to supply anymore: the huge market for GMO-free products.

But there is also no doubt that the European legislation as well as the national legislation of each member-state does allow planting of any EU-wide registered GMO variety. Therefore ignoring the situation and renouncing to influence national legislation concerning so- called �coexistence� could end in a fatal situation.

Dr. Felix Prinz zu Löwenstein

BÖLW