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21 august 2002
greenwashing genetic engineering at the
wssd
ge crops are not a tool for sustainable
agriculture
The South African Freeze Alliance on
Genetic Engineering (SAFeAGE) and Friends of
the Earth International today denounced the
promotion of GE crops at the World Summit for
Sustainable Development (WSSD).
They called on governments to not legitimise
the use of GE crops as a sustainable solution
for agriculture. Both groups stated that they
would oppose any partnerships within the WSSD
process that promotes the use of GE crops as
a tool for sustainable agriculture.
Tewolde Egziabher, the Director of the
Environmental Protection Agency in Ethiopia
commented that partnerships that would
promote GM crops" are like a partnership
between a predator and its prey."
Biotech companies and front organisations
responsible for promoting GE, such as
Monsanto, Aventis, AfricaBio and ISAAA, are
actively seeking to utilise the WSSD process
to legitimise GE crops as a sustainable
solution for agriculture in developing
countries through partnerships and other
initiatives. Campaigners say the Summit
should focus on the real sustainable farming
practices instead of promoting commercially
driven "solutions" of the GE industry.
For instance Monsanto uses the plant
science industry federation, Croplife to
promote GE crops in developing countries.
CropLife has been very active during the WSSD
process in seeking to develop working
partnerships to create "opportunities for
sustainable agriculture" that includes GE
crops. CropLife International and its support
of " Green Biotechnology" emanates from
member companies like Monsanto, Dupont,
Aventis, Syngenta and Bayer CropScience.
" This is not a green solution but public
relations greenwash", said spokesperson for
SAFeAGE, Glenn Ashton. " There are other
alternatives to GE to fulfil the needs of
Africa and the south with far greater and
proven potential than GE crops" Ashton
said.
For more information:
Glenn Ashton, SAFeAGE, tel 27 (0)83 403
2623
Juan Lopez, Friends of the Earth
Inetrnational, tel. 27 (0) 724015390
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