January 14, 2011

 

Romanian farm producers urge EU to introduce GM crops

 

 

The Romanian Farm Producers National Federation has called on the EU approving bodies to officially begin the production of genetically modified crops, the Federation said Wednesday (Jan 12).

 

The Romanian employers' organisation will also benefit from lobbying from the American Soy Producers' Board, which will try to persuade the EU members of the advantage of using biotechnologies.

 

“The EU will have to consider the high soy demand worldwide. It is a fantastic demand and we must get ready to provide food for the population on the globe who want this crop. Europe too should no longer be so conservative. Europe's economic prosperity will depend on the introduction of the new technologies. The EU heavyweights do not have the required micro-climatic and soil conditions to grow GMOs and therefore they are not interested. But since we are part of an EU in which all the states have the same rights, we were communicated that the decision rests with each separate state. Therefore, everything depends on us,” Federation chairman Viorel Matei said.

 

Statistic figures show the EU currently imports 90% of the total soy quantity, even from areas where it is genetically modified. According to Romanian Agriculture Minister Valeriu Tabara, a supporter of biotechnologies, the EU imports 40 million tonnes of GM soy which it consumes, with Romania being also forced to import soy to maintain its farms.

 

“Romania is forced to import soy for a lot of money, since it no longer has the right to grow it from January 1, 2007. Romania loses EUR1 billion (US$1.33 billion) a year because it does not cultivate genetically modified soy, but it imports it from Brazil for its animal farms. Romania's policy does not run counter the European community laws. We are the only country in Europe that has very good conditions for this crop,” the agriculture minister had said a few months ago.

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