Recently released figures show a marked increase in the environmental release of GM crops right across Europe.

Figures released by the European Commission show there have been 74 new approvals in the past six months

The eight countries involved in the environmental release of GMOs have increased their approvals by 6 per cent, ranging from a 3.5 per cent increase in France, to a 20 per cent jump in the Netherlands.

“What these figures show is that Europe, far from walking away from this technology, is embracing it with open arms,” says executive director of the Life Sciences Network Francis Wevers.

“This information makes it clear that GM technology is rapidly expanding in Europe despite claims by some people that Europe is resistant.”

New Zealand cannot afford to get left behind, he says.

“There are 1348 current approvals of the environmental release of GMOs in the EU.

“These figures confirm that people are who are trying to persuade us that there is no market for GM crops in Europe are seriously misleading us.”

Europe also continues to have a thriving organic market, which suggests that co-existence between conventional and GE farming is not only possible but being actively pursued in Europe.

“In addition, the fact that there have been no reported cases of lawsuits for contamination in any of these countries supports the idea that co-existence is a reality,” Mr Wevers says.

Genetically modified crops approved for release include maize, potato, oilseed rape, wheat, rice, sunflower and poplar trees.

Source: http://biotech.jrc.it/AT.asp

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