From: True Activist
Hungary
has taken a bold stand against biotech giant Monsanto and genetic
modification by destroying 1000 acres of maize found to have been grown
with genetically modified seeds, according to Hungary deputy state
secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Lajos Bognar. Unlike many
European Union countries, Hungary is a nation where genetically
modified (GM) seeds are banned. In a similar stance against GM
ingredients, Peru has also passed a 10 year ban on GM foods.
Planetsave reports:
Almost 1000 acres of maize found to have been ground with genetically
modified seeds have been destroyed throughout Hungary, deputy state
secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Lajos Bognar said. The
GMO maize has been ploughed under, said Lajos Bognar, but pollen has not
spread from the maize, he added.
Unlike several EU members, GMO seeds are banned in Hungary. The checks
will continue despite the fact that seek traders are obliged to make
sure that their products are GMO free, Bognar said.
During the invesigation, controllers have found Pioneer Monsanto products among the seeds planted.
The free movement of goods within the EU means that authorities will not
investigate how the seeds arrived in Hungary, but they will check where
the goods can be found, Bognar said. Regional public radio reported
that the two biggest international seed producing companies are affected
in the matter and GMO seeds could have been sown on up to the thousands
of hectares in the country. Most of the local farmers have complained
since they just discovered they were using GMO seeds.
With season already under way, it is too late to sow new seeds, so this year’s harvest has been lost.
And to make things even worse for the farmers, the company that
distributed the seeds in Baranya county is under liquidation. Therefore,
if any compensation is paid by the international seed producers, the
money will be paid primarily to that company’s creditors, rather than
the farmers.
No comments:
Post a Comment