“Big step backwards for anyone who wants their food to be produced responsibly, fairly, and sustainably” – GM Freeze

1. EU makes moves on three soybean events
2. EU approval of 3 new GM crops shows real face of GM 2.0
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1. EU makes moves on three soybean events

by Willie Vogt
Farm Industry News, Jul 22, 2016
http://farmindustrynews.com/blog/eu-makes-moves-three-soybean-events

There's news today, announced by the U.S. Soybean Export Council, that the European Union has approved three biotech soy traits for import and processing. The latest three are:

• Monsanto's Roundup Ready 2 Xtend with dicamba and glyphosate tolerance

• Monsanto's Vistive Gold, which is a high oleic soybean with glyphosate tolerance

• Bayer's Balance GT which offers tolerance to glyphosate and the company's HPPD inhibitor (developed with MS Technologies)

Earlier this year when Monsanto released Roundup Ready 2 Xtend to the market, with the proviso that farmers not apply dicamba this year since that U.S. trait has not yet cleared. While there are worries that some farmers ignored that requirement, the bigger issue was the fact that there was no EU clearance of the traits creating export concerns. Some major grain buyers put out the news that they would not take that crop into their elevators without EU approval.

This announcement, ahead of harvest, should allay some of those fears, and pave the way for all three technologies in future seasons. In a press statement, USSEC chair, Laura Foell, comments, "The EU's approval of these events is welcome news for U.S. soybean farmers. We're happy that we can supply our European customers with a reliable supply of safe food."

Europe is a major soybean customer with more than 165 million bushels of exports already in 2016.

For tech watchers, it's welcome news that the EU - which continues to harbor unsubstantiated hate for biotech crops - is moving forward. These aren't the only traits awaiting EU approval, but this three-trait announcement is welcome news to the market.

Lining up approvals for these traits and matching them to market production has been a challenge. Companies have made the commitment in the past not to market products without EU approval, but have worked on ways to contain production so those crops stay domestic. The EU slow slog through GMO approvals continues to challenge technology producers.

We welcome the good news from "across the pond" and hope for more good news in the future.
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2. EU approval of 3 new GM crops shows real face of GM 2.0

GM Freeze, 22 July 2016
http://www.gmfreeze.org/news-releases/271/

Commenting on the news that the European Commission has authorised three new GM soybeans for import, after the European Council (member countries) could not reach a decision, GM Freeze Director Liz O'Neill said:

“We hear constantly about the hypothetical potential of new GM techniques but this is the real face of GM 2.0 – more monocultures, sprayed with more herbicides. The recent US National Academies of Science report on GM highlighted the “major agricultural problems” caused by GM herbicide tolerant crops and EU approval for three more will only make those problems worse.

“European nations refused to approve these three crops and EU consumers have been voting with their wallets for years. Sales of GM foods are minimal across Europe because they have to be declared on the label. However, that’s not the case with meat, eggs and dairy products from animals fed on GM. Today’s move will bring yet more GM into the UK and the rest of Europe and consumers will find it very difficult to avoid buying GM-fed.

“This is a big step backwards for anyone who wants their food to be produced responsibly, fairly, and sustainably.”

GM Freeze is the UK's umbrella campaign for a moratorium on GM in food and farming. Members include the Soil Association, Friends of the Earth, farmers, scientists, retailers, and local campaigners.