Federal Minister Totschnig must ensure the preservation of diversity
Brussels, Vienna, Schiltern (OTS) – Sunday and Monday, 10/11. In December 2023, the EU agriculture ministers will meet in Brussels. In addition to the delicate debate about the regulation of “new genetic engineering,” a progress report on the planned EU seed law reform is on the agenda. “The planned regulation on the production and marketing of plant propagating material endangers the preservation and spread of crop diversity”
warns Katherine Dolan, seed policy expert at NOAH’S ARCH. “We expect Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig to demand improvements.”
In the genetic engineering debate, the agricultural industry argues that more diversity is important in view of the climate crisis. At the same time, she is lobbying for seed law that, through overregulation and standardization, only allows the sale of highly bred, industrial seeds by large corporations. ARCHE NOAH sharply criticizes this scandalous attempt by the agricultural industry to further expand its control over seeds and thus over our diet. Instead, ARCHE NOAH demands top priority for the preservation and sustainable use of locally adapted crop diversity in European seed law. The transfer of seeds for the purpose of preserving them must be excluded from the scope of the new regulation, as is already the case in the Austrian seed regulation. “We need diversity in our fields more than ever. A variety of varieties and species enables more environmentally and climate-friendly agriculture and food production and brings more health, enjoyment and joy to our plates.”
so Katherine Dolan.
There is no corresponding exception in the EU Commission’s proposal from July 2023. Gene banks and conservation networks are burdened with restrictive and impractical regulations that threaten the conservation of valuable regional varieties. On Monday, the EU agriculture ministers will be able to speak about the current status of the negotiations. “In Brussels, Minister Totschnig must prevent the protection of crop diversity in Austria from being weakened,” said Dolan from ARCHE NOAH. Last week, leading state gene banks in Europe in a own opinion called for the transfer of seeds for the purpose of “breeding, training, conservation and return” to be exempt from the regulation. In the last three weeks, 40,000 people have signed the petition “Raise your forks – for diversity“ signed.
Questions & Contact:
ARCHE NOAH, Society for the Preservation and Spread of Cultivated Plant Diversity
Axel Grunt
Head of Communications
+43 680 2379245
axel.grunt@arche-noah.at
www.arche-noah.at
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