Why and How Spain Became the EU’s Top Grower of GMOs

Understanding the case of Spain

Despite scientific findings and increasing concerns, and in great contrast with France’s position, Spain currently has the highest adoption rate of Bt maize in the EU since it was first introduced in 1998. In 2012, over 120 thousand hectares ofBt maize were cultivated — 19.5 percent more than the previous year — representing 90 percent of GM crops in the EU.

So why do countries that share a common European legal framework, as well as similar climate and soil conditions, have diametrically opposed views on this issue?

A survey was conducted for the European Commission in 2005 in three of Spain’s leading Bt maize-growing provinces. While results do report higher yields, the study shows statistical significance in only one province, and all Bt maize produced was actually sold for feed manufacturing.

The survey also found that 30 percent of farmers still applied insecticides even when the treatment was ineffective. Although the study praises this percentage as an achievement, data must be contrasted with recent findings on the use of pesticides: in the US, the fifteen-year period following the 1996 introduction of Roundup Ready crops saw herbicide use rise by about seven percent. This percentage, however, would be much higher if “insecticides applied” counted theBt produced by transgenic plants, as many entomologists propose.

Interestingly, when asked about their reasons for adopting Bt maize, farmers stated “lowering the risk of maize borer damage”, “obtaining higher yields”, and “better quality of the harvest”, though there is no scientific basis for believing that the technology provides any of those results. Moreover, factors including soil type, irrigation intensity, weather conditions or ecological integrity were not analyzed in the study, all of which have direct impact on the three responses provided.

The roots of Spain’s GM openness

In 1998, the Spanish government authorized two varieties of Bt maize 176 for the first time, entrusting the biomonitoringprocess to the same companies that had created those varieties. The change of government in 2004, from right-wing to more centre oriented, made it possible for the protests coming from civil society to be heard, and a representative from the environmental sector was admitted in the National Commission on Biosafety.

During European Council meetings, the Spanish government shifted from “pro-GMO” responses to “abstention” in most cases. Interestingly, though, Member States’ individual votes are not accessible to the public. Fortunately, votes are recorded by NGOs, uncovering the inconsistency of the country’s neutral EU position and policies at the national level: the same government approved 14 new varieties of maize MON810 in July 2005, bringing the total number to 40 at that time. Although Bt 176 varieties were removed from the country’s list of authorized GMOs in 2005, today the total number of approved GM commercial varieties is 116.

The difference between the GM maize cultivation rates of France and Spain stems, on the one hand, from weak mobilization of social organizations and insufficient public debate in Spain and, on the other, from the Spanish government’s support of GM companies.

A weak social mobilization compared to the French case could originate from the difference in the sociological composition and history of the French and Spanish countrysides. Unlike Spain, France experienced a phenomenon ofneo-ruralisation after May 1968, which led to the formation of strong agricultural unions devoted to protecting the rights of small-scale farmers (e.g., Confédération Paysanne).

At the same time, the Spanish rural population is not as receptive to alternatives, such as organic agriculture, as the French. Although a number of regions have declared themselves GMO-free zones, which highlights the disconnect between national government and local populations, the productivist approach still remains unchallenged, and this includes GMOs.

Furthermore, cables released by WikiLeaks revealed that, according to Monsanto, the French government would have contravened WTO regulations by banning MON810, and that the company would seek compensation. The Spanish government possibly saw this as a retaliatory threat.

In addition, these cables showed that US diplomats were working directly for GM companies like Monsanto to help ensure Spain’s adoption. “In response to recent urgent requests by [Spanish rural affairs ministry] Josep Puxeu and Monsanto, post requests renewed US government support of Spain’s science-based agricultural biotechnology position through high-level US government intervention.”

It also emerged that Spain and the US worked closely to persuade the EU not to strengthen biotechnology laws. In one cable, the embassy in Madrid writes: “If Spain falls, the rest of Europe will follow.”

http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/why-and-how-spain-became-the-eus-top-grower-of-gmos

Green gene technology in the European Union: 

Spain, Portugal and hardly anything else

The adoption of genetically modified Bt corn in Spain–one of the few European Union countries to embrace GM technology–has allowed the country to reduce imports by over 853,000 tons between 1998 and 2013, according to a report published by the Antama Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes the use of new technologies for agriculture, farming and food. The main economic reasons behind the adoption of Bt corn were the higher crop yields and the lower production costs, says a press release by the Foundation. Fewer pesticide applications and decreased input costs allowed Spain to save 156 million euros. The Bt corn also contributed to a reduction of water use and carbon dioxide emissions.

 There was noticeable growth for Bt maize in Castilian-La Mancha, Extremadura und Andalusia – regions in which the insect pressure was particularly high due to the European corn borer. In Catalonia 90 percent of the cultivation account for Bt maize by now. In Portugal the Bt maize area increased to 9.300 hectares 2012 but dropped again afterwards by 12 percent to 8.100 hectares. Some of the reasons put forward are the mild pest infestation 2012 and the strict conditions for coexistence.

Yet the EU total for MON 810 is just 1.35% of the EU's total maize-growing area.

Brussels also allows 49 GM varieties to be used in animal feed - mostly maize, including Pioneer 1507. Mr Borg said it did not make sense therefore to block cultivation of Pioneer 1507.

http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/agri_biotechnology/gmo_planting/392.gm_maize_cultivation_europe_2013.html

Spain Considers Trial Release of Genetically-Modified Olive Flies

Genetically-modified olive flies will be released in a Catalan olive grove if a field trial proposed by British biotech company Oxitec is approved in Spain.

According to German expert group Testbiotech, which opposes the trial, it would be the first release of GM animals in the European Union.

The olive fly – Bactrocera (Dacus) oleae – is one of the key pests affecting olive cultivation and is managed mainly via pesticides.

Oxitec believes its modified olive fly strain – called OX3097D‐Bol and developed about three years ago – offers a more effective, chemical-free solution.

After what is says were promising greenhouse trials, Oxitec seeks approval to release its flies about 8 km from the port in Tarragona, one of Catalonia’s main olive oil production regions. It’s understood that six nets would each cover various trees and the trial would last 2-3 months.

Oxitec says it want to test the mating competitiveness, longevity and persistence of the fly in the field.

Fears of escape and unforeseen impacts

Public interest scientific group Testbiotech’s spokesman Christoph Then said among the group’s fears was that male descendants of the GM flies, which unlike the females could mate and propagate further, would escape and spread without control.

“If the genetically engineered flies escape, the harvest in the regions concerned would become non-marketable. Genetically engineered larvae living inside the olives are not allowed for food consumption in the E.U.”

“The Oxitec insects are manipulated with synthetic DNA, which is a mix of maritime organisms, bacteria, viruses and other insects. It is not known how these insects will interact with changing environmental conditions, so far they have only been bred in the laboratory,” he said.

http://www.oliveoiltimes.com/olive-oil-making-and-milling/spain-considers-trial-release-of-genetically-modified-olive-flies/35987

Post scríptum

Do GMOs Cause Digestive Disorders?

The Possible Link Between GMOs and Digestive Disorders

Ever since GMOs have entered the food supply, numbers of irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, leaky gut syndrome, constipation, and acid reflux have sharply risen. While no causal relationship has been found, one argument claims that a likely culprit is the Bt toxin (Bacillus thuringiensis). Registered as a pesticide with the EPA, the bacteria is added to food crops, like corn, so that insects that try to eat the crop ingest the toxin and die. Proponents of the Bt toxin as a possible instigator of digestive disorders argue that plants modified to have the Bt toxin become a toxin as well. And when humans consume the plants, the Bt toxin enters their digestive tract – causing harmful consequences

Another possible issue with GMOs is a chain reaction of digestive illnesses. In other words, the prevalence of GMOs and the Bt toxin in our diets causes leaky gut syndrome, which increases overall inflammation within the digestive tract, essentially opening the door for the series of illnesses listed above to develop.

In addition, new research has suggested the use of Roundup in GMO (a pesticide) crops contain plant-derived xenoestrogens that have been linked to carcinogenic transformation through the disruptions of humanhormonal metabolism.  You are basically bombarding your digestive system with undesirable amounts of estrogen-promoting hormones.

How to Avoid GMO Foods

Soy, wheat, corn, canola, and sugar beats make up the majority of food crops containing GMOs. As most experts recommend avoiding GMOs and genetically modified foods due to the possibility of digestive disorders, exercise caution when eating the crops listed above.

 http://stellametsovas.com/do-gmos-cause-digestive-disorders/