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Interview: GMO debates clouding bigger picture on sustainability (Agra Europe)

The role of biotechnology in the food supply chain remains a highly divisive issue in Europe and while the need for more ‘sustainability’ in agriculture is widely agreed on, there is little consensus on how this can actually be achieved. In an exclusive interview with Agra Europe, ProTerra Foundation Executive Director Sibyl Anwander discusses sustainability issues, arguing that GMO safety is not yet clear, that herbicide resistance and resource efficiency are the real challenges and that global crop supply chains need more transparency and stability.

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ProTerra is involved in the ‘Brussel Soy Declaration’, for retailers supporting more production of non-GM soya in Brazil, and the ‘Danube Soya Initiative’, aiming to reduce EU dependence on imported soya for feed and boost cultivation of non-GM soya in the Danube region. How can the reliance be reduced – are the two initiatives having an impact?

EU soyabean imports are actually slowly decreasing, especially from the US. This is partly due to a fall in meat consumption since the economic crisis began, and more EU production.

The Danube Soya Initiative is gaining in importance, partly due to the incentives created by the EU’s recent CAP reform [the forthcoming ‘greening’ payment - see below].

For ProTerra, we are expecting an increase in non-GMO soya for next year, given the negotiations between the German retail sector and the poultry industry. If an agreement in the whole retail sector can be achieved, there could also be an impact later in the pork market. There is also rising interest from the aquaculture industry, for non-GMO fish feed.

The big market growth is in China, but China is starting to care if its feed imports are GM or non-GM and is concerned about the competitiveness of domestic production. There have also been food health crises in Chinese cities and the emerging middle class, wealthier and better informed, are willing to pay more for their food.

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