Agriculture Minister Approves the First Genetically Modified Seeds for Use and Sale in Germany
The acceptance of genetically modified foods has been an uphill battle in different parts of the world for a number of years. We are all familiar with the opposition that biotechnology and genetically modified foods has faced from many grassroots groups and different organizations around the world like the European Union. That’s why I was interested in reading that Germany is now jumping on the genetically modified foods bandwagon and has recently approved such crops for use in the country (Germany begins sowing GM Seeds, Checkbiotech, 12/22/05).
According to the news article, Horst Seehofer, Germany’s new Agriculture and Consumer Minister, recently began promoting biotechnology and genetically modified foods and approved the first of three types of genetically modified corn seed for use in the country.
Monsanto and Pioneer Hi-Bred, which produce the three types of newly approved MON 810 seed for general use and sale by German farmers, hailed the new decision as a break from the policy propagated by Germany’s former agriculture minister Renate Kunast. His department blocked approval for the seeds-which produce bacteria to kill corn pests found in parts of Germany while remaining safe for humans-on several occasions and encouraged organic farming methods instead, according to the article.
“The seeds have been stuck in the system for a while,” said Heinz Degenhardt of Pioneer Hi-Bred. “The regular approval process could have actually been finished a long time ago, if it was not slowed down for political reasons.”
Many within the genetically modified food industry expect a number of changes to the law and hope that these changes will give genetically modified products the same status as non-modified products. According to the article, current practice in Germany “discriminates against those who use genetic technology” and keeps them from using new technologies to increase their harvests.
“The conventional and genetically modified crop import market already shows that coexistence is possible in Germany,” said Monsanto’s Andreas Thierfelder. “The cultivation of genetically modified crops puts greater demands on coexistence since it deals with relatively smaller particles, but coexistence is possible on farms.”
However, opponents of genetically modified foods don’t agree. They argue that consumers opposed to the technology end up paying for the existence of genetically modified foods by covering all the separation costs. Opponents also argue that the dangers of these crops have not been subject to enough scrutiny before being put on the open market.
The approval of these new genetically modified seeds by Germany’s agriculture minister is a great first step toward a coexistence of genetically modified and traditional products in that nation. These products, despite the possible chance of a risk that any new technology can have, could be accepted just as much as those already on the market. This initial approval could lead to more genetically modified products being introduced in Germany and lead to a greater acceptance of the technology by farmers and consumers.
