IOFGA feels that the decision by the European Commission to give the green light to the commercial cultivation of the contentious genetically modified potato “Amflora” is moving the EU in the wrong direction.

Produced by German chemical giant BASF, the Amflora potato is designed to be rich in starch as an alternative thickening agent for paper, adhesives and textiles. However as far back as 2006 the ESFA themselves stated that “there is no guarantee that these potatoes will not enter the food chain”. The fact that “Amflora” carries an anti-biotic resistant gene will have major consequences if this potato does enter the food chain.

The data emerging from the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) where GM crops have been cultivated commercially since 1996, shows that pesticide application to GM crops has increased by 27% in the last ten years making GM crops extremely expensive to produce both from the farmers perspective and also from an environmental perspective. The end result is crops which are very expensive to produce and crops which consumers don’t want to eat.

In 2006 BASF abandoned its plans to cultivate its genetically modified potato in a test site in Meath. Public opposition was strong with regard to the trial and this coupled with a demand that BASF pay the cost of independent monitoring of health and environment impacts ensured that BASF pulled out. The question of liability with regard to cross-contamination from GM cultivation is still one which has not been accepted by the bio-tech companies.

Dr. Sinead Neiland Chairperson of IOFGA, said that the decision by John Dalli Health Comissioner had effectively ignored public opinion and safety concerns to please BASF.

“This decision puts profit before people or the environment and will do little to increase public confidence in how EU representatives approach GM cultivation” she said.

“The existence of non-GM alternatives means that there is no reason for farmers to have to cultivate Amflora for the European starch industry and no need to introduce the risk of spreading antibiotic resistance”, she said.

Organic farmers are growing a large variety of potatoes many of which are naturally blight resistant and the introduction of the cultivation of this GM variety threatens this diverse production across the EU.

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For more information contact

Grace Maher

Development Officer IOFGA

Tel 087 6125989

GM crops have been grown commercially around the world for over 15 years now and they have yet to offer any real benefits. In the EU at the moment GM crops are cultivated on 0.06% of agricultural land. 74% of which is grown in one country Spain[1]. Maize (MON 108) is the only crop which has been allowed to be cultivated however MON 108 is banned in Greece, Hungary, Austria, Luxemborg, France and Germany.

The economic, social and environmental benefits promised by biotech companies and governments have not been experienced by farmers or consumers. Instead the cost of GM crop production has continued to rise for farmers who are then left with a product which does not have a market as consumers do not want to eat GM food.

Dr. Sinead Neiland, Chairperson of IOFGA states that “data from the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) records that over the first 13 years of commercial use of GM crops the use of herbicides has increased by 383 million pounds. The overall chemical footprint of GM crops is huge and continues to grow each year”[2].

The 3 main GM crops grown globally are soybeans, corn, and cotton. Corn and soybeans are grown primarily for animal-feed. These crops are grown on huge farms which greatly reduces the biodiversity in these areas. Evidence is beginning to emerge that if GM crops are fed to animals, small amounts of GM material appear in the resulting meat and dairy products, and this was not previously identified. “Both of these issues, chemical use and traces of GM material from animal-feed raise serious human and animal health concerns about the use of GMO’s in food, and also major ethical concerns about the fact that foods from GM-fed animals remain unlabelled” stated Dr Neiland.

In the new Programme for Government in Ireland there is a commitment to introducing a voluntary labelling code for non GM products. This would be welcome both by food producers (conventional and organic) and also by consumers who could then make an informed choice.

There are very serious negative impacts associated with GM crop cultivation that need to be fully explored in the EU before we move forward in the GM debate. We in Ireland need to consider our “clean green image” as the food island. Small scale diverse production offers far more opportunities here and it also has a positive impact on the environment. Organic farming is a sustainable method of food production which is what consumers want, not high input unsustainable GM food.

The Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA) is the largest organic certification organisation in Ireland. It is responsible for certifying the organic provenance of its members produce and the IOFGA symbol indicates that a product has met the highest standard of organic integrity. IOFGA also works to inform the public about the benefits or organic food and to support the development of organic food production in Ireland.

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For further information contact:

Grace Maher

Development Office IOFGA

Tel 087 6125989

[2] “Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops in the United States the first 13 years” by Charles Benbrook, the Organic Center

The key challenge of the next two decades is to stabilise atmospheric carbon dioxide to limit a global temperature rise by 2 degrees and avert catastrophic climate change. The global population is estimated to be in the region of 9 billion by 2050 which will place further pressure on food security and resources.

In the wake of the recent extreme flooding in Ireland strategies to mitigate climate change must become a priority of the government. Commitments on food and farming have not taken centre stage in the lead-up to the Copenhagen COP15 Summit, but there is growing awareness of the importance of the role of the agricultural sector. Within the EU the food that we eat represents nearly a third of our climate footprint as consumers.

“Farming will have a crucial role to play in climate change mitigation and adaption. Organic farming is a solution multiplier. It emits less carbon as it uses fewer inputs and sequesters higher carbon in soils, while delivering better results in biodiversity conservation, animal welfare and soil conservation” stated Dr. Sinead Neiland, Chairperson of IOFGA. “Business as usual is not an option, agriculture must play its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Irish government must ensure that the potentials for mitigation from agriculture with particular reference to organic farming are on the agenda for discussion in Copenhagen” she stated.

The Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA) is the largest organic certification organisation in Ireland. It is responsible for certifying the organic provenance of its members produce and the IOFGA symbol indicates that a product has met the highest standard of organic integrity. IOFGA also works to inform the public about the benefits or organic food and to support the development of organic food production in Ireland.