search
section

Monsanto maize banned in France

Published time: March 17, 2012 02:51
Edited time: March 17, 2012 06:51
Anti-GMO activists rip open bags containing "MON 810", a variety of genetically modified maize developed by Monsanto Company after entering a Monsanto storehouse. (AFP Photo / Eric Cabanis)

Tags

Agriculture, Ecology, Europe, Protest, USA

A genetically modified strain of maize created by the notorious American company Monsanto has been temporarily banned in France “to protect the environment.” This comes at a time of protests against the biotech giant in its homeland.

­France’s Agricultural Minister Bruno Le Maire Friday imposed the temporary ban on maize strain MON 810, in what his ministry is calling “a precautionary measure.” However, Monsanto itself said in January that it would not sell genetically modified maize in France, as it considered the market “not ready.”

MON 810 is known by its trade name, YieldGuard. It was modified genetically in order to insert a bacteria into its DNA structure, allowing YieldGuard to be promoted as resistant to insect pests that damage harvests. However, according to some experts, it can be dangerous for plants and animals. In February, France’s Ecology Ministry announced its request to the European Commission to suspend authorization for the use of MON 810 crops due to potential risks to the environment. The ministry referred to a European Food Safety Authority study saying that threats linked to another form of genetically modified crop – BT11 – might also be associated with MON 810.

Tensions are growing for the American corporation as protests by Occupy Monsanto, a group opposed to the biotech giant, are on the rise in the US capital. Friday saw rallies in Washington, DC where activists dressed in hazmat suits protested what they called corrupt ties between American lawmakers and Monsanto. In addition to buying out small-time farms unable to compete with the billion-dollar biotech corporation, Monsanto is accused of buying off Congress so it can feed America genetically modified foods, or GMOs. As RT reported earlier this week, Monsanto was recently awarded federal approval to test out a lab-developed corn variant that is believed to be resistant to arid environments and droughts.

Comments (19)

Me (unregistered) 22.05.2012 11:59

so from last available data directly from FAO (http://faostat .fao.org/site/368/De sktopDefault.aspx?Pa geID=368#ancor)Franc e produce 14357kt, import 1080kt and export 4973kt of Maize, so tell me more about your point ?When Monsanto will hold the entire corn seeds market with their super corn and make you pay to be able to use it it will definitely improve the hunger issue in the world.

Steve Savage (unregistered) wrote in #18
If France was actually able to produce its own food, then its bans could mean something.  Go to FAO website to see how much food France imports vs how much they export.  If this country wants to be GMO free for irrational, fear-based reasons, then they should feed themselves.  

+1

Undo

Steve Savage (unregistered) 22.05.2012 03:35

If France was actually able to produce its own food, then its bans could mean something.  Go to FAO website to see how much food France imports vs how much they export.  If this country wants to be GMO free for irrational, fear-based reasons, then they should feed themselves.  

0

Undo

Squarecat (unregistered) 22.05.2012 02:49

"..according to some experts,.." - I really wish they elaborated on this. Poor job by the author of the article. No elaboration on the accusations against Monsanto. People need to know the gritty, uncomfortable details about their patents and effects of their crops. 
I'm also humored by some of you posting comments, assuming that testing GMO foods on the people eating them is the only possible way to feed large amounts of people...when there have been studies on the effects of it on rats..the effects being negative. Isn't that a bit of a red flag? How about when monsanto has governmental influence? How about when they destroy small time farmers' lives by cornering them into buy their seed or suing them if some seeds blow onto the farmers and begin sprouting..the GMO crops are also effective at sticking around, even moreso than weeds. The negative overshadows the positive effects, in my opinion, because now that this company has its grips on farmers, and their deep pockets can prevent any change from happening... as long as they maintain their unfair governmental influence. Do whatever you can to get the word out about Monsanto. Ha, even if it means liking a comment. Great change needs to happen in this country, and if I had my way, the beginning of change would be marked rightfully by monsanto. Our first basic need is to eat (if you don't count air, or more precisely what's in the air), therefore, to give us more power over the quality of our first basic human need, we need to shift the power away from Monsanto.

+47

Undo

View all comments (19)
Add comment

By posting your comment, you agree to abide by our Posting rules

Log in to comment in full, or comment anonymously under character-limit restriction.

100 Text

•
• – required fields

Register or

Name

Password

Show password

Register

or Register

Request a new password

Send

or Register

To complete a registration check
your Email:

or Register

A password has been sent to your email address

Edit profile

Name

New password

Retype new password

Current password

Save

Cancel
Where to watch Schedule

Follow us

© Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “TV-Novosti”, 2005–2013. All rights reserved.