Field of illegal GM corn growing in Italy destroyed by activists

While some genetically modified crops are allowed to be cultivated in Europe, Italy has dragged its feet on establishing policies, resulting in a situation where farmers cannot get permission to grow GM corn or potatoes.

Europe has long resisted allowing genetically modified foods, a reluctance that is slowly being whittled away by dissension between European states, because some countries want to be able to grow more GM crops. As a result, the European Union recently decided to allow imports of six new varieties of GM maize, along with other crops, reported the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT). The newly approved GM crops will not be allowed to be grown in Europe. The European Union is looking into allowing individual states the freedom to allow or refuse GM cultivars. Monsanto, which had two of its GM corn varieties approved, expressed pleasure at the decision.

"We welcome the Commission's decision to follow the independent scientific advice of the European Food Safety Authority. Farmers use these and other technologies to help improve the productivity of their farms and raise grain in a more sustainable way that uses fewer pesticides. These authorizations will also enable shipment of grain and its derivatives from these products for use as feed ingredients by European livestock industry.”

But when it comes to growing GM crops, Europe only allows two cultivars, according to the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development. The two allowed are Monsanto's MON 810 maize, which was originally approved in 1998; and the Amflora potato, which was approved this year. In 2004, Europe approved 17 varieties of Mon 810 was approved for growing, but individual countries are free to establish their own regulations and policies for the corn. European nations that currently ban Monsanto's MON 810 maize include Germany, Austria, Ireland, Greece, Hungary, Luxenbourg and France. Hungary has said the GM corn threatens biodiversity, and the nation cites a number of reasons for refusing to allow the seed to be grown, including the fact that the toxins bred into the corn to resist pests do not break down quickly, remaining in the stubble for almost a year after the corn was grown and harvested. Italy had begun establishing a process to allow farmers to grow MON 810 with a permit, but the process stalled out three or four years ago. Farmer, Giorgio Fidenato had lobbied the government to finalize the approval process for the past few years without success. Fed up and frustrated with getting nowhere, Fidenato planted MON 810 this spring, announcing his action publicly. A local group, Ya Basta complained to the government, asking for the illegal crop to be destroyed, but the foot dragging continued. As a result, at the end of July, Greenpeace International mounted a campaign aimed at preventing the spread of the corn by trying to detassel the corn, issuing a press release that detailed the action. Greenpeace was supported with a protest camp set up beside the field, reported ANSA News. The move to "quarantine" the corn coincided with a day of action in Italy where a number of groups opposing GM crops demanded the government ban GM crops. After Fidenato announced publicly that his MON 810 corn was ready to be harvested, a group of Ya Basta activists, many dressed in their trademark white coveralls methodically destroyed the corn before being arrested by police. Most Italians decry the destruction, although a few have been critical of the government, saying the current law should have been upheld. Ya Basta issued a statement, which has been badly translated by Google, saying about 100 people participated in destroying the corn. The group said they had brought the illegal crop to the attention of officials in late May, asking that the corn be destroyed. The anti-capitalist group characterizes genetically modified seeds as

"A Trojan horse to colonize, control, possession, making inevitable the use of their seeds protected by copyright."

Fidenato is not the only Italian farmer who would like to grow MON 810 maize. Food Navigator reported on a 2007 survey that showed a majority of farmers favoured field trials of the corn. An overwhelming number of farmers agreed it was senseless to allow imports of GM corn to Italy while not allowing Italian farmers the right to grow the same products. The Italian Ya Basta is an organization that opposes globalization, famed for coming up with 'Tutte Bianches' which translates as White Monkeys. The idea is to use dress as a form of protest, according to an article, The Body as a Weapon for Civil Disobedience. At present, the GM potato called Amflora is used to produce starch which is used in paper, concrete and glue. It could also be used as a livestock feed, wrote Jess Haliday in Food Navigator. Opposition to genetically modified crops and imports remains strong in Europe.