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17 April 2015 | Interviews | Food Sovereignty
Another case of GM contamination in Uruguay: interview with one of the researchers of the study
The National Network of Native Seeds of Uruguay submitted a letter and a new study about the presence of GM proteins in maize seeds of Network´s farmers to the Risk Management Commission and the members of the National Biosafety Board (GNBio).
The farmers demand the government to ensure the right to non-GM production and warned that the governmental policy on "regulated coexistence" (between GM and non-GM crops) is clearly inneffective.
New tests carried out at the Biochemistry School found traces of GM proteins in native maize seed samples from Canelones and Treinta y Tres departments. The samples had been collected by technicians and producers of the Seeds Network in 2014. The letter sent to the authorities included the techincal report of the study.
The Network is made up by over 200 family farms involving over 350 farmers from 13 departments of the country. It was set up in 2004 at the initiative of the Association of Organic Farmers of Uruguay (APODU) and REDES - Friends of the Earth Uruguay, with the participation of the Agronomy School through the Regional South Center. The main goal of the Network is the saving, revaluation and maintenance of phytogenetic resources of the country in order to have quality native seeds.
Imagen: www.redes.org.uy
