Although in the southern countries of South America GM technology continues to be publicized as a “solution” to the climate crisis on agriculture, reality is quite different in Europe. Transnational corporation Monsanto, the world’s largest GM seed and agrotoxics developer and supplier, has suffered several setbacks in the recent weeks.

Such is the case of Norway, which rejected the approval of the entering of GM soy Mon 87708. The proposals of GMO in that country have to request approval from GENOK, the world’s only independent inter-disciplinary center that investigates and assesses GMO’s overall impact.

GENOK reported that the data provided by Monsanto does not support their request since the local laws require the crop to be useful and environmentally and socially sustainable.

The evaluation highlights that the data does not fulfill the different requirements provided by the Norwegian Gene Technology Act. “Based on our detailed assessment, we find that the informational, empirical and deductive deficiencies identified in the dossier do not support claims of safe use, social utility and contribution to sustainable development of MON 87708.” reads the assessment agency’s verdict cited in www.genok.com.

“Critically, the Applicant [Monsanto] has not included any of the required information to assess social utility and sustainability as required in Appendix 4 of the Norwegian Gene Technology Act, which would be necessary for consideration of approval in Norway.”

Meanwhile, in an effort to free the country from GM crops, Hungary has taken measures in July that implied a new setback for the US transnational corporation. The new regulation passed in March in Hungary provides that seeds should be analyzed before being introduced in the market to test the presence of GM seeds, which use is banned in Europe.

However, some producers cultivated it and Monsanto and Pioneer GM seeds were found in those plantations.

Almost 1,000 hectares of GM crops have been destroyed in Hungary by orders of the Budapest government, according to the Minister of Rural Development, Lajos Bognar, cited by news websites. GM corn has been ploughed, thus preventing corn pollen from spreading and pollinating non GM varieties.

This is not a simple mistake: the transnational corporation has used this tactic in several countries to forcefully introduce its varieties because it is entitled to claim the payment of royalties over the use of all corn seeds that keep the gene resistant to Round Up or Gliphosate herbicides.

Controls will continue despite the seed suppliers are forced to make sure that their products are GM free, said Bognar.

Photo: infoparamentesuniversales.blogspot.com