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GMO-free agriculture and food production
GMOs, short for genetically-modified organisms, are the result of genetic engineering, where the intentional insertion or deletion of genes and alteration of genetic information (DNA) takes place. The GMO industry advertises GM crops as being the solution to world hunger and promises many other benefits for society. These promises are very doubtful, not least with regard to their underlying commercial interests, and studies rather show that cultivation of GMO crops is often related to non-sustainable practices.

GMOs are in stark contrast to the philosophy of organic farming, their consequences and side-effects highly dubious, and their introduction a potential threat to farmers’ rights for seed and farmers’ independence. Consequently, all organic regulations around the world prohibit the use of GMOs in organic products (see also IFOAM Position on Genetic Engineering and Genetically Modified Organisms). If released into the environment and used in feed and food, GMO crops cause contamination problems in other fields and products. Organic farmers and the majority of conventional farmers demand that their right to stay GMO-free be implemented in EU legislation, and the IFOAM EU Group as representative of organic agriculture in Europe correspondingly strives for a GMO-free Europe.


The IFOAM EU Group calls for a moratorium on the cultivation of GMO in its "Matla declaration" (Mars 2010) and actively works for the maintenance of a GMO-free agriculture in Europe that safeguards and protects farmers from unwanted and expensive contamination in seed, feed, and food, and guarantees consumers the GMO-free food they want.



IFOAM EU Activities for GMO free food and farming

IFOAM EU Group in cooperation with many other organisations works to maintain GMO free seed, food and feed production in order to allow a real freedom of choice for consumers.

Study (2009): Economic impacts of labelling thresholds for the adventitious presence of genetically engineered organisms in conventional and organic seed [Summary] [EN] [PL]

Open letter (January 2012): Alliance of NGOs demands European Commission
to stop drafting of guidelines for GM-animals

Open letter (April 2011): Save our seeds representatives of the food chain ask members of the ENVI Committee in the European Parliament to protect GMO free seed.

Open letter (2010): Food and farm sector representatives call Commissioner Ciolos to support the protection of food and farm sector from GMO contamination

Open letter (April 2010): Clarifications to the EU Commission about the availability of GMO free vitamin B2

Open letter (April 2010): IFOAM EU comments on European Commission second report on the coexistence of genetically modified crops with conventional and organic farming

Press releases

Press Release (Mars 2012): Council opposed biased proposal, but failed to reach improvement for GMO free food and farming

Press Release (October 2011): Transparency and strict rules for GMOs needed. Commission reports on GMO policy must be followed by overdue action.

Press Release (July 2010): Commission proposal on GMO cultivation bans fail to solve problems of GMO-free sector

External links

European Commission website on GMOs




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