GE Maize Field Trial Action in Belgium

Around 7 o'clock in the morning Greenpeace activists entered a test field of the Flemish Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries Research in Wetteren, close to Ghent. They sowed organic flowers on what a few hours later would turn into the first Belgian field with genetically modified maize MON810. The sowing of MON810 is an initiative of the Flemish authorities, that want to test in practice the conditions for cultivation of GM maize created by the coexistence legislation. The Flemish government is explicitly promoting GM crops and heavily influenced by the strong pro-GM lobby in the region. MON810 has been banned by 6 EU member states because of environmental risks, while in Flanders it's the government itself who's sowing it. "Apparently in Flanders the interests of Monsanto have more weight than risks for the environment and public health", said Jonas Hulsens, Greenpeace Belgium Agriculture campaigner. "Instead of subsidising publicity-stunts for the biotech industry, the government should rather have a look at the conclusions of the IAASTD, and start investing in ecological farming methods that maintain the national resources our food production depends on, without adding new risks like GM crops do."