Join the Food Revolution Newsletter
Issue n°25 - February 2017
GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY
- Fishing: New rules will help prevent overfishing
- GMO cultivation: tell your Ministries to block 3 genetically modified maize from entering EU fields!
- Glyphosate : a European citizens' initiative to stop glyphosate...
... and a European Parliament's resolution to improve availability of low risk pesticides of biological origin - European Commission comitology reform
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Access to land for farmers in the EU
JOIN THE FOOD REVOLUTION: THE STORY OF THE MONTH
Every month food actors who joined the 'Join the Food Revolution' network share their story, showing the way to take back control over your plate –
WHAT'S ON THE PLATE?
Upcoming Events
GREEN INSIGHT INTO EU FOOD POLICY
Fishing: New rules will help prevent overfishing
The European Parliament has supported on February 2nd new legislation designed to curb overfishing. MEPs backed a report from Greens/EFA rapporteur Linnéa Engström which sets out new standards for EU vessels fishing outside EU waters.
GMO cultivation: tell your Ministries to block 3 genetically modified maize from entering EU fields!
Do you want GMOs in the EU’s fields? If not, tell your Minister now to block them!
Mid-March, the European Commission will propose to the Member States’ experts to allow two GM maize varieties (Bt11 from Syngenta and 1507 from Dupont) and to renew the authorization of one further variety- Mon 810 from Monsanto.
If enough member states’ experts are not voting against, there is a high risk that these regulations will pass, even though a clear majority of EU citizens is against the use of biotechnologies in fields and food. These GM maize would then be cultivated in the fields of several EU countries, and probably contaminate fields of neighbouring countries.
The member states have the possibility to STOP GMOs from the fields NOW. If they are serious about environment and food safety they have no reason to hesitate! There are ample reasons not to allow GM cultivation in the EU.
Glyphosate : a European citizens' initiative to stop glyphosate...
The Greens/EFA have been fighting for one year in order to ban glyphosate at EU level. That's why they strongly support the European citizens' initiative (ECI) launched on 8 February by a coalition of NGOs and environmental associations.
... and a European Parliament's resolution to improve availability of low risk pesticides of biological origin
One week after the launch of a European citizens’ initiative aiming at banning glyphosate-based herbicides in the EU and setting EU-wide mandatory reduction targets for pesticide use, the European Parliament adopted today with a broad majority a non-binding resolution calling for increased EU availability of low-risk pesticides, focussing on those of biological origin.
European Commission comitology reform
The European Commission published Tuesday 14 February a long-awaited proposal to reform the so-called comitology process used to authorize new GMOs and pesticides at EU level. Decisions can only be taken in the standing committees when a qualified majority is reached, but routine abstentions from big states are making this process unworkable. The Greens/EFA want a new system that makes these decisions, which carry significant health implications as seen in the recent case of glyphosate, more democratic and accountable. For this to be achieved, decisions should fall to the governments of the EU member states and the European Parliament.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Access to land for farmers in the EU
In Europe, land speculation and land concentration are an increasing threat to small and medium sized family farms and new entrants. Soaring land prices make it increasingly difficult for farmers to have access to land. In the meantime, investors are buying up enormous pieces of land, sometimes using legal loopholes. Land is increasingly becoming a globally tradable commodity and an object of financial speculation. Examples such as Scotland and Andalusia, where arable land, pastures and forests are highly concentrated since centuries, show the negative effects for sustainable rural development and societies as a whole.
The Greens/EFA group organised a conference on the topic on 7 December 2016. You can watch the videos of the event and read the study Land Rush - The Sellout of Europe’s Farmland. Paper copies can be ordered here.
JOIN THE FOOD REVOLUTION: STORY OF THE MONTH
The story of the month is for us all!
We now have many countries represented on the platform and you certainly have potential creative partners hiding there. So, take a look at the map of members, get in touch with people and get involved in projects that are in your regions or just get inspired by ideas taking place across your borders to make your own!
You are the revolutionary who can make the change!
Want to report on an idea or person in the platform that you got in touch with to get inspired for you own project or who helped you get further involved? Contact us here! We will be glad to hear about your story!
WHAT'S ON THE PLATE?
27/02: Debate on rules on the making available on the market of CE marked fertilising products | ENVI committee at European Parliament, Brussels | from 3pm in room 4Q2 or online
7/03 – 10/03: International Congress of Global peasants' rights | Schwäbisch Hall, Germany
20/03 – 30/03: Pesticides reduction week | France
1/04: Provisional application of CETA starts| learn more on CETA, cloning and freedom of choice
