www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

The proven benefits that green biotechnology can bring to farmers, the
environment, consumers and society are already acknowledged and recognised
by many at European level, March 2007.

Despite a very stringent regulatory system for the assessment, approval
and monitoring of agricultural biotech products put in place in Europe,
there are still endless debates between opponents and advocates. Such
debates result in a highly politicised European process for product
authorization that is very slow and in some instances prohibits the placing
on the market of safe and beneficial products.

The consequence of this ambivalent position is the denial of freedom of
choice for European farmers and consumers and negative influence on
developing countries towards their adoption of biotech crops including those
produced in their own countries to meet their own needs.

Even so, in 2006, farmers cultivated approved biotech crops on 65 000
hectares in six European Member States (Portugal, Spain, Germany, France,
Czech Republic and Slovakia). Their positive experiences will likely lead to
an increase in the area of GM cultivated crops in Europe this year. The
Green Biotechnology Manifesto gives a European perspective on the five main
obstacles that are making the uptake of agricultural biotech in Europe
impractical. This will be matched by a report from South Africa?s University
of Pretoria arguing how these obstacles imposed at EU level are blocking the
uptake of green biotechnology in the developing world as well.

Distinguished guests representing the industry, the scientific and farming
communities from European and developing countries will discuss these issues
and answer your questions.

Meet the panellists:

Dr. Hans Kast,
President and CEO of BASF Plant Science Holding GmbH;
Chairman of EuropaBio

Dr. Bernward Garthoff
Chairman of the German Association of Biotech Industries-DIB (Germany);
Vice-Chair of EuropaBio and Chair the EuropaBio Agri-Food Council

Prof. Diran Makinde
School of Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry,
University of Venda for Science and Technology, South Africa

Farmers from South Africa and Europe will be present to share their
experience in cultivating biotech crops

Discussion will be mainly in English but one to ones can be held after the
event.

Hope you can make it.

Who:
EU and developing country scientific experts, industry and farmers

What:
Press Conference

When:
10:00 (Central Europe Time); Tuesday 13th, 2007

Where:
CITÉ | CENTRE DE CONGR?S | LYON
Lyon Conference Center
50, quai Charles de Gaulle
69463 LYON Cedex 06, FRANCE
[www.ccc-lyon.com]
Tel: +33 (0)4 72 82 26 26
Fax: +33 (0)4 72 82 26 27

Language: English

RSVP:
If you want to attend our press conference please RSVP by March 8th to Alina
Cornea (a.cornea@europabio.org) and do not forget to register on the
BioVision website [www.biovision.org] under the section
?Accreditation!?

A fully equipped Press Center will be open throughout the duration of
BioVision. To meet media needs for immediate reporting, BioVision organisers
will provide a fully equipped centre, including PCs, internet access,
photocopiers, telephone and fax. The media center will also have a dedicated
area for materials for participating journalists.

All BioVision and BioSquare conferences, roundtable discussions and debates
are open to accredited journalists holding an official badge, which may be
picked-up at the reception desk in the Press Center.

Only accredited journalists can attend the Forum and events organized by
BioVision?s Partners.

Journalists can obtain accreditation, ONLY by registering on the BioVision
website [www.biovision.org] under the section ?Accreditation.?

[www.europabio.org]