On the results of the Grenelle de l'Environnement, the French
President announced the suspension of the commercial cultivation of biotech
crops in France. This suspension would be in force until a new body, which
is expected to be created before the end of the year, has been able to
assess the subject.
In the statement the French President justifies his decision on the
basis of supposed doubts on the value of biotech crops, the ability to
manage their dissemination and their health and environmental benefits.

President Sarkozy's call for the creation of a new independent body
shows distrust in the accumulated scientific evidence to date, of the expert
opinions from both the French Food Agency (AFSSA) and the European Food
Safety Authority (EFSA) and of the European approval system generally.

A suspension also flies in the face of the overwhelming scientific
evidence and positive commercial experience of biotech crops around the
world. In 2006, 10.3 million farmers in 22 countries cultivated genetically
modified (biotech) crops on 102 million hectares. The adoption rate has seen
double-digit annual growth since 1996.

A suspension will greatly damage the competitiveness of French farmers
who have benefited from this technology for the past 3 years. An exclusive
CSA Institute survey for the French Maize growers shows that 52% of the
French are in favour of using the cultivation of biotech crops to safeguard
the competitiveness of French farmers.

French farmers should have the right voluntarily to choose whether or
not to grow approved biotech crops (1).

EuropaBio welcomes the reported remarks by EU Agriculture Commissioner
Fischer Boel on the illegality of a ban on biotech crops in France and EU
Environment Commissioner Dimas asking France's President Niclolas Sarkozy to
revoke his proposed suspension of the commercial cultivation of biotech
crops because it is contrary to European law.

As far as health and environmental benefits of biotech crops are
concerned, they are a tool for farmers to fight disease, increase yields and
reduce the inputs needed to grow crops. This is reflected by the fact that
French farmers grew 70% more GM maize in 2006 compared with the previous
year.

The environmental benefits of insect resistant corn are equally well
documented. Thus, biotech crop-related carbon dioxide emission savings in
2005 are equivalent to the removal from the roads of nearly 4.01 million
cars for a year, equal to about 17% of all registered cars in the UK.

Crop yields of biotech maize can increase up to 15% in areas of the
highest corn borer pressure.

Experience with the same crop in France since 2005 and in Spain for 10
years has shown that the coexistence of biotech, conventional and organic
agriculture is readily feasible. The steady growth of both organic and
biotech cultivation in those countries clearly shows that reports of
intermingling are unfounded.


[www.europabio.org]