Email
SOS-Flyer as PDF Welcome to "Save Our Seeds"
„Save Our Seeds“ (SOS) is a European initiative in favor of the purity of seeds against genetically modified organisms (GMO).Conventional and organic seeds should continue to be free of genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms should not be imposed on farmers and consumers. Over 300,000 citizens and 300 organizations with more than 25 million members in all of Europe support the SOS 
petition for seed purity.
Apart from this main concern, Save Our Seeds coordinates more projects dealing with the discussion of genetic engineering, sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty – coupled with an international perspective. With its campaigns and initiatives, SOS links companies, politicians, scientists, farmers, and interested citizens; and wishes to lead a productive debate towards sustainable change.
Colourful variety not standardized uniformity!
On the 25th of April, Save our Seeds and Campact have launched a petition on the upcoming new EU regulation of seed marketing. The new regulation will de facto ban old and rare varieties and farmers varieties and threaten the exchange and selling of seeds of diversity.
The current draft regulation was written by DG SANCO. Before it becomes an official proposal of the EU-Commission, DG AGRI (Directorate General of Agriculture and Rural Development) and the DG ENVI (Directorate General for the Environment) have to agree to it‘s contents. At the moment there are several points of disagreement. The regulation will not be passed if 14 Commissioners vote against (ie no majority is reached). Each country of the EU has one commissioner in Brussels. The commissioners of DG AGRI and DG ENVI should vote against, so we need 12 more. Find the list of commissioners here:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/index_en.htm
The petition is demanding that proposed EU seed legislation must allow more diversity in our fields and on our plates, rather than destroying it. Traditional and local varieties must remain exempt from licensing or certification requirements. Strict rules, controls, inspections and costly permits should only apply to seeds and seed materials which are traded commercially, in large quantities. The free exchange of seeds and seedlings between farmers, gardeners and seed initiatives must be guaranteed and supported.
Only by growing a wide selection of fruits, vegetables and grains, can we ensure that our agriculture adapts to climate change, new diseases and pests. We want colorful variety not standardized uniformity!#
International News
2013-05-31 | permalink
Monsanto pulls out of Europe - beginning of the end of GMOs in Europe
Foto: Investigative Denmark
<!-- <a href="http://db.zs-intern.de/archive/bmshtnk4YHAanLQa7thQeyQaC9YrQCf3pVb7aeyU.html"> --><img src="http://db.zs-intern.de/preview/bmshtnk4YHAanLQa7thQeyQaC9YrQCf3pVb7aeyU.html" alt="Brandon Mitchener, Monsanto Europe's Public Affairs Lead" title="From Video of Investigative Reporting Denmark" /><!-- </a> -->Monsanto has made a &quot;quiet decision&quot; already in 2011 to no longer promote GM crops in Europe, a story of Danish investigative journalists reveals. &quot;We will not spend any more money to convince people to plant them,&quot; states Monsanto Europe's Brandon Mitchener in an interview published on youtube. He continued &quot;The policy is we will sell it where people want it. If the farmers want it and if the government wants it and if there is a functioning, science based regulatory system.&quot; That was only the case in Spain and Portugal, where sales would continue. &quot;We will be happy to bring it back to Europe at such time as the European public wants it&quot;. The announcement comes after Bayer, BASF and Syngenta had already made similar announcements and withdrew their GMO research from the EU last year.
Investigative Reporting Denmark: GMO lose Europe victory for environmental organisations
