An uprising is happening in Germany: In defense against the cultivation of GM maize on the ground and with intentions to set an example for the free exchange of non-GM seeds, gardeners, farmers, and balcony botanists are growing the traditional variety Golden Bantam. Meanwhile, not only Bantam maize is blooming, but a colorful variety of non hybrid maize seeds are reproducing on Germany's arable land, balconies and in gardens.

To the delight of the Bantam growers, GM farming was forbidden in Germany in 2009. However, the GM movement is unstoppable. In 2010, the GM-free flax variety “Blue Wonder” was introduced. Since 2011, three more open pollinating seed varieties can be shared with other growers to add to the biodiversity that is threatened also in garden areas by hybrids and monocultures.

 www.bantam-mais.de

“Meine Landwirtschaft – Unserer Wahl“ (My Agriculture, Our Choice) is an initiative of farmer, environment, consumer, development, and animal protection organizations. Together the organizations want to bring agricultural reform and social responsibility to the forefront of EU discussions. This reform decides the fate of millions of farmers in Europe and developing countries. Also, it is perhaps the most important environmental, climate, and animal protection law, which the EU could pass in the coming years on health, global justice and hunger. Therefore all taxpayers should get involved and ask themselves: What agricultural practices do we want to support with our money in the future and how can we prevent excesses of monocultures and factory farming? Should our cultural landscape become oil fields for fuel and energy? Should "grow or neglect," remain the dogma of our agricultural policy? Will rural traditional agriculture continue to be defined by the buzz word “Bio” at the hands of the agricultural, feedstock and biotechnology industries?

 These issues are too important to us to neglect the industrial agricultural lobby.

 www.meine-landwirtschaft.de

The Informationsdienst Gentechnik (GMO Info Service), which is published by Save Our Seeds on behalf of the "Round Table on Genetic Engineering" daily releases the latest developments in the field of agro-biotechnology. The service compiles messages, files and background information, has produced flyers and postcards and, more recently, created teacher and student pages on the subject of genetic engineering. There is an appointment calendar that informs about events in the regions. A promotions page reports on initiatives and activities related to the agro-biotechnology. A 14-day newsletter keeps all who deal critically with genetic engineering in agriculture and food, up to date. The information service has become a common platform for the GMO-free movement in Germany. Two contributors will gladly answer questions on the theme of genetic engineering by phone or email.

 http://www.keine-gentechnik.de/

"Business as usual is not an option" was the message from the most comprehensive analysis of the history and future of global agriculture. Over 500 scientists from 86 countries researched in 2008 on behalf of the UN and the World Bank and gathered their conclusions in a World Agriculture Report. Save Our Seeds has worked since 2003 in the Board of the World Agriculture Report and summarized the results of the 2000-page work in a booklet and on the Internet for the public. In many speeches on the subject Save Our Seeds advocates for thought, discussion, and action for a just, climate-resistant, versatile farming, and encourages organic agriculture. Even if the German federal government is not one of the 58 signatory countries, many of the insights of the world agricultural report on the country’s opposition. The industrial agricultural models of the last century are not fit to overcome hunger and malnutrition, climate change, resource scarcity, biodiversity loss and pollution. Nor is this model enough to ensure global sustainability and equity. All over the world is emerging a change – will we accomplish it together in time?

 www.weltagrarbericht.de

292 regions, departments, and districts, 4713 communities, and 10,000 farmers in all of Europe have defined their territories as GM technology free. First and foremost this means the regions do everything legally possible to prevent the cultivation of GMOs in their regions and territories. It also facilitates GM-free shopping, the avoidance of genetically modified feed within their region, and the guarantee that with the designation of origin it is guaranteed that local products are produced without genetic engineering.

Once a year, farmers, politicians, companies, representatives of civil society, scientists, and GMO activists are invited by Save Our Seeds to exchange experiences, to debate on common strategies and to jointly wave their flag of self determination against GMO.

 www.gmo-free-regions.org