Agricultural GM Technology for Experts
The critical discussion of genetic engineering plays an important role in the work of many individuals and initiatives. Many people are working in public relations and want to represent their positions at lectures and panel discussions. Often there is a lack of in-depth specialized knowledge beyond one's own specialization and no platform to share professional experience."Agro-biotechnology for Experts" was a Save Our Seeds training on March 19, 2011 that offered 27 participants extensive training in theory and practice of genetic engineering in agriculture and nutrition. The aim was to provide participants with a sound knowledge basis for their arguments, and the ability to train others on such topics. In two weekend seminars and eight online modules, experts shared campaign experiences and expertise in the necessary skills for campaign work.The participants acquired skills in research, writing and presentation techniques, and in developing strategies to participate in projects, campaigns, education, public relations and political lobbying. A total of eight speakers, divided into their respective modules invited lively discussions on the topic.
Our Actions
Success: European Parliament for National GM Ban
A big success for the GM movement in Europe: On Tuesday, July 5 the European Parliament agreed on a bill that allows Member States of the EU to prohibit the cultivation of approved GM crops on their territory. The representatives held a long meeting resulting in a majority vote led by Corinne Lepage. She won the opinion of her followers by asserting that GMOs have damaging effects on the environment, as well as on the economies of EU member states. She also promotes regional biodiversity and seed purity as better agricultural choices than herbicide resistant GM crops. Therefore the Parliament agreed to regulate the cultivation of GMOs in the future no longer on the basis of the internal market (Art. 114 of the EU constitution), but also for environmental protection (Art.192). More This agreement guarantees the right of national security against courts and the WTO and allows the application of a precautionary principle in the bill. In addition, Parliament calls for binding measures to secure the so-called coexistence (distance rules, etc.) in all Member States, giving free access to risk-research on land that is frequently denied by the companies. Also, there must be a resolution of the Council of Ministers that has not met in years, to improve the EU-wide approval procedure and the scientific criteria of the European Food Safety Authority. Save Our Seeds appealed to approve the Lepage Report together with 13 other organizations in an open letter to the representatives of the Member States. More than 66,000 citizens had asked the German Members of Parliament to support the report. Currently the federal government has no national stance of GM crops and has blocked its council to agree on a law.
Read the proposal and debate in the 
European Parliament Legislative Observatory.
