A modern mezőgazdaságáról híres Hollandiában is új GMO-mentes régió alakult!

No GM agriculture in Dutch province of Friesland

The Frisian Provincial Council decided January 26, 2011, that currently there is no room for genetically modified agriculture in Friesland. This is for the first time that a province in the Netherlands speaks out against GM agriculture. The decision was made after a motion put forward by GrienLinks (Frisian Greens). The proposal was supported by PvdA (Social Democrats) and SP (Socialist Party). At the voting the initiative got a large majority in the Frisian provincial parliament.

The decision not to allow GM farming in Friesland is not yet final. First, there is an consultation round with experts, farmers and politicians about the pros and cons of GM agriculture. This consultation round should provide enough information for the Frisian parliament to formulate a definitive view on the appropriateness of growing genetically modified crops in Friesland. It was agreed that until then Fryslân will oppose field trials and commercial cultivation of GMOs (genetically modified organisms).

Irona Groeneveld (leader of GrienLinks) welcomes this acceptance of the GMfree initiative: "There is still much too little is known about the consequences of growing genetically modified foods, both for consumers, farmers and the environment. You want to know what you eat, right? A farmer wants to know what he grows and what would be the potential risks to his land. Finally, too little is known about the effects of GE on the environment. Those are three good reasons now to be marking time. Agriculture is so important for Fryslân so we have to take into account the interests of farmers and their successors. We do that now. "

The cultivation of genetically modified crops is controversial. Both political parties and civil society organizations and farmer organizations have already expressed their concern about the possible consequences of this form of agriculture. With the current decision the Frisian Provincial Parliament has ruled that GM agriculture is not desirable in Friesland at the momen. "It brings one of the wishes of our election manifesto for the forthcoming election a step closer. But it's not only about that. Importantly, Friesland chooses more and more clearly for a way of farming that is future proof and green. That's good for farmers and that's good for nature and the environment. Typical GrienLinks", says Groeneveld.

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