Agricultural biotechnology has a key role to play in helping Europe reach its ambitious carbon reduction targets and assisting farmers to better adapt to a shifting climate, according to a briefing released on Tuesday by the European Association for BioIndustries (EuropaBio) during a round table on climate change at the European Parliament.
Jorgo Chatzimarkakis MEP one of the speakers at the roundtable, said: “Agriculture biotech definitely has a role to play in Europe’s fight against climate change. With over 10 years experience of commercial biotech planting, it is very important to have an open and balanced debate in Europe on the contribution that modern agriculture technologies could make to help European farmers face today’s challenges.”
Pekka Pesonen, secretary general of European producers’ representative body Copa-Cogeca warned that there were two challenges facing growers.
“Farmers must respond to increased demand for food,” he said. “We need access to modern technologies that help us to remain competitive. At the same time we have to protect our fragile environment.”
EuropaBio is keeping bio-technology on the political agenda and claims as Europe endeavours to meet the increasing demand for food while mitigating the effects of agriculture and horticulture on climate change.
Will De Greef, secretary general of EuropaBio said: “If we want to feed people and create a viable bio-based economy without destroying our resources, we must use science and technology to support agriculture. European farmers must be given the right to choose to grow GM crops. The benefits from ag biotech will only be seen in Europe as GM crops are more widely adopted and farmers are given the right to choose to grow them.”
EuropaBio brings together bioscience companies from all fields of research and development, testing, manufacturing and distribution of biotechnology products in Europe. It has over 100 corporate and research members world-wide.
No comments yet