Dear all,
here is an interesting article (in French) about the mutagenesis discussion between NPOS, organic farmers and Confédération Paysanne/Guy Kastler.
https://www.agriculture-environnement.fr/2022/02/04/le-camp-des-anti-ogm-div ise-sur-la-mutagenese
Most important points (summary, not my comments):
- the ruling of the ECJ in 2018 regarding mutagenesis as GMO
- problem for organic farmers, because they use many varieties with (random) mutagenesis that are now regarded as (unregulated) GMO
- NPOS was as well upset by the ECJ ruling
- NPOS started a petition in Nov. asking as well to stop patents on random mutagenesis
- NPOS fears that with the ECJ ruling random mutagenesis will not be regarded as conventional breeding anymore and thus can be patented. A collateral damage that Guy Kastler had obviously not anticipated.
- NPOS says that the lines between GMO and conv. breeding are blurred by companies.
- In fact it is rather Guy Kastler and the other French militant anti-GMO who, with their battle against mutagenesis, have blurred the lines, creating an absurd situation for organic farmers and opening the possibility of an extension of patents.
I am not sure, if we ever officially commented on the ECJ ruling, so the article may not 100% accurately reflect the position of NPOS.
Best,
Johanna
Mag. Johanna ECKHARDT
Project Coordination
Tel. +43 680 21 26 343
mailto:johanna.eckhardt@no-patents-on-seeds.org johanna.eckhardt@no-patents-on-seeds.org
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