Romanian farm producers urge EU to introduce GM crops

The Romanian Farm Producers National Federation has begun the official moves at the European Union bodies meant to approve starting producing genetically modified crops, the Federation said in a press release on Wednesday.

The Romanian employers' organisation will also benefit from lobbying from the American Soy Producers' Board, that will try to persuade the EU members of the advantage of using biotechnologies.

'The EU will have to consider the high soybeans demand worldwide. It is a fantastic demand and we must get ready to provide food for the population on the globe who want this crop. Europe too should no longer be so conservative. Europe's economic prosperity will depend on the introduction of the new technologies. The EU heavyweights do not have the required micro-climatic and soil conditions to grow GMOs and therefore they are not interested. But since we are part of an European Union in which all the states have the same rights, we were communicated that the decision rests with each separate state. Therefore, everything depends on us', Federation chairman Viorel Matei said.

Statistic figures show the EU currently imports 90 percent of the total soy quantity, even from areas where it is genetically modified. According to Romanian Agriculture Minister Valeriu Tabara, a supporter of biotechnologies, the EU imports 40 million tonnes of GM soybeans which it consumes, with Romania being also forced to import soybeans to maintain its farms.

'Romania is forced to import soybeans for a lot of money, since it no longer has the right to grow it from Jan. 1, 2007. Romania loses one billion euros a year because it does not cultivate genetically modified soy, but it imports it from Brazil for its animal farms. Romania's policy does not run counter the European community laws. We are the only country in Europe that has very good conditions for this crop', the agriculture minister had said a few months ago.