"MEPs speak out against GMOs in ‘New Alliance’ food strategy for Africa"

European lawmakers have urged the EU not to support the introduction of GMOs in Africa, in a resolution criticising the G8’s New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. EurActiv France reports. The programme for African agricultural development, the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NAFSN), does not serve the interests of family farmers, MEPs warned in a resolution. A large majority in the European Parliament’s Development committee adopted a resolution on Wednesday (20 April), calling on the EU to “tackle all the weaknesses of the NAFSN, […] in order to ensure that [its] actions are compatible with the development policy objectives”...

“The big multinationals like Monsanto, Cargill and Unilever are very focussed on making a profit. It is hard to see how this kind of aid to multinationals through the New Alliance could be of benefit to local populations in terms of sustainable development. Especially when we know that family farms are largely excluded from the decision-making process linked to this initiative,” said Maria Heubuch, a German Green MEP and the Parliament’s rapporteur on the issue.