Europe facing meat crisis over GM wrangle

[lostinblue 1,989]

Europe facing meat crisis over GM wrangleCarl Mortished, World Business Editor

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Europe is facing a crisis in the supply of meat because of delays and political resistance in Brussels to the use of genetically modified protein in animal feed.

Shortages in grain for animal feed and soaring prices are wreaking havoc in the livestock sector, causing pig and poultry farmers to reduce their output, according to animal feed compounders and livestock associations.

The problem has been identified in an internal European Union report on the effect of EU policy towards the use of GM products in animal feed. A failure by the EU to speed up the approval of GM soya imports will significantly raise meat prices, an outcome that is directly attributable to European policies, the report concludes.

Europe is struggling to find enough vegetable protein to feed its livestock, causing feed prices to rise. The EU imports 80 per cent of its feed protein needs - mainly new traits of GM soya and corn.

Outside Europe, farmers increasingly are turning to GM crop varieties to get better yields, but the speed of the transition is leaving Europe stranded with fewer sources of supply, the European Feed Manufacturers Association (Fefa) said.

The problem is acute and is forcing farmers to cut back on the number of animals they rear, raising the threat of reduced meat supply. “We are looking at the collapse of the livestock industry,” Alexander Doring, the association's secretary-general, said.

The emerging crisis over animal feed and meat supply is creating conflict within the European Commission, setting the directorate-general of agriculture against the health and environment directorates, which are responsible for the approval of GM foods.

The row erupted last year when economists in the Commission's agriculture directorate-general produced a report predicting a catastrophic surge in the cost of animal feed if Europe continued to delay the approval of new traits of genetically modified grain. The imported protein feed, mainly soya and corn, is sourced from the United States, Argentina and Brazil. New GM varieties are being developed rapidly, but EU policies have imposed delays of 2 years in the approval of the new GM grains for consumption. Moreover, the EU has adopted a zero-tolerance policy on GM, meaning that a single grain of non-approved GMO in a shipment can render it unfit for use.

A shift by American, Argentinian and Brazilian soya growers to non-EU approved crops would lead to soaring feed prices. On a worst-case scenario, the cost of feed would rise 600 per cent, according to the report Economic impact of unapproved GMOs on EU feed imports and livestock production.

“The short-term impacts in the pig meat and poultry sectors would be a substantial reduction in production, exports and consumption, and a very significant increase in imports,” the report said. The cost burden would affect employment and incomes in agriculture and would lead to “significant increases in meat prices for consumers”. The threat emerges at a time when demand for grain is acute. Feed prices have doubled in the past year, Tony Bell, of BOCM Pauls, Britain's largest feed compounder, said. But the delays in approving GM traits will worsen the tight cereal market.

The introduction of new GM maize traits in America means that the EU can no longer import it. The extra cost burden on EU farmers is expected to be €3.6billion (£2.6billion) for 2007-08. Poultry producers are facing a separate dilemma in the UK because supermarkets refuse to accept chickens reared on GM feed. “The position of the retailers is unsustainable,” Peter Bradnock, chief executive of the British Poultry Council, said.

“Initially, non-GM fed chickens will become much more expensive. They will become scarcer, but eventually they won't be available. We will not be able to supply them,” he said.

The risk facing Europe is that its own livestock production will dwindle, Mr Doring said, and it will be forced to import more meat from Latin America and the United States.

The irony, he added, is that these imported animals will have been fed almost exclusively on GM feed: “We are strangling our livestock industry and the EU is increasing imports. The Brazilians are happy, they can sell us chicken fed on GM.”

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/busi...icle3365815.ece

Edited February 13, 2010 by lostinblue

[alienlovechild 75]

The row erupted last year when economists in the Commission's agriculture directorate-general produced a report predicting a catastrophic surge in the cost of animal feed if Europe continued to delay the approval of new traits of genetically modified grain. The imported protein feed, mainly soya and corn, is sourced from the United States, Argentina and Brazil. New GM varieties are being developed rapidly, but EU policies have imposed delays of 2 years in the approval of the new GM grains for consumption. Moreover, the EU has adopted a zero-tolerance policy on GM, meaning that a single grain of non-approved GMO in a shipment can render it unfit for use.

A shift by American, Argentinian and Brazilian soya growers to non-EU approved crops would lead to soaring feed prices. On a worst-case scenario, the cost of feed would rise 600 per cent, according to the report Economic impact of unapproved GMOs on EU feed imports and livestock production.

The risk facing Europe is that its own livestock production will dwindle, Mr Doring said, and it will be forced to import more meat from Latin America and the United States.

The irony, he added, is that these imported animals will have been fed almost exclusively on GM feed: “We are strangling our livestock industry and the EU is increasing imports. The Brazilians are happy, they can sell us chicken fed on GM.”

Doesn't seem like the EU has thought this issue through. I guess they could less about having affordable food for their citizens.

[dakay ♥ 10]

Time to be vegetarian

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Doesn't Seems like the EU has thought this issue through. I guess they could less care more about having affordable safe, nutritious and tasty food for their citizens.

fixxed.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

fixxed.

It's more an issue of protectionism than anything else. Or, maybe they are still upset that California consistently makes better wines than Europeans do.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It's more an issue of protectionism than anything else. Or, maybe they are still upset that California consistently makes better wines than Europeans do.

Protectionism isn't unique to Europe. And that wine, well, only Californians would make that claim...

[alienlovechild 75]

I guess they could less care more about having safe, nutritious and tasty food for their citizens.

GM foods are unsafe? Millions who've eaten GM foods and lived disagree with you. The idea that GM foods aren't nutritious is laughable. The tasty bit is subjective and I'd rather have the option to choose what I eat instead of having some guy in Brussels make that deterimination.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It's more an issue of protectionism than anything else. Or, maybe they are still upset that California consistently makes better wines than Europeans do.

It has a lot to do with public relations - GM is not popular among the European public. Not really surprising after the various food scares out there.

GM foods are unsafe? Millions who've eaten GM foods and lived disagree with you. The idea that GM foods aren't nutritious is laughable. The tasty bit is subjective and I'd rather have the option to choose what I eat instead of having some guy in Brussels make that deterimination.

Do you actually get the choice to eat GM foods or not? Even if you're buying organic, I don't see how you can claim that.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

fixxed.

I have two words for you.... NANNY STATE

[alienlovechild 75]

It has a lot to do with public relations - GM is not popular among the European public. Not really surprising after the various food scares out there.

Do you actually get the choice to eat GM foods or not? Even if you're buying organic, I don't see how you can claim that.

Food scares in the EU over GM products aren't sold there? How is this possible? The last major food scare I remember was over mad cow disease which had had nothing to do with GM food as I recall.

Organic food is supposed to be certified as such. That claim is the main gimmick to those looking for organic products. You can buy organic products in most American supermarkets now so there is a widely available choice of products.

"Processed organic food usually contains only organic ingredients. If non-organic ingredients are present, at least a certain percentage of the food's total plant and animal ingredients must be organic (95% in the United States[4] and Australia) and any non-organically produced ingredients are subject to various agricultural requirements. Foods claiming to be organic must be free of artificial food additives, and are often processed with fewer artificial methods, materials and conditions, such as chemical ripening, food irradiation, and genetically modified ingredients. Pesticides are allowed so long as they are not synthetic."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_food

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Yes Dave, Mad Cow had nothing to do with GM, but it has left a lasting impression on the public consciousness over where our food comes from and how it is delivered. Not too difficult to understand really.

[alienlovechild 75]

Yes Dave, Mad Cow had nothing to do with GM, but it has left a lasting impression on the public consciousness over where our food comes from and how it is delivered. Not too difficult to understand really.

With that mentality I now know why those villagers believe Frankstein's monster lurks about whereever there are the shadows of ignorance over science. Same fears over food irradiation because people freak out over the word "radiation" yet they eat from a microwave.

Most of it comes from generations removed from farms and how food is produced. Industrial scale agriculture isn't pretty or serene so people get replused by it.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

GM is General Motors.

[scandal 951]

GM is General Motors.

Actually, General Motors is now MTLQQ. At least - that's its ticker symbol on the Pinksheets. Trading at an amazing $0.59/share !

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I have two words for you.... NANNY STATE

I have two words for you: HEALTHIER PEOPLE.