World Summit of FAO on Food Security - eradicate hunger from earth

Greens/EFA motion for a resolution

Greens/EFA consider that Considers that a genuine fight against hunger requires the establishment of comprehensive policies which enhance sustainable farming and food supply systems. They also emphasize the need for a new common effort to combine the fight against hunger with the necessary efforts to mitigate climate gas emissions as well as adapt to climate change.

EU Fisheries Control Regulation

Greens hail tighter compliance controls on EU Common Fisheries Policy

Raül Romeva, Green MEP and EU Parliament fisheries control rapporteur, is satisfied with fisheries control improvements that have been agreed by EU fisheries ministers. But further effective provisions were allowed to slip the net.

The role of GMOs in the new Member States

A critical appraisal

This report gives an overview on presence, use and authorisation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the New Member States of the European Union. It critically appraises political developments and highlights the role of the organic farming sector as well as Citizen's movements.

Food and Democracy

5th European Conference on GMO-free regions - 24-25 April 2009 Lucerne, Switzerland

Important decisions on authorizations of GMOs, the autonomy of member states and the creation of GMO-free zones are to be taken in the coming months. The conference is committed to finding long-term solutions to ensure GMO-free food and animal feed supplies for Europe.

Towards sustainable food production and consumption

The conference on food sufficiency aims at raising the question how local, regional, national and global food systems can provide sufficient and wholesome food for all. It will simultaneously connect civil society and decision-makers from Asia, Africa, Latin America and North America with a regional conference in the European Parliament in Brussels.

'Stop the Crop'

Cyber action for a GMO-free-Europe

The Greens/EFA group has campaigned to assure good and safe food and sustainable agriculture in Europe for years. Currently, we are working together with a number of NGOs on the Cyber Action 'Stop the Crop'. The main aim of the Cyber Action is to send a strong signal to National Ministers responsible for GMOs that European citizens do not want GMOs on their fields and on their plates. Take part!

Congratulations Ms Aigner!

Germany bans genetically modified maize MON810

German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner (CSU) announced a ban on the cultivation of Monsanto's maize MON810 with immediate effect. This means in practice that MON810 will not be planted in Germany this year.

Food – consumer protection

Parliament votes for nanotech food moratorium and extended labelling for nanotech/GM

The European Parliament today adopted a report on euphemistically-named 'novel foods', relating to nanotechnology, genetically-modified products and meat from cloned animals.

Bluefin tuna

EU delivers death blow to ailing bluefin tuna

We should be under no illusions about the current debate on rescuing bluefin tuna stocks in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, warns Green MEP Raül Romeva. The point of no return has already been passed.

Genetically Modified crops

Defeat for Barroso as environment ministers uphold national bans on GM crops

The decision by the EU environment ministers is good news for the environment, farmers and consumers. It is also a shot in the arm for the many regions in the EU that want to become GM free

New thought for food - Food for thought

The science of sustainable agriculture - An innovative paradigm

Organic farming is a valuable indicator for sustainability. In this conference the basic questions concerning the “science for sustainability” will be discussed in the field of organic and other agro-ecological approaches to farming. The knowledge of scientific methodologies must influence scientific policy advice and the funding policy in science of the EU.

Genetically Modified crops

Environment ministers must not force lifting of GMO maize ban

EU environment ministers will decide next Monday, 2 March, on a proposal by the European Commission to force Austria and Hungary to lift their ban on the cultivation of a variety of genetically modified (GM) maize, while France and Greece could also be forced to lift their bans on the same crop later on.

Better feed, better food

Parliament supports greater transparency on animal feed

The approved Regulation is a victory for transparency in the animal feed market. This Regulation will not eliminate all risk of further food scares linked to criminal negligence on animal feed. It does however introduce transparency and control measures that will help to uncover fraud and respond to feed problems more quickly.

Health

Greens welcome fruit and vegetables for schools

The Greens welcome that the European parliament has approved a scheme to distribute fruit and vegetables to school children in the EU. The Greens have long campaigned for healthier eating. That's why they especially welcome Parliament's emphasis today on seasonal, locally grown and organic fruit.

Health check of the CAP reform

European Agriculture Policy is in bad shape

Instead of further industrialisation of agriculture with high risks for food safety, unemployment and environmental degradation, sustainable agricultural practices will contribute to the creation of jobs, the economic development of regions, the maintenance of cultural landscapes rich in biodiversity, food quality and mitigation to climate change. For that, the CAP needs serious changes (pdf)

The reform of the Common Agriculture Policy and the future challenges

A conference organised by the Slow Food Convivium in the European Parliament

In the framework of Terra Madre and the Salone del Gusto, the Slow Food Convivium in the European Parliament, "Les Gouts d'Europe", is organising a conference on the impact of the reform of the Common Agriculture Policy face to the challenges that Europe and the world have to deal with.

Pesticides

An explosive cocktail

More and more foodstuffs are contaminated with various residues of pesticides. Especially in fruit and vegetables, the figures give a clear trend towards multiple residues. Scientists are still quarrelling about the risks linked to these cocktails, but ever more signs for cumulative and synergistic effects between pesticide residues are on the record.

Terra Madre

Meeting with Carlo Petrini, founder and president of Slow Food International

This meeting will officially launch the "Tastes of Europe" Convivium and will present the "Terra Madre" network. The aim of Terra Madre is to give voice and visibility to the rural food producers who populate our world, to raise their awareness, as well as that of the population at large, of the value of their work.

Pesticides

In vino veritas - the alarming truth about pesticides in wine

The study's results highlight an urgent need for Europe to get to grips with the problem of dangerous pesticides. Europe produces and consumes two thirds of the world's wine, and is also the world's biggest exporter.

Food or fuels?

Greens highlight threats to food security and the environment from a 'plant fuel' expansion

One priority of the Greens/EFA 'Food Culture' campaign is to highlight the dangers of the current expansion in plant fuels. Converting scarce food resources into fuel creates food security problems, while the production of plant fuel is an energy-intensive process that raises environmental concerns.

Organic food

Stop the race to the bottom in food prices - choose true organic food

Organic food is a symbol for quality and taste. After the many recent food scares, organic food has restored faith in the real value of food. Consumers reward organic farmers with prices which cover the costs of sustainable production. Healthy food for all must become the rule, not the exception.