The National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) denounced the U.S., Argentina, Canada, and Egypt decision to file a complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO) May 13, challenging the European Union’s (EU) authorization system on approving genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

"USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) Secretary Ann Veneman claims she’s fighting for the interests of ‘American Agriculture,’ said NFFC President George Naylor. “She must be fighting for the corporate agribusiness agenda because she is definitely not fighting for the interests of the family farmer.”

Nine other countries -- Australia. Chile. Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru and Uruguay -- supported the U.S. by filing the complaint as third parties before the WTO.

“We have suffered a great deal o damage to our trade markets because agribusiness pushed a product on U.S. farmers that people of the world rightfully refused to accept,” added Missouri farmer Bill Christison.

“Biotechnology is helping farmers increase yields, lower pesticide use, improve soil conservation and water pollution and help reduce hunger and poverty around the world,” Veneman claimed.

"The Secretary of Agriculture needs to educate herself about the ‘benefits of genetic engineering’ and not depend upon the Monsanto’s of the world for her information, “ Christison said. “In fact, most -- if not all -- Secretary Veneman pointed out have been proven by much research to be totally off the mark.”

Christison shared his personal experience as testimony, “Where we applied chemicals on our farm, we used from 10-15 ounces of chemicals,” he said. “If I were using the Round-up system we would probably be using from 60-75 ounces to achieve the same goal. And you know, massive uses of round-up facilitates a fungus which triggers sudden death syndrome in soybeans, greatly reducing yields.”

Also read:

• Genetic Engineering index of articles
  
  
• Full series of interviews and articles from the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, August 26 - September 4, 2002.
  (Cross-linked from Global Eyes section)
  
  
• Interview with Dr. Tewolde B. G. Egziabher
  (Environmental Protection Authority of Ethiopia and the Institute for Sustainable Development)
  On farmer empowerment, genetic engineering and global systems
  Johannesburg, South Africa
  (Cross-linked from Global Eyes section)
  
  
• Global Grassroots: Gaining Ground
  Ronnie Cummins
  Little Marais, Minnesota
  
  
• Interview with Silvia Rodriguez
  Costa Rica's Biodiversity Law
  Intellectual community rights are preeminent to intellectual property rights
  Johannesburg, South Africa
  (Cross-linked from Global Eyes section)
  
  
• Opposing Genetic Engineering in New Zealand
  (and around the world)
  by Bill Christison
  Auckland, New Zealand / Aotearoa
  
  
• Genetic Engineering series of interviews and articles from New Zealand