European feed supply security threatened
On behalf of COCERAL, FEFAC and the UECBV, Cardy-Brown and Co Ltd reviewed the impact of the zero tolerance rules for Europe’s feed and meat sector.
The results of the CB&CLtd report will be used to persuade the European
Commission to adjust their authorisation process of new GM events. The world’s
centres of grain and oilseed production are set to plant the next generation of
biotech seeds.
This ‘second generation’ includes a new and improved
version of Monsanto’s herbicide tolerant soybeans –RoundUp 2 Yield (RR2Y) which
is expected to enjoy even greater penetration of soybean acreages. The majority
of the US, Argentine and Brazilian soybean acres in 2010 will be planted with
seeds containing the RR2Y event.
Pressure grows between industry trade
associations (representing grain traders, meat processors and the feed industry)
and the European Commission to authorise soybeans containing RR2Y.
More traits to come
RR2Y represents the tip of the iceberg in
terms of new traits. Within the next coming years more than 20 new traits are
expected to enter the market in the US, Brazil and Argentina for soybeans alone.
With Europe highly dependent on imports of soybeans from these locations
the outlook looks murky for the European meat industry which has suffered
devastating feed prices over the last 18 months.
Biotech events for other
crops are also developing rapidly – with not only new generation technology
coming through but many different biotech events are now ‘stacked’ within one
seed, particularly seen in corn seeds, some of the events are approved for
import into the EU, some of them not.
Loss of imports
The
result is; a massive loss of imports of corn, maize gluten and DDG’s that Europe
could use in feed or food. This will result in a major loss of competitivity for
the European meat industry as it will be forced to use only expensive raw
materials for feed.
Not only are GM crops becoming the norm in the world
outside the European Union but supply of non-GM is also threatened as the Zero
tolerance of GM content rules imposed on grain and oilseed imports are
impossible to live up to.
Cardy-Brown&Co Ltd was commissioned by COCERAL, FEFAC
and UECBV to complete a review of the current situation facing the European meat
market. The report was delivered for the European Commissions Sherpa group and
feedback is expected soon.
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