Monsanto was just made to retreat. It dropped its application to cultivate GMO crops in Europe, after considerable pressure from member states to refuse entry to the agrichemical giant for direct cultivation of its seeds.
Monsanto of course cited lack of commercial viabiity in the Europe, but the tale is much more complex.
However, Monsanto still does have a considerable slice of conventional seeds market in Europe.
It also said it will focus on stronger efforts to import genetically modified crops in the USA and South America.
The initial requests Monsanto had made were for Maize (corn), soybean and sugar beet.
However, Monsanto is still pushing for approval or the renewal of its insect resistant MON810 corn, the only GMO allowed for cultivation in Europe.
France, Italy and Germany have been at the forefront of the protest against Monsanto and in making their countrymen aware of the dangers posed by Monsanto's gmo crops.
Interestingly enough, Germany giant BASF had tried to break into its own European market with seeds that had been genetically modified, but it stopped doing so and moved all its bioengineering interests and activity to the USA.
Although banned for cultivation and human use, gmo crops are still imported in Europe to the tune of 30 million tonnes, which are used to make animal feeds, thereby introducing the products and its chemical residuals into the food chain.
Partial Source : France 24 / 7.18.13
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