Due stralci dall’ultimo post di Mariann Fischer Boel, comissario EU:
On several occasions over the summer, very small traces of one genetically modified (GM) maize variety, which is authorised in the US but not in the EU, were detected in US soy meal imports for feed – I have heard of at least 6 occurrences in feed consignments bound for Germany, Spain and Denmark.
As early as mid-July, 200 000 tonnes of US soy had been denied entry to the EU. Faced with the high-cost risk of having to relocate or possibly destroy shipments, traders now speak of halting soy imports from the US.
US soybeans are imported by the EU in particular during the months November to March, when imports from South America diminish. A complete loss of soy imports from the US over the coming months could cause a serious shortage. In any case it would increase soybean prices, even if it is possible to import more from Brazil and Argentina. If the EU has to pay a higher price for its animal feed, this could be a serious blow to the EU livestock sector which is already struggling with narrow profit margins.
The fundamental question here is not about liking or disliking GMOs, it’s about maintaining a competitive large-scale meat production in the EU or preferring to import our meat from third countries that do not have the same reluctance about GMOs
In parole povere: Tanti dei nostri amati animali mangiano in America, Argentina, Brasile, mangiano soia che sempre più spesso viene prodotto con il sistema OGM + diserbo totale, e siccome non si riesce di garantire l’assenza di soia modificata gli importatori rinunciano più volentieri a quel tipo di commercio che porta il rischio di trovarsi con carichi da rispedire al mittente (americano).
Il contadino è fondamentalista-salutista e non piange se gli allevamenti dovrebbero diminuire per la mancanza di soja, coltivato magari dove prima c’era una foresta tropicale.
E il concetto di “produzione di carne competitiva” può sparire pure, per lui, i quanto è sinonimo per crueltà verso gli animali da allevamento.