This petition has been signed by over 200.000 citizens of the European Community and more than 300 organisations with a membership of over 25 million people. ...more

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Welcome to "Save Our Seeds"

"Save Our Seeds" is dedicated to keeping conventional and organically grown seeds free of genetically modified organisms. In a joint petition 300 organisations representing over 25 million members and 200.000 individual citizens of Europe demand a strict EU law to protect the purity of seeds. Seeds are the kernals of life, the foundation of our food supply and humanity's oldest heritage.

The Current Situation

The European Commission has been planning to introduce limits for the "accidental or technically unavoidable" contamination of conventional seed with genetically modified varieties for the past 7 years. In September 2004 a directive which would allow up to 0.3% GMOs in maize and oilseed rape seed without being labeled was supposed to be adopted. However, after fierce protests, the Commission withdrew the proposal at the last minute leaving the problem to be dealt with by the new EU commissioners. Stavros Dimas, Commissioner for the Environment since 2004, has not submitted any new recommendations and has publically questioned whether thresholds are either sensible or necessary. The official position of the EU Commission remains, however, that a new proposal for the specification of threshold values is in the works.

News and Action

Schmeiser vs. Monsanto

Percy Schmeiser is a farmer from Saskatchewan Canada. In 1998 after his rapeseed field was contaminated with Monsanto's Round-Up Ready Canola he was sued for damages by the market dominating seed company Monsanto. Monsanto's position was that it didn't matter wheter or not Schmeiser knew about the contamination with the Roundup Ready gene, or whether or not he took advantage of the technology (he didn't); they take action against him for infringment of a patent, insisting that he must pay Monsanto their Technology Fee of $15./acre. Early in March the Supreme Court of Canada agreed with Schmeiser, ruling that he didn't have to pay Monsanto anything. The lately released film "David against Monsanto" made by author Bertram Verhaag tells the story of Percy Schmeiser and his unequal fight against the multinational company Monsanto.

Videotrailer: David versus Monsanto

News

Stop the crop!

EU Commission proposes new GM maize varieties for cultivation.
For the first time since 1998 the European Commission proposes to approve new maize varieties (Bt11 from Syngenta, 1507 from Pioneer) for cultivation in Europe. Only one year ago Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas had proposed to ban the cultivation of these GM crops. Will the 27 member states stop these crops? ...more

Forced cultivation of MON 810?

The European Commission proposes to force the cultivation of Monsanto's Mon810 GM maize in France and Greece. The countries banned the crop years ago. The proposed decisions can only be overruled by the Council, if a qualified majority (255 out of 345 ) votes against them....more


Partners

GMO-free Regions network

Food and Democracy - 5th European Conferenece on GMO FREE REGIONS ...more

Planet Diversity

Local, Diverse, GMO-Free - A world congress on the future of farming, May 2008 ...more