The People's Caravan 2000 - Land and Food Without Poisons!
PRESS RELEASE
31 OCTOBER, 2000
Asian Pacific NGOs and Farmers Groups Alarmed by the Creation of the World's Largest Agrochemical Corporation
Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP), a coalition of over 150 groups in 18 countries, is alarmed by the merger of Novartis and AstraZeneca creating the world's largest agrochemical corporation, Syngenta.
According to a report by a Pan-European coalition of NGOs, Syngenta will posses more than 40 per cent of the world's patents on genetic engineering technologies that can restrict plant reproduction, growth and development. These technologies either render crops sterile or control their genetic traits via chemicals. This is in contravention of previous commitments by both companies not to pursue these technologies. It also contradicts the high profile, consumer-driven, 'anti-genetic engineering' position taken by Novartis in claiming to have withdrawn genetically engineered ingredients from its product lines worldwide.
Sarojeni Rengam, Executive Director of PAN AP, said, "genetic use restriction technologies trap farmers into an expensive seed and pesticide package. They will be forced to purchase seeds every planting season that are dependent on chemical inducers to switch on and off plant characteristics for yield, height, nutrition, flowering, ageing, disease resistance, etc."
Sterile seeds are unable to germinate thereby disabling farmers the right to save seeds for replanting˜crucial for the food security of communities. Approximately 1.4 billion farmers rely on saved seeds. According to the South-North Development Monitor the new Syngenta will be the third largest seed supplier in the world.
"Seed is the first link in the food chain. Whoever controls the seed, controls the food supply," said Anuradha Mittal, Co Director of Food First. "With the advent of genetic engineering, seeds have become the "operating system" that the corporations are using to deliver new genetic technologies."
Furthermore, sterile, chemically dependent crops will increase the sales of unnecessary and dangerous agricultural inputs. The report by the pan-European coalition of NGOs states Novartis and AstraZeneca have taken out 11 new patents to render crops dependent on chemicals.
"Farmers around the world are being pushed into planting genetically engineered crops with all their human health and environmental risks, with no guarantee as to the future market of genetically engineered food products" comments Ms. Rengam.
Farmers in the U.S. have taken exception to the new Novartis policy, claiming it to be a double standard. Novartis produces Ovaltine, Gerber baby foods, Wasa crackers and a variety of 'health foods'.
To alert millions of farmers, consumers and producers of these developments, various NGOs, farmers groups and anti-genetic engineering advocates across the Asia Pacific region will hold a People's Caravan "Citizens on the Move for Land and Food Without Poisons!" from November 13-30.
According to Rafael Mariano, Chairperson of KMP (Peasant Movement of the Philippines), "The caravan will expose the immoral and unethical practices of agrochemical transnational corporations (TNCs) in their push for corporate control and dominance of our food production systems." This issue will be addressed as one major theme threatening farmer's livelihoods, food security and the production of safe food.
The People's Caravan will kick off on November 13 in Chennai, India; followed by Bangladesh on November 19, and culminate in Manila, Philippines between November 26-30. The caravan is organised by the Tamil Nadu Women's Forum (TNWF) and the Society for Rural Education and Development (SRED) of India; UBINIG (Policy Research for Development Alternatives) and the Nayakrishi Andolon (New Agriculture Movement) of Bangladesh; the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines); with PAN AP in collaboration with Food First, U.S.A.
For more information on the People's Caravan contact:
PAN AP (Pesticide Action Network Asia & the Pacific) Jennifer Mourin, Campaigns and Media Coordinator OR Sarah Hindmarsh, Program Assistant Genetic Engineering Campaign. Tel: (60-4) 657-0271/ 656-038. Fax: (604) 657-7445 E-mail: panap at panap.po.my or visit the People's Caravan Web site: www.poptel.org.uk/panap/caravan.htm
Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy Tel: (510) 654-4400 fax: 510-654-4551 Email: food first at foodfirst.org Web: www.foodfirst.org
Join the fight against hunger. For more information contact foodfirst at foodfirst.org.