By: Andrea Germanos, 01/21/2014

Farmers rallied outside the European Parliament on Monday in protest of a proposed law they say would threaten biodiversity and put multinational control over seeds. For consumers, Ben Raskin of the UK-based charity Soil Association writes that "If this law goes through, it is likely you will be paying more for a smaller choice of seeds and plants from fewer, larger companies."

In addition to drawing attention to these issues ahead of the vote on the legislation, the peasant advocacy group is championing the role of small farmers at the start of what the UN has dubbed as International Year of Family Farming.

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By: Gmwatch.org, 06/22/2013

In the heat of battle, the story goes, a general stopped by a battery that had just delivered a thunderous fusillade. “Did you hit the target?” he asked, peering through the smoke. “I’ve no idea, sir,” came the reply. “But it certainly left here with a heck of a bang.”

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson’s great GM speech on Thursday was rather like that. In preparation for months, trailed assiduously, it was banged out before an enthusiastic invited audience in the wake of a barrage of endorsements from top scientists assembled by the supportive Science Media Centre. But whether it will achieve its aims – converting a skeptical public and persuading a majority of EU governments finally to allow more modified crops to be grown in Europe – is another matter. And, within hours, its trajectory was beginning to look decidedly doubtful.

For more on this story visit www.gmwatch.org