Although the birthplace of agricultural biotechnology was in Europe, our leadership position and objectivity has been seriously undermined by years of sustained anti-GM scare-mongering based on bad science. To date, and despite the fact that GM crops are now grown by 13 million farmers worldwide, there has not been a single substantiated case of harm. To regain political leadership we desperately need long-term visions to:

• put science at the heart of decision making
• reinstate Europe’s agricultural competitiveness in the global marketplace
• tackle the challenges of feeding an increasing population in an unpredictable climate
• address the increasing scarcity of natural resources and available farmable land provide agricultural sustainability.

Currently we lack the same tools to help address tough choices about the environment and economy. Europe, like its global competitors, must have the choice to benefit from agricultural technology.

If you knew that…

• 77% of European citizens say the EU should encourage its farmers to take advantage of the latest biotechnology developments, according to a European Commission survey published in March 2010.
• In 2005 49% of Europeans prefer to buy GM foods if they were produced in a more environmentally friendly way than conventional alternatives.
• Consumers increasingly rank GM at the bottom of the list of all concerns about foods. For example in the UK, only 3% of people spontaneously mention GM as a concern.

…would you give Europeans the choice to grow and buy GM crops and foods? Support free choice.

A prosperous and successful Europe must embrace innovation in all areas including agriculture. Biotechnology provides choice for consumers and for farmers and it is one of the tools available to help work towards improving our economy, our food supply and our agricultural sustainability.

Europeans deserve to be offered the choice to grow the crops that work for them, and should have access to affordable and safe food that is produced in an environmentally friendly way.

The choice should be open for all Europeans to access agricultural innovation. Let’s stop holding Europe back. Support choice now!