World’s leading scientists condemn industrial farming methods and see no role for GE as a solution to soaring food prices and hunger crisis fears

Sydney, 16 April 2008: Australia was one of only three countries who failed to adopt a historic United Nations report released yesterday assessing the state of global agriculture. The report was produced by leading world scientists and says that industrial agriculture has failed and that genetically engineered (GE) crops are no solution to the problems of poverty, hunger or climate change.

Some 60 governments signed the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD)´s final report [1] last week in Johannesburg, South Africa. The United States, Canada and Australia were the only governments in attendance not to sign. Despite being among the stakeholders who selected the reports authors, they alone accused the assessment of being "unbalanced" and are attacking the authors"; independence [2].

Louise Sales, Greenpeace Genetic Engineering Campaigner said, "By not endorsing the report Australia has shown itself to be out of step with the rest of the world. Whilst other nations all over the world are rejecting GE crops and moving towards more sustainable agriculture techniques Australia is moving in the opposite direction."

The IAASTD report calls for a fundamental change in farming practices, in order to address soaring food prices, hunger, social inequities and environmental disasters. It acknowledges that GE crops are highly controversial and will not play a substantial role in addressing the key problems of climate change, biodiversity loss, hunger and poverty.

It recommends small-scale farming and agro-ecological methods as the way forward if the current food crisis is to be solved and the needs of local communities met. It also recognises that indigenous and local knowledge play as important a role as formal science. A significant departure from the destructive chemical-dependent, one-size-fits-all model of industrial agriculture is needed.

"The IAASTD report is a wake-up call for the Australian Government. The time has come to recognise the false promise of industrial agriculture and genetic engineering. Rather than investing more money into GE crops, the Government should increase and redirect its funding towards a revolution in agriculture that is firmly based in agro-ecological approaches,"; said Ms Sales.

Notes:

1. The International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) is a unique collaboration initiated by the World Bank in partnership with a multi-stakeholder group of organisations, including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environmental Programme, the World Health Organisation and representatives of governments, civil society, private sector and scientific institutions from around the world. For Greenpeace, Benny Häerlin participated since 2003 in the Bureau that governs the project.

The IAASTD’s key objective is to provide information for decision makers on how to structure agricultural research and development so it can help to reduce hunger and poverty, improve rural livelihood and foster sustainable development. The key final documents are the Global Summary for Decision Makers, and the Executive Summary of the Synthesis Report. They were negotiated line by line by governments in Johannesburg. Fore more information: www.agassessment-watch.org

2. The report was compiled by over 400 of the world’s leading agricultural scientists, selected by all participating governments, companies and NGOs. It is the most comprehensive account of agricultural knowledge, science and technology. It provides guidance for governments, UN agencies and funders for their future priority setting in agriculture and development. The next step is for government and agencies to adjust their funding, research and development programmes accordingly.