“Minister,
 
“This afternoon was intended as an opportunity to present our view of agriculture and have you clarify a certain number of processes which you have initiated, calling for dialogue with the different professional groups.
 

“Recent events, particularly over the last 24 hours, have now led me to refocus my statements.
 
“Enough is enough.  The contract has been broken.  We had made a commitment in a climate of trust for the environmental consultation process known as the “Grenelle de l’Environnement”, but such trust can no longer be maintained.
 
“In less than 24 hours, everything has been swept aside by three events:
-     the umpteenth attack destroying plots with GM plants
-     the indefinite deferral of the legal proceedings currently pending against eco-activists who have destroyed crops
-     and to top it all off, the comments made by the Minister of Ecology and Sustainable Development, Mr. Boorloo, as reported in this evening’s issue of Le Monde newspaper;  I quote:  Everyone has agreed on GMOs;  they cannot be stopped from spreading, so we are not going to take any risks.
 
“The Professional Agricultural Organisations, including ORAMA, have always had a responsible attitude.  In these circumstances, they can no longer carry out their work, in such a climate with pressure and constant suspicion.
 
“Given the seriousness of these matters, the different issues that we had originally intended to deal with today will now have to be addressed at a later date.
 
“However, we too are a democratic organisation working through dialogue.  The representatives of the 200 000 grain producers can no longer agree to be members of the working groups when the decisions are made in advance and announced to the public.” 
 
Given this serious situation, Philippe Pinta, President of ORAMA, together with the Vice-Presidents, Xavier Beulin, President of FOP, and Christophe Terrain, President of AGPM, urgently demand security and protection for the farmers legally growing 22 000 hectares of GM maize.
 
 
Contact Presse :  Pascal Hurbault – 01 44 31 16 25
                          Béatrice Guenebeaud- O6 84 51 00 96