Aberrant ! La Commission Mixte Paritaire Assemblée Nationale/Sénat réunie ce jour sur le projet de Loi de Finances Rectificative pour 2007, a proposé de taxer aveuglément les véhicules à carburant modulable "flexfuel", qui sont pourtant parmi les plus propres du marché.

Last night, it was a biased presentation that was made of the ruling on MON 810 maize by the preliminary committee of the senior authority on GMOs.  On the substance, and in the context of European Union legal requirements, the ruling has not introduced any new scientific evidence that could justify the application of the “safeguard clause”.

In response to the latest developments on the GMO issue, ORAMA first wishes to express astonishment at the decree suspending the marketing and use of MON 810 maize until February 9, 2008.  There is absolutely no justification for this decision on a “genetic trait” which has been shown to be harmless and has been recognised as such for a long time, which is approved for use in many countries and has just been put back on the market in Germany after sales were suspended.  The farming world had already faced up to its responsibilities by making a clear request for producers to postpone their decision on buying this type of seed.

The European Commission has made proposals which it intends to support as part of the CAP Health Check, and in doing so has turned a blind eye to the key facts of grain production.

Réuni le 7 novembre, le Conseil d’Administration d’ORAMA s’est penché sur les suites du Grenelle de l’Environnement, en particulier sur les déclarations récentes du ministre de l’Agriculture à Agra Presse et à Réussir.

The consultation process on the environment known as the “Grenelle de l’Environnement” has, in general, provided support for positions which ORAMA has been advocating energetically.  The ambitious objectives set by the public authorities so that our agriculture can respond to both food and non-food needs of the planet have been clearly endorsed.  The biofuel outlet has been strengthened, as the Head of State has stressed that commitments made would be respected and that second generation biofuels had to be developed, thus conferring legitimacy on our investments in research.  The importance of the role of plant protection products has been recognised, and any change in strategy for the use of these products is to be linked to the emergence of credible alternatives.

This was the finding of an exclusive survey conducted by CSA for the GNIS and AGPM on October 17 and 18, 2007, questioning a nationally representative sample of one thousand people.

The challenges of the 21^st century are vast and include challenges for food and non-food sectors, ecology and land.  Agriculture will have to produce more, it must contribute to the fight against greenhouse gases, and it will have to produce better quality.  Agriculture has the ability to do so, provided that there is access to progress, and in particular to the advances with new technologies offering prospects for top economic and ecological performance levels.

The reports by the “Grenelle de l’Environnement” working groups which were released yesterday leave scope for different directions to be taken in agriculture.

“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.
 

“News Dispatch – Friday night:  11 hectares of seed maize destroyed in Maine-et-Loire.”

After the dramatic death of Claude Lagorce, a maize grower and animal farmer in Girac (Lot) on Sunday, August 5, the AGPM, AGPB, FOP and their professional union ORAMA, wish to convey their very sincere condolences to his widow and four children, and to express full solidarity.

The French seed maize and seed sorghum producing sector is ranked number one in Europe, and is world leader for exports.  It is organised as an inter-branch structure, covering seed farmers and seed companies:  the National Federation of Seed Maize and Seed Sorghum Production (FNPSMS - Fédération Nationale de la Production de Semences de Maïs et de Sorgho).  The FNPSMS is pleased to see the adjustment to the production price of grain maize, in response to the global context where there has been an increase in demand together with unchanged or even declining supply because of weather contingencies.

At a press conference held on July 19, Christophe Terrain, the President of France’s General Association of Maize Growers [AGPM - Association Générale des Producteurs de Maïs], made the following observation:
“Maize has asserted its position as leader on the world grain market, with uses increasing for animal feed, human consumption and industrial purposes.  Current grain prices are mainly linked to the shortfall in world production over past years, mostly caused by weather events in different parts of the world.
“Certain ideas still circulating need to be cleared up:  European production of biofuel is not the cause of the increase in grain prices in Europe, where, in 2006, ethanol accounted for only 1.3% of grain production.” 

ORAMA has asked the Minister of Agriculture to intervene with European authorities, and specifically on July 16, at the Council of Agriculture Ministers, requesting a 0% rate for compulsory set-aside for the sowing of the 2008 crop.

ORAMA wishes to express full solidarity with the company Biogemma, after the destruction of GM maize on two experimental plots on the property of a farmer in Malintrat (Puy-de-Dôme).

ORAMA has noted with satisfaction the appointment of Mr. Michel Barnier as France’s Minister of Agriculture.

At this point in time, it might seem that the conclusion of a WTO agreement by the end of June has become an end in itself, for a certain number of European figures.

After the decision by the Criminal Court [Tribunal correctionnel] in Toulouse to defer the trial of the “reapers” until October 2, 2007, the farmer-victim and the General Association of Maize Growers (AGPM) have lodged an appeal.

The trial for the destruction of a plot of Bt maize has been deferred, and the legal system now loses credibility and is guilty of denying justice.

The Official Journal dated March 20, 2007, has published a number of decrees and orders including some on the commercial production of GMOs.  The maize sector thus notes that the provisions of European directive 2001/18 have been transcribed into French law.

France’s General Association of Maize Growers (AGPM) has pointed out that farmers growing GM maize (5 200 hectares in France in 2006) are doing so quite legally, planting a variety of Bt maize referenced as Mon810 which has been approved for planting in France since 1998 and has met all requirements at every stage in a very strict assessment procedure.

ORAMA, together with FNSEA, the French national federation of agricultural workers’ unions, have applauded the recent decision by the Minister for the Budget on taxation under single payment schemes, following approaches by ORAMA and FNSEA

Les semis de maïs Bt* ont connu en 2006, pour la première fois en France, un essor important : de 500 hectares en 2005, ils ont atteint 5200 hectares en 2006. Devant l’intérêt suscité par cette nouvelle technologie chez les agriculteurs, l’Association Générale des Producteurs de Maïs (AGPM) a accompagné, comme en 2005, une quinzaine d’agriculteurs désireux de s’engager dans cette production, dans le cadre du programme PACB**.
De 2002 à 2004, un programme scientifique, conduit par l’AGPM et Arvalis-Institut du végétal, avait déjà posé les bases techniques de la coexistence des filières, et fourni des outils opérationnels de gestion des productions OGM et non OGM. La culture du maïs Bt peut ainsi s’appuyer sur les recommandations d’un guide professionnel de bonnes pratiques. Ce guide définit les règles de coexistence, les modalités de gestion des zones refuges, et la mise en œuvre de la traçabilité et de l’étiquetage.

AGPM, AGPB and the CGB applaud the European Commission’s proposal to modify the fuel quality directive.

Le laboratoire GERM-Services s’est vu décerner l’accréditation COFRAC portant sur :
 
Dosage de la Déoxynivalénol (DON) dans le maïs
Dosage des Fumonisines B1 et B2 dans le maïs
Détermination de la teneur en eau
Mesure de la dénaturation des protéines salino solubles par colorimétrie - Promatest
 

The French consumer association UFC-Que Choisir recently made statements on bioethanol, but failed to take into consideration two essential objective facts which AGPB, AGPM and the CGB wish to cite.