The accusation is unlikely for those who fight for the protection of Made in Italy organic products. Teresa Bellanova, Minister of Agriculture in these days is suffering the attacks of Federbio and Legambiente for two decrees that would give way to GMOs in agriculture. A surreptitious maneuver, according to critics, that Bellanova has not yet definitively hindered. The story concerns technical standards on vine propagating materials and fruit plant grafting. Basically a way to produce and market the varieties obtained with the technique of genetic recombination.
A process banned by the European Court of Justice with a 2018 ruling. It is known that the GMO business has for years opposed Europe to the states that make extensive use of it. Often at the base there are millionaire commercial agreements with the manufacturing companies. Italy has made progressive and very sustainable choices. As in 20 other European countries, recalls an environmental document, the cultivation of GMOs is not permitted. But we do not even have legislation on the coexistence of genetically modified plants and agricultural production present on the national territory.
This is why the controversies of these hours affect the entire agricultural world. The biological value chain feels affected at the origin. Luciano Cillis, speaker of the decree in the Chamber, tries to tone it down. “The legislative decree is the transposition of some European regulations. In the Agriculture commission, the intention is to limit the range of action of this provision only to conventional seeds and to remove everything that refers to genetically modified seeds”.
A substantial change that should not raise objections from the EU and at the same time reassure organic organizations. For us, what is being attempted is a coup de main, dangerous for a large part of the agricultural system, said Grazia Mammuccini, president of FederBio.
Made in Italy, defended by Bellanova on several occasions, recognized in agreements of production sustainability with the grassroots associations, is founded on high quality assumptions. And if it is true, as FederBio always points out, that the Italian positions have all been oriented towards the protection of the environment, it is not clear how the same Italian hand can pass such contrary regulations. The match remains open with all parties on the pitch.
Behind it is the controversy over the approval of the organic law. A very slow and harmful process for the supply chain and national interests. The law was approved in the House with a very large majority two years ago.
Now after Covid 19, when consumer choices and the balance of payments lean on the side of organic choices and agroecology, Parliament should take a definitive step. He is rightly solicited, so as not to cause further disorientation. And it is perhaps the next move that Minister Bellanova will make.
