Chapela in Europe / Industry targets Oz (12/8/2005) | |
1.Experts converge in Bologna (September 2005) 1.ABIC 2006 - "Unlocking the potential of Agricultural Biotechnology" AusBiotech News Release, August 11, 2005 The Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference (ABIC) is the major global conference for agricultural biotechnology. First held in 1996 in Canada by the ABIC Foundation, Melbourne Australia will host the first conference to be staged in the Southern Hemisphere. The Victorian State Government as Principal Sponsor and Host State and AusBiotech, as the Host Industry Body invites you to join the ABIC Foundation at ABIC2006 from 6 - 9 August 2006. For more information please visit www.abic2006.org 2.GMO and consumer experts converge in Bologna A panel of international experts on genetic modification (GM) and consumer rights will be speaking at a conference on '"Co-existence", contamination and GM-free zones: Jeopardising consumer choice?' in Bologna, Italy (9 September 2005) organised by Consumers International (CI) and Regione Emilia-Romagna. Contamination of GM-free crops can occur during the breeding, transportation and processing of seeds. Also, when pollen from GM crops blows into fields of GM-free crops. Unless strong measures are put in place by governments, contamination will eventually eliminate the consumer's right to choose. David Cuming, CI GM Campaign Manager says: 'How is contamination of GM-free crops and fields going to be prevented? Unless governments, scientists, GM farmers and biotechnology companies can guarantee availability of GM-free food for all consumers, then the consumer right to choice is threatened. GM-free food must not become a luxury good.' Anna Bartolini, Italian representative in the European Consumer Consultative Group (ECCG) says: 'In Italy we have many problems segregating GM crops from conventional and organic crops. However, GM crops must be contained to prevent contamination of GM-free food. Italian people are proud of their food and don't want to eat GM. The consumer voice must be heard!' Some questions that will be explored at the Bologna conference include: Is it viable to grow genetically modified (GM) crops without contaminating conventional and organic crops? Is consumer choice being threatened by the current growth of GM crops? How can GM-free zones be legally established, and what purpose do they serve? Speakers include Ignacio Chapela (University of California - Berkeley, USA), Angelika Hilbeck (Geobotanical Institute, ETH - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland), Marijane Lisboa (IDEC - Instituto de Defesa do Consumidor, Brazil), Muyanda Ililonga (ZACA- Zambia Consumers Association, Zambia) and Benedikt Haerlin (Save our Seeds and Foundation on Future Farming, Germany). See below for full programme. Note for editors The conference is free and open to all. Discussions will take place in English and Italian with interpretation in these 2 languages. To ensure a place please register in advance by contacting: [email protected]. The conference is part of SANA, the 17th International Exhibition of Natural Products - NUTRITION, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT, Bologna, Italy (8 - 11 September 2005). Registration to the conference provides free admission to the SANA exhibition (www.sana.it). International conference open to the public organised by Regione Emilia-Romagna and Consumers International 'Co-existence', contamination and GM-free zones - Jeopardising consumer choice? Sala Europa - Palazzo dei Congressi, Piazza Costituzione, 4 -Bologna - Italy Outline of the programme The meeting will be chaired by Italian representative in the European Consumer Consultative Group (ECCG) 9:30 - 11:00 PANEL 1 Els Cooperrider, USA Marijane Lisboa, Brazil Gerald Lonauer, Austria Muyunda Ililonga, Zambia Saree Aongsomwang, Thailand 11:00 - 12:30 PANEL 2 Simone Vieri, Italy Angelika Hilbeck, Switzerland Claudia Sorlini, Italy 12:30 - 14:00 Buffet lunch 14:00 - 15:30 PANEL 3 |