b'sustainability. All too often, biotechnology (and even industrySMALL FARMERSmore broadly) is criticized in the area of agriculture, overlookingThe vast majority of the 17 million farmers who grow GM crops the huge advances and benefits that have been achieved in termsaround the world are actually smallholder farmers in devel-of improved nutrition, food security and resource efficiency ofoping countries. GMOs have helped such farmers to increase production. To develop sustainably for the future, we need totheir yields by over 20 per cent. Compared to farmers grow-ensure societal, environmental and economic benefits, and bio- ing conventional crops, farmers using GM crops also require technology will continue to play a huge role in delivering these. fewer pesticide applications and experience higher profits, by over 65 per cent. GMOs have also greatly increased both farm THE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE USE OFand environmental safety, significantly reducing suicide rates BIOTECHNOLOGY and pesticide poisoning on smallholder farms in the developing She underscores that her organization is fully committed to theworld, says Dupont-Inglis.socially responsible use of biotechnology to improve quality of life, to prevent, diagnose, treat and cure diseases, to improve the quality and quantity of food and feedstuffs and to move towards a biobased and zero-waste economy. In this sense, sustainability is already in our DNA. From new drugs that can address unmet medical needs and fight epi-demics and rare diseases, to industrial processes that reduce emissions and resource consumption whilst using renewable feedstocks instead of crude oil, to drought-resistant crops that allow farmers around the world to feed more people under ever-harsher climatic conditions, promoting and investing in biotech pays economic, social and environmental dividends. As the rec-ognized voice of the European biotech community, we want to help communicate the benefits of biotechnology to EU decision makers who are looking for innovative, sustainable solutions to our greatest challenges. She indicates that there are very few other technologies that encompass so much potential to enhance the quality of life and environmental protection, whilst stillThe EuropaBio Biotech Industry Manifesto 129019 can be found here: being beneficial for the economy. But fulfilling the potentialhttps://www.europabio.org/biotechnology-industry-manifesto-2019of biotechnology requires the support of EU decision makers.A PERFECT FIT FOR THE EU GREEN DEALGMOS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT? Logically, GMOs should fit with the EU Green Deal, says Dupont-GMOs have been commercialized for 25 years now. This meansInglis. that we have over two-and-a-half decades of experience show- When we look at the overall EU objectives in the Green ing that GMOs provide a number of environmental benefits.Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy, to substantially reduce CO2 By allowing farmers to grow more food and fibre with feweremissions, safeguard biodiversity, and reduce dependence on resources, GMOs improve the efficiency of production and helpchemical pesticides, GMOs are already contributing substan-to save water, land, and energy.tially. GMOs have already led to a reduction in agricultural This also contributes substantially to preserving biodi- chemical use by over one-third, and even more so when it comes versity and helping to mitigate the effects of climate change.to insect-resistant GM crops. Furthermore, the increased yields Although GMOs are grown primarily outside of Europe, the envi- per hectare associated with GMOs safeguard surrounding lands. ronmental benefits of the very limited GMO cultivation on thisAn ISAAA report published last year also showed that between continent have also been well documented. Over the past two1996 and 2016 biotech crops saved over 180 million hectares of decades, GM maize in Spain has increased maize yields, makingland (22.5 million hectares in 2016 alone). In doing so, GMOs Spain less reliant on imports. Unfortunately, Romania no longerare both conserving biodiversity and reducing carbon emissions benefits from the high yields of GM soya it experienced prior toestimated to have amounted to over 27 million tonnes in 2016 joining the EU since cultivation was banned following accession.alone (equivalent to taking 16.7 million cars off the road for one As a result, most GM soya, on which the EU is highly dependentyear). Undoubtedly GMOs could make a far greater contribution for animal feed, has since been imported largely from North andif a proportionate and science-based policy framework would South America. allow it, she adds.EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEAN SEED I 37'