The report named: “Combating Monsanto. Grassroots resistance to the corporate power of agribusiness in the era of the ’green economy’ and a changing climate” was published on April 4th, on the day the biotech giant released its second quarter earnings.

The report shows that social movements, local communities, small farmers and organic farmers are increasingly resisting and rejecting Monsanto, and the agro-industrial model that it represents.

In a recently published joint press release, Friends of the Earth International’s Food Sovereignty programme coordinator, Martin Drago, said “This new report documents the intense opposition to this powerful transnational company, which peddles its genetically modified products seemingly without regard for the associated social, economic and environmental costs”.

Activist Héloise Claudon, of Combat Monsanto, said in the press release “The majority of Europe’s public remains opposed to GM food production, and several countries in Europe now have national bans on Monsanto’s MON810 maize and BASF’s Amflora potatoes, despite the strong pressure of the biotech industry and of the European Commission to lift those moratoria”.

On January 16th German company BASF announced it would stop developing and commercializing GMOs in Europe as a result of the great resistance to these crops in several countries of the region. The company decided to focus its efforts on other markets, such as North and South America and Asia.

AFP agency reported that back then Stefan Marcinowski, a member of BASF’s board of directors said “There is still a lack of acceptance for this technology in many parts of Europe – from the majority of consumers, farmers and politicians (...) it does not make business sense to continue investing in products exclusively for cultivation in this market”.

The report by La Via Campesina, Friends of the Earth and Combat Monsanto says that the combined area of all GM crops covers just 3% of agricultural land worldwide, contrary to the promising outlook portrayed by the biotech industry. They explained that GM crop cultivation is predominately limited to a few countries: 90% of GM crops are grown in the US, Brazil, Argentina, India and Canada.

“The large majority of GM crops are grown for animal feed or agrofuels destined for rich nations rather than food for the poor and hungry”, reads the joint press release of the organizations. It adds that the “use of GM crops destroys essential crop diversity, homogenizes food, and eradicates associated local knowledge and culture”.

The report represents the important struggle against Monsanto and other industrial agriculture corporations that pressure to impose GM crops. The testimonies and analysis contained in this report aim to inspire and unite consumers, activists and communities against the abuses carried out by Monsanto and other biotech corporations around the world.

“Who will hold Monsanto responsible for the global depletion of biodiversity, soil erosion, and violations of peasant rights wrought by the application of petroleum-based inputs required by industrial agriculture?” asked Dena Hoff of the National Family Farm Coalition / La Via Campesina North America. “Farmers worldwide are resisting for food sovereignty, but the rest of the world must join us,” she added.

* The report is available in English, French and Spanish

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