[asia-apec 1627] The Peoples Caravan Press Release 3

[Anuradha Mittal]

The People's Caravan 2000 - Land and Food Without Poisons!

PRESS RELEASE

31 OCTOBER, 2000

Asian Pacific NGOs and Farmers Groups Alarmed by the Creation of the
World's Largest Agrochemical Corporation

Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP), a coalition of 
over 150 groups in 18 countries, is alarmed by the merger of Novartis 
and AstraZeneca creating the world's largest agrochemical corporation,
Syngenta. 

According to a report by a Pan-European coalition of NGOs, Syngenta will 
posses more than 40 per cent of the world's patents on genetic 
engineering technologies that can restrict plant reproduction, growth 
and development. These technologies either render crops sterile or 
control their genetic traits via chemicals. This is in contravention of 
previous commitments by both companies not to pursue these technologies. 
It also contradicts the high profile, consumer-driven, 'anti-genetic 
engineering' position taken by Novartis in claiming to have withdrawn 
genetically engineered ingredients from its product lines worldwide.

Sarojeni Rengam, Executive Director of PAN AP, said, "genetic use 
restriction technologies trap farmers into an expensive seed and 
pesticide package. They will be forced to purchase seeds every planting 
season that are dependent on chemical inducers to switch on and off 
plant characteristics for yield, height, nutrition, flowering, ageing, 
disease resistance, etc."

Sterile seeds are unable to germinate thereby disabling farmers the 
right to save seeds for replanting˜crucial for the food security of 
communities. Approximately 1.4 billion farmers rely on saved seeds. 
According to the South-North Development Monitor the new Syngenta will 
be the third largest seed supplier in the world.

"Seed is the first link in the food chain. Whoever controls the seed, 
controls the food supply," said Anuradha Mittal, Co Director of Food 
First. "With the advent of genetic engineering, seeds have become the 
"operating system" that the corporations are using to deliver new 
genetic technologies."   

Furthermore, sterile, chemically dependent crops will increase the sales 
of unnecessary and dangerous agricultural inputs. The report by the 
pan-European coalition of NGOs states Novartis and AstraZeneca have 
taken out 11 new patents to render crops dependent on chemicals. 

"Farmers around the world are being pushed into planting genetically
engineered crops with all their human health and environmental risks, 
with no guarantee as to the future market of genetically engineered food 
products" comments Ms. Rengam.

Farmers in the U.S. have taken exception to the new Novartis policy,
claiming it to be a double standard. Novartis produces Ovaltine, Gerber
baby foods, Wasa crackers and a variety of 'health foods'.

To alert millions of farmers, consumers and producers of these
developments, various NGOs, farmers groups and anti-genetic engineering
advocates across the Asia Pacific region will hold a People's Caravan 
"Citizens on the Move for Land and Food Without Poisons!" from November
13-30. 

According to Rafael Mariano, Chairperson of KMP (Peasant Movement of the 
Philippines), "The caravan will expose the immoral and unethical 
practices of agrochemical transnational corporations (TNCs) in their 
push for corporate control and dominance of our food production 
systems." This issue will be addressed as one major theme threatening 
farmer's livelihoods, food security and the production of safe food.

The People's Caravan will kick off on November 13 in Chennai, India;
followed by Bangladesh on November 19, and culminate in Manila, 
Philippines between November 26-30. The caravan is organised by the 
Tamil Nadu Women's Forum (TNWF) and the Society for Rural Education and 
Development (SRED) of India; UBINIG (Policy Research for Development 
Alternatives) and the Nayakrishi Andolon (New Agriculture Movement) of 
Bangladesh; the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of 
the Philippines); with PAN AP in collaboration with Food First, U.S.A.

For more information on the People's Caravan contact:

PAN AP (Pesticide Action Network Asia & the Pacific)
Jennifer Mourin, Campaigns and Media Coordinator OR Sarah Hindmarsh,
Program Assistant Genetic Engineering Campaign. Tel: (60-4) 657-0271/
656-038. Fax: (604) 657-7445 
E-mail: panap at panap.po.my or visit the People's Caravan
Web site: www.poptel.org.uk/panap/caravan.htm

Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy
Tel: (510) 654-4400 fax: 510-654-4551
Email: food first at foodfirst.org
Web: www.foodfirst.org

Join the fight against hunger. For more information contact foodfirst at foodfirst.org.

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