January 31, 2003

Millions of people are dying in Africa in part due to a European Union (EU) moratorium on biotechnology, says the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). NCGA President Fred Yoder and President-elect Dee Vaughan delivered a joint letter with the U.S. Grains Council to the White House urging President Bush to act quickly on the EU's de facto moratorium on the approval of agricultural products enhanced through biotechnology. NCGA is asking the president to begin dispute settlement action in the World Trade Organization (WTO) as soon as possible.

"It is inconceivable that millions of people in Africa are starving, yet African governments reject food shipments because they contain agricultural products derived from modern biotechnology," said Yoder. "Despite numerous scientific studies proving biotech corn safe for human consumption, the continuing EU moratorium is propelling a crisis in Africa."

According to NCGA, it is estimated up to 35 million people in Africa will need food aid this year, including 6.7 million people in Zimbabwe and 2.9 million in Zambia. The United States has sent food aid to these countries, but shipments have been rejected due to special interests in the region using propaganda to misinform African governments about biotechnology.

"After numerous European studies, the EU admits there is no scientific basis to the moratorium. Yet, it continues," said Vaughan. "It is extremely irresponsible to play politics with starving populations."

"The United States has exercised considerable patience as the EU grapples with the internally sensitive political issue of biotechnology acceptance," states the letter. "However, our members believe it is now time to engage the EU in a WTO dispute settlement proceeding challenging its de facto moratorium.

"The hysteria propagated by anti-biotechnology officials and non-governmental organizations in Europe must stop," continues the letter. "This is not only an agricultural issue, but also one that fundamentally challenges the humanitarian ideals of developed nations to help starving people around the globe."