2008 articles

NOTE: This is entirely predictable from Nestle. Nestle CEOs have been making similar calls for years and so could be absolutely guaranteed to jump onto the current "exploit the food crisis" bandwagon.

That this particular global food giant keeps championing GM as a saviour of the poor and hungry in the developing world is particularly rich given its appalling record of complete disregard for the health of infants in the developing world via irresponsible marketing of breast milk substitutes - see  http://www.babymilkaction.org/
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Nestle CEO asks Europe not to oppose use of GM crops
Food Business Review, 24 June 2008
http://www.food-business-review.com/article_news.asp?guid=F918636E-A6DD-4498-A4E 5-73C69D5E2896

CEO of Nestle, Peter Brabeck, has asked policymakers in Europe to re-evaluate their opposition to genetically modified crops, revealed the Financial Times.

Rising commodity costs are denying the poor access to basic food items. One way to counter this situation is to accept genetically modified (GM) crops, opined Mr Brabeck. These crops are understood to have higher yields.

Mr Brabeck said: "We have the means to make agriculture sustainable in the long term. What we don't see for the time being is the political will.

"The European Union used political pressure in Africa to prevent some of those countries using GM organisms. I don't think that was necessarily helpful for the agriculture of those countries nor for their supplies."

With fear of rejection from Europe, not just Africa but certain Asian nations are also refraining from planting GM crops. However, the problem does not actually lie with the respective governments alone. According to a survey by the European Commission, only 21% of Europeans will eat genetically engineered food.

Maintaining that European fears pertaining to GM crops were unfounded, Mr Brabeck said: "It is one of the safest technologies that we have ever seen - much safer than bio or organic or whatever else is fashionable in Europe."