Cork City becomes a GMO-free zone
Posted by GMO-Free Ireland on October 6th, 2007.Minister for Food and Horticulture backs move
Top chefs and restaurants welcome recipe to protect food quality and traditions
The City of Cork is now a GMO-free zone, following a motion by Cork City Council on Monday which declares the area off-limits to the release of genetically modified seeds and crops. The decision follows similar motions adopted by Bantry and Clonakilty last year.
The Minister of State for Food and Horticulture, Trevor Sargent, said the move will help to protect the economic interest of Ireland’s food and farming future as a clean green GM-free food island.
The City Council’s decision was hailed by leading chefs and restaurateurs. “This is fantastic for Cork City”, said Darina Allen, of Ballyamaloe Cookery School and Slow Food Ireland, adding “Let’s follow-up by declaring the whole of Co. Cork as a GM-free zone”.
Seamus O’Connell, presenter of the Soul Food TV programme, head chef at the Parknasilla Hotel, and owner of Cork’s famed Ivory Tower restaurant, said “I am proud that the city in which I live and work has stood up to the agribusiness gombeens. It would make our children and grandchildren even prouder if Ireland as an island could have the vision to follow suit, create a haven for pure GM-free seeds and produce, and lead the way in research and management of the same”.
Giana Ferguson of Slow Food Ireland, which protects and promotes local GM-free food and gastronomic traditions, also backed the decision. After hearing the news at her Gubeen Farm in Schull (famed for its organic cheese and vegetables and GM-free charcuterie), she said “We are delighted and proud of Cork City Council for taking this vital step to protect the future of Cork’s artisanal food producers”. Jaques and Eithne Barry of Jacques Restaurant said: “We are extremely pleased at this good news. Let’s hope it helps us all to realise that Slow Food is better than fast food!”
Friends of the Irish Environment co-ordinator Tony Lowes, who is based in Alihies on the Beara Peninsula, welcomed the move as a step forward. He said “GM seeds or crops would contaminate Ireland’s ecosystem in perpetuity. Cork City’s protective measure should be extended as soon as possible to the whole of County Cork, in order to protect its unique biodiversity and National Parks.”
The motion was tabled by Green Party Councillor Chris O’Leary, who said “this decision sends a strong message of support for Cork’s food producers, food processors, restaurants and hotels, and will help position this whole area as an eco-tourism destination.”
GM-free Ireland co-ordinator Michael O’Callaghan congratulated the City Council, and urged all Town and County Councils to declare themselves as GM-free zones without delay, to support the Government’s policy goal to declare the whole island of Ireland as a GMO-free zone, in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Assembly.
GM crops are totally or partially banned by nine Governments, along with 236 Regional Governments, Local Authorities, and 4,500 smaller areas across 22 EU member states, plus Switzerland. GMO-free zones on this island of Ireland so far include Counties Cavan, Clare, Fermanagh, Kildare, Kerry, Meath, Roscommon, Monaghan, and Westmeath, the District of Newry & Mourne in counties Armagh and Down, and the towns of Bantry, Bray, Clonakilty, Cork City, Derry, Galway City, Letterkenny, and Navan, along with 1,000 smaller areas, representing over 1 million citizens on both sides of the border.
The WTO and the European Commission claim that national and regional blanket bans on GM crops are illegal. But an EU-wide campaign is underway for the European Commission to recognise the democratic legal right of member states and local authorities to have the final say in whether GM seeds and crops may be released in their areas.
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Related links:
GM-free Ireland Network: http://www.gmfreeireland.org
Map of GM-free zones in Ireland: http://www.gmfreeireland.org/map
Map of GM-free zones in Europe: http://www.gmofree-europe.org
Contact:
Michael O’Callaghan
GM-free Ireland Network
Tel + 353 (0)404 43885
mobile: + 353 (0)87 799 4761
email: mail@gmfreeireland.org
web: http://www.gmfreeireland.org