We are going through a crucial moment for the future of peasant agriculture, biodiversity and our own freedom of choice at the table. In mid-June, the European Parliament will be asked to vote on a proposed regulation that threatens to completely deregulate New Genomic Techniques (NGT/TEA), or so-called “New GMOs” category 1 (if you don’t know what these are you can watch episode 6 of inRete! https://rsr.bio/inrete-06/).

If this rule were to pass, labeling requirements, traceability along the supply chain, and independent risk assessments would fall away for these new lab-manipulated varieties. The precautionary principle would effectively be emptied, and citizens and farmers would find themselves buying, growing and eating genetically modified foods without any way of knowing.

Consumers mobilize and appeal to large-scale retail trade (GDO)

In the face of worrying political and media silence in Italy, civil society has decided to take concrete action. As many as 18 Italian consumer associations have sent a joint letter to the top management of large-scale retailers (Coop, Conad, Esselunga, Lidl, Carrefour, Selex, etc.).

The demand is clear: large-scale retailers must come out of the closet and put up a united front with the public to demand that the current rules on old GMOs (traceability and labeling) be maintained. If the European regulation passes as is, the supermarket chains themselves will no longer be able to guarantee “GMO-free” own-brand references, destroying the trust built over decades with consumers.

Resistance in the field: the Seed Savers

While consumer rights are being fought for at the institutional level, the real alternative lives and pulsates every day from below. As a recent Altreconomia investigation tells us, the state of health of the Seed Savers Forum reminds us how vital and deeply political the act of caring for the earth is.

Thousands of small farmers, enthusiasts and local networks of seedsavers continue to cultivate, reproduce and exchange ancient, local and fertile seeds. This silent work is the only tool we have to safeguard agrobiodiversity, ensure plant adaptation to climate change, and remove food and life from the patent monopoly of multinational agrochemical corporations.

The weaving work of Rural Seeds Network: joining forces in a common front

These two worlds-the world of consumer protection and large distribution channels on the one hand, and the world of peasant resistance and seed-saving on the other-need to converge now more than ever.

And this is precisely where the valuable and fundamental weaving work of Rural Seeds Network in tune with related networks fits in. With its constant liaison and coordination activities, the Network is pursuing a dialogue aimed at bringing these different realities into concrete collaboration. Bringing together the voices of citizens who demand transparency at the plate with those of agroecological farmers who defend the right to free seeds is the only possible strategy to create a solid common front, capable of placing a curb on the unbridled liberalization of new GMOs.

To learn more about the current situation, read the full articles:

• How is the Seed Savers Forum (Altreconomia)
• The statement from Movimento Consumatori
• The appeal of the 18 associations on TerraNuova