Sir, Regarding ‘Bio-economy poses new competitiveness challenges for Europe‘: Innovation Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn has highlighted an area where the EU is missing out compared to other countries – particularly the USA. It need not do so, for it actually needs to address it through a different emphasis. Firstly, the EU should seriously consider removing the [...]

Sir, Producing bio-fuels from microalgae oil has recently been proposed as a renewable, carbon neutral alternative to fossil-based transportation fuels. The excessive commercial and political interest in sustainable sources for transportation fuels from renewables is creating new opportunities, but also new challenges for industrial algae producers. As a result of their biochemical and morphological diversity, [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘EU to overhaul GM crop approval system‘: The European Coordination Via Campesina is dismayed at the proposal of the European Commission to restructure decision-making processes between the EU and member states, which will result in more GM crops being grown and used in Europe. The Commission’s proposal to allow countries to implement strict [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Industry chief: Biofuel from waste can reduce landfill‘: At last we hear some good news from an enterprising source. How welcoming to read such positive comments. The move from Finland is not an isolated one in Europe. I have also heard that GeneSyst teams in Europe will be starting work on several major [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘EU weighs proposals to break GMO deadlock‘: The process of GMO invasion in Europe can be clearly observed in articles and statements of public figures. More and more we are told that we have to deal with GMOs, that we have to submit to progress in science, that we have to do it [...]

Sir, In recent months EurActiv has published several very useful articles and reports on the new EU legislation on pesticides. Your latest LinksDossier “Pesticides: Striking the right balance?” is another useful contribution. However, I was surprised that it made no mention at all of the fundamental nature of the change this legislation would bring about [...]

Monsieur, Concernant ‘La Commission hésite à autoriser plus de cultures GM’: Pour quelles raisons l’Europe semble-t-elle faire le jeu de l’OMC dans le dossier des OGM? Pourquoi veut-elle imposer des législations favorables aux cultures OGM alors que la balance bénéfices/risques n’est même pas clairement établie et qu’il semble impossible de maîtriser les croisements avec les [...]

Zum Artikel ‘Europaabgeordnete unterstützen Verbot von Farbstoffen in Lebensmitteln’: In einer Zeit, in der sehr gut bekannt ist, dass jeder dritte Allergiker ist und die Zahl der Umwelterkrankten rapide steigt (rund 15% in Industrienationen), wäre es in keinster Form mehr nachvollziehbar, warum nicht EU-weit von chemischen Zusatzstoffen Abstand genommen wird. Es ist ganz simpel auf [...]