New report shows that dairy industry can immediately go GM-free
The UK dairy industry can go GM-free virtually overnight, with no cost to the consumer or the farmer, according to a new report published today (May 13, 2004) by Greenpeace.
The report, produced in collaboration with the farmers' campaigning group FARM, shows that the UK dairy industry can ditch its reliance on imported GM feeds by a simple switch to a feed regime based on crops grown on-farm and regionally in the UK. While this transition is being made, the industry can immediately go independent of imported GM feed by switching to GM-free imports.
The switch to GM-free dairy produce would not, argues the report, cost either the consumer or the farmer more. Instead, the cost, which would amount to less than one pence per litre of milk, could be borne by the supermarkets.
Currently, almost all supermarket own-brand milk comes from cows fed on GM feed imported from the USA and Argentina.
Called GM and Dairy Cow Feed: Steps to a GM-free Future for the UK Dairy Industry, the report illustrates how the UK dairy industry can be both GM-free and independent of imports in the future by growing protein-rich crops such as lupins for cattle feed.
Besides offering the consumer GM-free milk, other advantages for the UK dairy industry include less reliance on imported feed in the long-term and, through a less intensive model of farming brought about by home-growing cattle feed, the creation of more rural jobs.
Michael Eavis, organiser of the Glastonbury festival and Somerset dairy farmer, said: "My cows no longer eat GM feed. I recently made the decision to stop feeding them GM produce, and it was easy to make the switch because there are non-GM alternatives to use. And if there was more demand, GM-free feed would become more mainstream."
Sarah North, Greenpeace Campaigner, said: "There's absolutely no need for supermarkets such as Sainsbury's to continue to peddle GM milk. It's not only simple but also cheap for them to switch to the GM-free milk that consumers want."
"It's blatantly obvious now that supermarkets can help dairy farmers to make the switch away from these environmentally damaging commodities, and there's no excuse for not doing so immediately."
John Turner, dairy farmer and a founding member of FARM, said: "Far from threatening livelihoods and further eroding their dwindling margins, important market opportunities exist for those able to supply GM-free produce. Using GM-free feeds will not incur prohibitive costs and there exists a real benefit for arable farmers as well as those specialising in livestock."
"Many farmers share the same legitimate concerns about GM as those who buy their produce. Going GM-free will allow those who care about how food is produced to maintain an independence and integrity that lies at the heart of good food and farming."
Download the GM and Dairy Cow Feed report.
For more information contact the Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255.
Notes to editors:
In a poll run by ICM for Greenpeace in Autumn 2003 77% of respondants said that they would prefer to buy dairy produce from cows fed on a GM free diet.
Greenpeace has been running a campaign for the last 6 months against Sainsbury's own brand milk, which comes from cows fed on GM feed. At regular weekend protests run outside Sainsbury's stores across the country, Sainsbury's customers have almost unanimously agreed that Sainsbury's should stop selling milk from GM-fed cows. Pictures of protests available from the Greenpeace press office.
