Greenpeace welcomes NFU/Sainsbury's/MAFF commissioned research into the cost of removing genetically modified (GM) ingredients from animal feed.
The research report, released yesterday, comes after announcements by Asda and Tesco in January this year that in response to consumer demand (1), they will only stock chickens and pigs fed on non-GM animal feed, from later this year (2).
Greenpeace agrees with the NFU that farmers should not bear all the costs of going non-GM. (3).
Greenpeace GM Campaigner Greg Muttitt said, "These are very short term costs and we believe that retailers not farmers should pick up the tab." (4)
Greenpeace has been in close contact with retailers and is aware that they have worked hard to ensure that the short term extra costs of sourcing non-GM animal feed do not fall on farmers. For example, Asda, when it announced its move to non-GM in January 2001, promised that it "will be supporting suppliers with any additional costs"
He added, "The good news is that Britain's agriculture is making swift progress towards becoming completely non-GM. Tesco, Asda, Marks and Spencer, Iceland and CWS have all now made significant steps to sourcing non-GM feed for their stores and from June this year both Tesco and Asda expect to have achieved targets for non-GM poultry and fish across their ranges.
Industry sources estimate that the demand for non-GM animal feed created by Tesco and ASDA, together with associated soya sold by their suppliers, accounts for 50-70% of UK soya consumption. This position will soon be strengthened, as Sainsbury (the second largest UK food retailer) recently told Greenpeace that it will only sell chicken produced using non-GM feed from June.
Neil Griffiths, Director of Cert ID, which runs a certification scheme, for non-GM ingredients and a speaker at the report launch said,
"A few months ago we were told it was impossible to source non-GM animal feed, then we were told it was too expensive, now it is clear it can be easily and affordably achieved. The costs now are already small; and as more companies go down this route and a sustainable supply is achieved, it can only get cheaper."
He added, "What's more, European regulations are likely to require traceability through the supply chain anyway, so these structures will already exist, and non-GM will be no extra cost above this."
Notes for editor's:
1) The first stage of the Asda phase out of GM fed products covers fish (already achieved), poultry, eggs (expected summer) and pork (expected autumn). Tesco are phasing out GM fed eggs, poultry, pork and fish by the summer. Tesco is the largest UK food retailer and is ranked number 6 worldwide by company revenue (Washington Post, November 19, 2000). Asda is currently ranked 3rd in terms of market share.
2) Poll after poll has shown consumer demand for an end to feeding GM crops to animals -
- September 2000 - NOP polling for Greenpeace polling shows 67% of consumers want non-GM fed meat and dairy products.
- January 2001 - Tesco polling confirms that 76% of their customers want dairy and meat products from non-GM fed animals.
- January 2001, Asda polling confirms that 64% of their customers want dairy and meat products from non-GM fed animals.
3) NFU press release 11.4.2001-
It is widely recognised within the food/feed industry and by economists that as more companies within the food and retail industries move to non-GM animal feed, the costs will come down.
For example, Asda commented when it announced its own non-GM feed plans that "If the rest of the industry follows Asda's example, costs incurred by suppliers when segregating one retailer's grain from another's will be dramatically cut If other retailers follow suit, non-GM animal feed will become the industry standard, and the premium charged for it will diminish, as will the costs to retailers and producers." Asda News Release, 26th January 2001 - 'Asda begins conversion to non-GM animal feed'
Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace UK press office on 020 7865 8255.
