To be Organic, or Not to be Organic

Italy; the land of love, romance, beauty and food, prides itself for having one of the most exquisite cuisines, produced from the finest locally grown products. This passion for quality has inspired many regions in Italy to join together and boycott the use and sale of genetically modified crops, trying to keep that part of their lives and culture unscathed. Local pressure and county’s beliefs have made it illegal for people to grow GM crops without a permit, and making it increasingly difficult to obtain one.

Recently Greenpeace has taken it upon themselves to protect some of the maize fields in northern Italy that were suspected of GM use and those in close proximity to them. Greenpeace took samples, tested them in a specialized Laboratory and confirmed that the maize was in fact a patented Monsanto maize type MON810. This Greenpeace believes is illegal seeing as the grower did not have a permit to grow such crops. Greenpeace Italia took action by cutting off the buds to stop the spread of GM pollen, this action was intended to bring an end to contamination of other crops and draw attention to the issue, urging the government to take action against these illegal crops.

There is considerable documentation and research that proves that GM crops are indeed a threat to local biodiversity, cross-contamination by insects and winds was feared as well as soil contamination. Cross-contamination could result in a monocrop in which the plants are genetically identical, having mixed organic seeds with patented ones that release pesticides, herbicides and insecticides that could harm the organic seeds, and could harm the insects and other plants around them. In order to restore the natural and variable Italian crops and conserving what they hold so proud inspires Italians to work against companies like Monsanto and GM crops.

            Italy is not be the only country with these concerns, the vicious cycle that has consumed so many of the famers and crops worldwide is becoming more of an issue, people are more aware and speaking out about the destruction and the dwindling crop diversity throughout the world. Monsanto will continue its monopoly over farmers and our food chain if we do not speak up and take drastic measures, to ensure organic sustainable crops.

            These recent events raise the important question; would Italian pasta, vegetables and grains taste the same if the ingredients were affected by GM produce? The answer is that no one knows, and Italy is not willing to take the risk, and frankly when it comes to delicious Italian food, neither am I.