On the 21st of January, 2009, the European Group on Ethics (EGE) met with Mariann Fischer Boel, the Commissioner responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development to present the main recommendations of the Group’s opinion on the ethical implications of modern developments in agriculture technologies.
Following a request from President Barroso, the EGE adopted in December an opinion on the ethical implications of modern developments in agriculture technologies, in order to address the new challenges and opportunities which lie ahead for EU agriculture. The group decided to focus primarily on agriculture technologies and methods for primary production of food of plant origin.
In this opinion the EGE shows its awareness for the need for promoting innovation in agriculture in order to be able to feed the growing world population. It adds that technologies alone cannot provide final solutions to the challenges modern agriculture is facing in the EU and worldwide.
The Group emphasises the need for an integrated view and an integrated approach on agriculture technologies so that the production, storage and distribution processes are considered together when the implications of any new technology is assessed ethically. The goals of (1) food security, (2) food safety and (3) sustainability are considered to be the first priorities and guiding principles to which any technology in agriculture must adhere.
Using this ethical framework as a point of departure, the EGE also makes recommendations on a plethora of issues, such as: revision of EU Common Agriculture Policy, technology impact assessment of agricultural technologies; the right to food; Sustainability of agriculture technologies; Food safety; Agricultural biodiversity; Soil and water protection; Biofuels; GM crops; Research in agricultural sciences; policy-making in arable agriculture; Global trade in agricultural products; Intellectual Property Rights system; Fair competition and “vertical monopolies”; Food prices; Societal aspects; Public participation; Responsibility of EU citizens; Food waste etc.
Background
The European Group on Ethics (EGE) is an independent, pluralist and multidisciplinary body, composed of fifteen experts appointed by the Commission to provide opinions on ethical issues.
The adopted Opinion, full press release and list of members is available at the EGE web site:
http://ec.europa.eu/european_group_ethics/index_en.htm
References
Mariann Fischer Boel blog entry