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A Call to Protect Food Systems from Genetic Technology: The Global Food and Movement Says NO to Release of Drives

Gene drives are new tools that force genetically engineered traits through entire populations of insects, plants, animals and other organisms. This invasive technology represents a deliberate attempt to create a new form of genetic . Gene Drives may drive species to extinction and undermine sustainable and equitable food and agriculture. Gene drives threaten natural systems. If released experimentally into the environment they may spread engineered uncontrollably through wild and domesticated species. This could alter ecological systems and food webs, harm and eradicate beneficial organisms such as pollinators. Gene drives could disrupt lands, waters, food and fiber economies and harm Indigenous and peasant agroecological practices and cultures. Gene drives are being developed for use in agriculture. If applied, they may make farms even more genetically uniform and foreclose farmers’ rights, as enshrined, among others, in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and other People Working in Rural Areas. Use of gene drives may further entrench a system of genetically-engineered industrial agriculture, extend agro-toxin use and concentrate corporate control over global food systems, undermining the food sovereignty of farmers, food workers and consumers. Gene drives hinder the realization of including rights to healthy, ecologically-produced and culturally appropriate food and nutrition.

We, the undersigned, call for a global moratorium on any release of engineered gene drives. This moratorium is necessary to affirm the precautionary principle, which is enshrined in international law, and to protect life on Earth as well as our food supply.

Letter continued on next page...

Organizational signatories include:

The Global Food and Agriculture Movement Says NO to Release of Gene Drives We urge governments to establish participatory We oppose current experiments to ‘test’ risky technology assessment processes and to respect transgenic organisms as a step towards future and fulfill the full free, prior and informed consent of release of gene drive organisms.1 Indigenous Peoples and other affected populations We commit ourselves to the protection of food for all emerging , including gene systems, cultures, ecosystems and the rights, drives - as enshrined in the UN Declaration on the livelihoods and food sovereignty of those who work Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other international in and depend on agriculture and food production. agreements. This is to protect our rights to preserve biodiversity and traditional knowledge.

Join the growing list of those opposing gene drives in agriculture. If your organization would like to sign on please email: [email protected] to add your or your organization’s name.

International and Regional Organizations IFOAM Organics International Navdanya International Centro Internazionale Crocevia IFOAM Asia Indigenous Environmental Network ActionAid International IFOAM Europe FIAN International International Center for Technology IFOAM North America La Via Campesina International Assessment Global Forest Coalition Action Group on , Technology and The Society for International Development (SID) Third World Network Concentration (ETC Group) () The ProTerra Foundation Forest Peoples Programme Alianza por la Biodiversidad en América Latina WeEffect IUF International (The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Focus on the Global South AgroEcology Fund Catering, and Allied Workers’ GRAIN Global Justice Ecology Project Associations) Groupe international d’études Heinrich Böll Foundation transdisciplinaires (GIET)

1 The multi-million dollar ‘Target Malaria’ project from London, UK is currently releasing non-gene drive transgenic mosquitoes in West Africa as a means to ‘test’ the regulatory systems for a future release of gene-drive equipped mosquitoes.

The Global Food and Agriculture Movement Says NO to Release of Gene Drives Africa Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF Friends of the Earth Cameroon/ Centre Participatory Ecological () pour l’Environnement et le Développement Management (PELUM) Association Biowatch (South Africa) Friends of the Earth Ghana/ Environmental Plate-forme Régionale des Organisations PELUM (Kenya) Rights Action (ERA) Paysannes d’Afrique Centrale (PROPAC) Earth Life Africa (South Africa) Friends of the Earth Togo/ Les Amis de la Réseau Africain pour le Droit à Terre Togo l’Alimentation (RAPDA –Togo) African Center for Biodiversity- ACB (South Africa) Friends of the Earth Mozambique/ Justica Rural Women’s Assembly (RWA) Ambiental (JA!) Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa Tanzanian Alliance for Biodiversity (TABIO) (AFSA) Friends of the Earth / NAPE Union Africaine des Consommateurs (UAC) (National Association of Professional African Biodiversity Network (ABN) World Neighbours Environmentalists) Association Ouest Africaine pour le Terre à Vie () Friends of the Earth Liberia/ Sustainable Développement de la Pêche Artisanale Development Institute (SDI) Maudesco/Friends of the Earth Mauritius (ADEPA) Friends of the Earth Sierra Leone Dajopen Waste Management Biodiversity and Biosafety Coalition of Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Kenya (BIBA) Groundwork/Friends of the Earth South Africa Biodiversity (ZAAB) Coalition pour la Protection du Patrimoine Banlieues Du Monde Mauritanie Génétique Africaine (COPAGEN) Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team (LEAT)/Friends of the Earth Tanzania ENDA-Pronat Comité Ouest Africain de Semences Paysannes (COASP) Guamina / Friends of the Earth Mali Femmes Environnement nature Entrepreneuriat Vert Comparing and Supporting Endogenous Groundswell West Africa (GWA) Development (COMPAS Africa) Institut Africain pour le Développement Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Economique et Social (INADES-Formation) Association Tunisienne Des Femmes Farmers Forum (ESAFF) Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Democrates (ATFD) Eastern and Southern African Pastoralists Committee (IPACC) World March of Women Tunisia Network Institut Panafricain pour la Citoyenneté, La Via Campesina Southern and Eastern Fahamu Africa les Consommateurs et le Développement Africa (LVC SEAf) (CICODEV Africa) Faith & Justice Network of the Mano River The Kenyan Peasants League (KPL) Basin (FJN) Jinkun (reseau National Pour Une Gestion CAUSE RURALE-asbl Durable Des Resources Génétiques Farm-Saved Seeds Network (FASSNET) Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement Fédération Agroécologique du Bénin (JVE International) (FAEB) La Via Campesina Africa (LVC Africa) Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in West Africa (FECCIWA) Network of Farmers’ and Agricultural Producers’ Organizations of West Africa Friends of the Earth Africa (FoEA) (ROPPA)

Asia / Oceania Mothers Against - GE FREE NZ Taitokerau () Friends of the Earth (Australia) MAdGE (Australia) GE FREE New Zealand (New Zealand) Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance GM-Free Australia Alliance (Australia) La Via Campesina-South Asia Consumers Union of Pesticide Action Group WA (Australia) Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice NO! GMO Campaign (Japan) FoodWatch WA (Australia) (, Right Livelihood Award GM-Free 2003) Gene Ethics (Australia) Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Environment Support Group (India) SEARICE - Southeast Asia Regional Agriculture (ASHA) (India) Initiatives for Community Empowerment Hazards Centre (Sanchal Foundation) (India) UBINIG ()

Europe Biofuelwatch () Save our Seeds () ELTE Nature Conservation Club () Initiative for GE-free Seeds and Breeding GM Watch UK (United Kingdom) Friends of the Earth / les Amis de la (Germany) Pole-Risques (France) Terre Kultursaat e.V. (Germany) Sativa Rheinau AG () Friends of the Earth / Centar za zivotnu sredinu Family Farmers Organization Germany ReinSaat KG () (Arbeitsgemeinschaft bäuerliche Friends of the Earth Germany/ Bund für Forschung & Züchtung Dottenfelderhof Landwirtschaft (AbL) e.V.) (Germany) Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (‘Research & Breeding Dottenfelderhof’) (BUND) A Sud - Ecologia e Cooperazione ONLUS (Germany) () Corporate Europe Observatory Swiss Alliance for GE Free Agriculture Slow Food Deutschland (Germany) (Switzerland) Sciences Citoyennes (France) Foundation on Future Farming (Germany) We Effect () Friends of the Earth Europe

The Global Food and Agriculture Movement Says NO to Release of Gene Drives Europe (continued) Biodiversité échanges et diffusion Friends of the Earth Austria - GLOBAL 2000 SWISSAID d’expériences (BEDE) Bread for the World Schola Campesina Aps Foll’Avoine Bundesverband Naturkost Naturwaren (BNN) Eremurus Club, Mouvement de l’Agriculture Bio-Dynamique e.V. National Association for Genetic Safety, Association for Farmers Rights Defense, Dachverband Kulturpflanzen- und Russia AFRD Nutztiervielfalt e.V. Ecological Club Tapan, Armenia Le Potazer de Villard GM Freeze Demeter e.V. (Germany) le réseau Solimence Agrar Koordination (Germany) ViAgroforestry

Latin America Acción Ecológica (Ecuador) Biodiversidad BASE-IS, () Associação Brasileira de Agroecologia Iniciativa Amotocodie (Paraguay) Red Nacional de Agricultura Familiar (Brasil) Heñoi (Paraguay) () Via Organica () REDES-AT, REDES-Amigos de la Tierra Red de Coordinacion en Biodiversidad, CESTA Amigos de la Tierra El Salvador (El (Uruguay) Costa Rica Salvador) Instituto de Estudios Ecologistas, (Ecuador) Centro Ecológico () Instituto de Salud Socioambiental de la Asociación Red de Coordinación en Facultad de Cs. Médicas, UNR, ()

North America Hawai’i SEED (US) Sustainable Agriculture of Louisville (US) The Land Institute Non-GMO Project (US) Urban Tilth (US) The Oakland Institute Nature’s Path Food Inc. (US) Insitute for Agriculture and Trade Policy Pesticide Action Network North America Natural Grocers (US) (IATP) (US) InterPares (Canada) Organic Seed Alliance (US) USC Canada (Canada) Center for Food Safety (US) National Farmers Union (Canada) Movement Generation (US) Sierra Club (USA) Farm Aid (US) The National Organic Coalition (US) Eden Foods’ (USA) RAFI USA (US) HEAL Food Alliance (US) Merville Against GDO (Canada) Community Alliance for Global Justice (US) Food and Water Watch (US) GMO Free Florida (USA) BioScience Resource Project (US) Northeast Organic Farmers Association: The Garlic Seeds Foundation New Jersey / Vermont / Inter State Council Food Integrity Now (US) Food Democracy Now! / Connecticut / Massachusetts / and New Moms Across America (US) Hampshire (US) Genesis Farm Ecological Learning Center Nutiva (US) National Family Farm Coalition (US) Organics Consumer Association (US) Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Canada Organic Trade Association (MOFGA) (US) (Canada) Next7 (US) Vigilance OGM (Canada) Food Secure Canada (Canada) Fair World Project (US) Canadian Action Network Friends of the Earth US (CBAN) Dr. Bronner’s (US) Family Farm Defenders (US)

Individual signatories so far Navdanya International, Bob Scowcroft Co-founder, Executive Geneticist, Environmentalist Activist, Scholar, Author, Right Livelihood Director, Research and Broadcaster laureate (1993) Foundation (retired) Claire Hope Cummings Writer, Broadcaster, Caroline Lucas Member of Parliament Green Nell Newman President, Nell Newman Environmental Lawyer Party, United Kingdom Foundation Anna Lappé Co-founder Small Planet Hilal Elver United Nations Special Tom Goldtooth Executive Director, Institute, Real Food Media Rapporteur on the Right to Food (current) Indigenous Environmental Network Severine Von Tscharner Fleming Founder, Jean Ziegler United Nations Special Thuli Makama Swaziland, 2010 Recipient Greenhorns Rapporteur on the Right to Food (2000- Goldman Environmental Prize Lauren Baker Professor, University of 2008), Vice-president of the Advisory Chee Yoke Ling Director, Third World Toronto Committee to the United Nations Human Network Rights Council

The Global Food and Agriculture Movement Says NO to Release of Gene Drives Individual signatories so far (continued) Raj Patel Writer, Activist, Academic, IPES- Shrikrishna Upadhyay / SAPPROS (), Pablo Galeano Facultad de Química, Food panel member Right Livelihood Award 2010 UDELAR, Uruguay Ocean Robbins Co-founder and CEO, Food Martín von Hildebrand COAMA, Right Marielle Director BASE-IS, Paraguay Revolution Network Livelihood Award 1999 María Fernanda Vallejo Researcher John Robbins Author, Founder EarthSave Wes Jackson (USA), Right Livelihood Award agroecological systems, Ecuador Million Belay Coordinator, Alliance for Food 2000 Barbara Unmüßig President, Heinrich Böll Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), IPES-Food Erik Damman / The Future in our Hands Foundation panel member Right Livelihood Award Laureate 1982 Henk Hobbelink Co-founder GRAIN Nicolas Bricas Senior Scientist at CIRAD, David Bronner CEO, Dr. Bronner Mariann Bassey Chairperson, Alliance for IPES-Food panel member Wenonah Hauter Executive Director, Food Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) Hans Herren Millennium Institute, World and Water Watch, Author Pete Shanks Writer and Activist Food Prize winner (1995), Right Livelihood Thierry Kesteloot Policy Advisor, Oxfam François Warlop Agronomist laureate (2013), IPES-Food panel member Belgium Vincent Delobel Member Generation T Steve Gliessman Founding Director of Gustavo Esteva Founder, Universidad de la Didier Meunier Membre du réseau des the University of California Santa Cruz, Tierra (Uniterra) Agroecology Program, IPES-Food panel agroécologistes sans frontière Maurizio Farhan Ferrari Biodiversity Policy member Nori Ignacio Executive Director, SEARICE Advisor, Forest Peoples Programme Pat Mooney Co-Founder ETC Group, Right Devon G. Peña, Ph.D. President and Founder, Karin Nansen Chair, Friends of the Earth Livelihood Award laureate (1985), IPES-Food The Acequia Institute. International panel member Nadia El Hage Senior Officer, Organic Silvia Rodríguez Emeritus Professor, Olivier de Schutter United Nations Special Agriculture Programme (FAO) Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica Rapporteur on the Right to Food (2008- Jean-Paul Sikeli Executive Secratary Damián Verzeñassi Director of the Institute 2014), Co-chair IPES-Food COPAGEN of Social and Environmental Health, Lim Li Ching Senior Researcher ,Third World Universidad del Rosario, Argentina Martin Häusling Memeber of the European Network, IPES-Food panel member Parliment Emmanuel Gónzalez-Ortega Doctor of Phil Howard Author, IPES-Food panel Biotechnology, Biosecurity, National Institute Veronica Rudio Executive Director ProTerra member of Ecology and and Union of Foundation Jennifer Franco Transnational Institute, IPES- Scientists Committed to Society (UCCS) Anne Petermann Executive Director, Global Food panel member Elizabetta Recine Coordinator of the Justice Ecology Project and Coordinator, Yan Hairong Polytechnic Observatory of Food Security and Nutrition International Campaign to Stop GE Trees University, IPES-Food panel member Policy- Universidade de Brasília Irina Vekcha Geneticist, Agriculture Joji Carino Forest Peoples Programme, Rubens Nodari Professor, Universidad Santa University of Thies, Senegal (retired) IPES-Food panel member Catarina, Brazil Bishop Geoff Davies Patron of SAFCEI Will Allen Farmer, Activist Juliette Majot Executive Director, Institute Jose “Pepe” Esquinas Professor, Former for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) Secretary, Secretariat of the International Jaime E. García González, sc.agr. Profesor, Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources, Former Catedrático de la Universidad Estatal a Secretary of FAO’s Commission on Genetic Distancia (UNED) y de la Universidad de Resources Costa Rica (UCR) Ida Kuklina (Russia), The Committee of Elizabeth Bravo Founding member, Acción Soldiers’ Mothers of Russia, Right Livelihood Ecológica, Senior Fellow, Oakland Insitute, Award 1996 Instituto de Estudios Ecologistas Swami Agnivesh (India), Right Livelihood Brian Baker President, IFOAM North America Award 2004 Andrew Mushita Executive Director, Angie Zelter (UK), Right Livelihood Award Community Technology Development Trust 2001 () Nnimmo Bassey (Nigeria), Right Livelihood Beth Burrows Retired President/Director, Award 2010 Edmonds Institute Anwar Fazal (), Right Livelihood Didi Pershouse Soil Carbon Coalition, Award 1982 Founder, Center for Sustainable Medicine Manfred Max Neef (), Right Livelihood Aruna Rodrigues Sunray Harvesters Award 1983 Uma Shankari Naren Author and activist Zafrullah Chowdhury (India), Right Suma Josson Documentary film maker Livelihood Award 1992 Bart Staes European Member of Parliament, Raul Montenegro (Argentina), Right /European Free Alliance Livelihood Award 2004 Maria José Guazzelli Co-director Centro Annelis Allain for IBFAN (international), Ecológico, Brasil Right Livelihood Award 1998 Simone Lovera Executive Director Global Martin Almada (Paraguay), Right Livelihood Forest Coalition, Paraguay Award 2002 Leonardo Melgarejo Vice-president of the Dipal Barua (Bangladesh), Grameen Shakti, Associação Brasileira de Agroecologia, Right Livelihood Award 2007 Região Sul, Brasil Ruchama Marton (), Physicians for Miguel Lovera Author, former Director of Human Rights, Right Livelihood Award 2010 National Seed Institute, Paraguay

The Global Food and Agriculture Movement Says NO to Release of Gene Drives