Greens launch Slow Food in the European Parliament
09 April 2008
A new branch of the Slow Food ecological food organisation was launched inthe European Parliament this week, in the presence of the founder of themovement, Carlo Petrini. Jean Lambert, Marie-Helene Aubert and MonicaFrassoni from the Greens, Vincenzo Aita from the United Left group and CsabaSandor Tabajdi from the Socialist group were behind the initiative, whichreceived cross-party support from many other Members of the EuropeanParliament.
Jean Lambert, Green Party MEP for London, said:
"This new branch of the Slow Food organisation will help to influence thepolitics of food in the European Parliament and in Member States.Agriculture is an industry unlike any other and we must protect ourtraditional knowledge of farming. Smaller producers are being forced out ofbusiness every day across the European Union; it is essential that werapidly take steps to avoid this.
"The Common Agricultural Policy has in some ways reduced choice forconsumers, particularly in terms of local varieties. What we need now is anew respect for producers and products."
"It is vital that we protect quality and diversity in food. Biodiversitywill help to protect our food supplies if our environment suddenly changes,as a result of climate change for instance, yet many local varieties arebeing squeezed out of the market. It will be far safer for our food securityto defend diversity rather than rely on GMOs.
"If the Lisbon Treaty reforms go through the European Parliament will havemore power to decide legislation, particularly in the areas of fishing andagriculture. This will give those of us who are committed to increasingbiodiversity more scope to reform existing policies."
A delegation from the European Parliament will attend the Terra Madreconference in October this year, which will bring together food communities,cooks, academics and youth delegates for four days to work towardsincreasing small-scale, traditional and sustainable food production.
