Comment by TraceConsult™: It is certainly not the 2010 International Green Week in Berlin that is responsible for some excitement around the topic of biotechnology that could be observed last week within official German agricultural circles.
With a certain predictability, less than 24 hours later, during an event on the International Green Week (IGW), Gerd Sonnleitner, President of the German Farmers Association, addresses the public with the remark that he considers the “ohne Gentechnik” claim a “rather dishonest solution”. He thus joins the chorus of voices who have shed crocodile tears for some years in regards to this type of claim. In essence, they do not want to bring out the truth about enzymes that are exempt from labeling anyway but they dread the foundation for consumer choice printed on all packaging.
This information on product labels such as milk, but also poultry as well as many other animal and vegetable food products, should reach a lot more German consumers in the near future. After months of joint pondering and balancing the founding of an industry association for GMO-free food is now imminent. At an IGW reception last week, German agricultural minister Ilse Aigner was absolutely clear about how much she would welcome such an association. One of its most important tasks will be to administer the use of the “ohne Gentechnik” seal as well as to represent the interests of food manufacturers of these very products.
The consumer benefit will be to receive clear information from a competent source.
'Fair Milk' on the shelves as of today
Dairy farmers to receive 40 cents per liter
Translation and highlighting courtesy of TraceConsult
Freising, 20 January 2010 -
40 cents per liter: A price that has been demanded for a long time has become reality for some producers. As of today, consumers will find “Fair Milk” on the shelves.
„Fair milk“, available as of today in about 1,200 Rewe and 300 Tegut stores in Bavaria, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Hesse, will cost between 89 and 99 cents per liter. Currently about 120 dairy farmers that are independent of a dairy processor supply to the market. Consumers can buy UHT milk with 1.8 and 3.8 percent fat.
The Federal Association of Dairy Cow Keepers (BDM) had the “Fair Milk” idea that is now marketed by Freising-based Milchvermarktungs-GmbH (MVS). MVS is paid for its services by the dairy farmers who determine the production and the marketing themselves – and receive 40 cents (EU) per liter. “Having a unique product is particularly important”, explains Karl Karrer from the advisory board of MVS GmbH. It was for this reason that they decided to focus on special services to nature and to the consumer.
Produced GMO-free
All 120 dairy farmers supplying so far have committed themselves to be responsible for an environmental project. This may be to keep the animals on pasture land, but also the preservation of a meadow of wildflowers.
Part of the special services is that „Fair Milk“ is produced GMO-free. This means the animals are not given any feed that is from GMO plants. The animals eat primarily forage from pastures close to the farms. “Fair milk” is one of the first milk brands carrying the official “ohne Gentechnik” seal of the Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection.
Minimizing transport distances
One more attribute of “Fair Milk” its regional origin. In order to reduce transport distances to a minimum, milk sold originates exclusively from farms in the given state. Consumers wanting to get to know the sub-contractor better may do so at www.die-faire-milch.de*). Every dairy farm presents itself with a short statement. (ez)
*) Visit this site if interested, click on “Unsere Milchbauern” and then on the contours of one of the three states: You will find all the farmers on their property with pretty photographs.
© dlv 2006
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