Environmentalists opposed to the practices of an agrichemical behemoth this morning marched down Valletta as part of a global protest movement.
Local activists from the Malta Organic Agriculture Movement held Malta’s version of the March Against Monsanto, which are held in cities across the world every year on 21 May.
Protestors marched up Republic Street and then held a public forum in La Valette square. Independent MP Marlene Farrugia joined environmentalists and Alternattiva Demokratika’s Ralph Cassar as part of the forum.
Over 40 organisations and entities backed the protest march, including MEP Miriam Dalli. Labour whip Godfrey Farrugia also joined the march.
Those present sought to drum up opposition to Monsanto’s policies on genetically modified organisms and its use of controversial weed killer glyphosate as a key ingredient in its Round-Up pesticide.
Glyphosate is currently in the eye of a European Union policy storm. MEPs voted to restrict its use, including at the pre-harvest stage, last month. But European Commission documents have revealed that it favours extending glyphosate's license for a further 15 years.
France, Sweden and Italy oppose extending glyphosate's license, and more than 1.4 million people across Europe have signed a petition calling for the chemical to be banned.
Environmentalists have said the Commission's position runs against the EU's precautionary principle, which calls for regulatory caution if there is any scientific doubt.
Malta's position remains unclear, with an Environment Ministry spokesperson saying last March that discussions remained ongoing. Maltese MEPs all voted in favour of the EP position to approve glyphosate but restrict its use, except for Labour MEP Miriam Dalli who sat out the vote.
The WHO has previously stated that glyphosate is "probably carcinogenic". But a report by another UN committee released last week said the chemical was not a cancer risk.
Monsanto has said that it is committed to having an open dialogue about food and agriculture.
“Our goal is to help farmers do this in a more sustainable way using fewer resources and having a smaller impact on the environment. We know people have different points of view on these topics, and it’s important that they’re able to express and share them,” a company spokesman said.
Monsanto first started selling genetically modified seeds in 1996. GMOs now dominate US corn, soybean and cotton markets and are a major part of agriculture in markets as diverse as Brazil and India.
Last week, German pharmaceutical firm Bayer announced a takeover bid for Monsanto. Bayer had previously sought to introduce GMO crops to Europe but failed in the face of widespread public opposition.