gmo

Romanian Agriculture Minister Valeriu Tabara said Thursday that Romania has applied to the European Union for permission to grow and export genetically modified soybeans, starting with 2012.

Agriculture cannot rely on the use of pesticides, which pose health risks, Romanian Agriculture Minister Valeriu Tabara said Thursday at the Mediafax Talks about GMOs conference, and highlighted that genetically modified plants reduce the use of chemicals.

Romania is missing out on almost EUR1 billion every year because it does not farm genetically modified soybeans, since the national production potential is about two million tons, Agriculture Minister Valeriu Tabara said Wednesday.

Romania’s Agriculture Ministry is “careful” about approving the growth of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and authorization will only be granted on the basis of a solid scientific evaluation and proof of economic advantages, minister Mihail Dumitru told MEDIAFAX on Tuesday.