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European Parliament urges EU to set up 'food stocks' Strasbourg (AFP) May 22, 2008 The European Parliament on Thursday called on the EU to set up "food stocks" to avert future crises. In a non-binding resolution, euro deputies stressed that current EU cereal stocks would last only 30 days and questioned whether European food stocks "are at the right level, especially in view of possible crises". They therefore called on the European Commission "to develop strategies to set up food stocks to prevent future crises". The parliament called for an "impact assessment of the role of retailers in the food chain, as retail food prices have risen disproportionately compared with the cost of living." The MEPs called on retailers "to pass on a fair price to producers, while at the same time providing consumers with reasonably priced food." The resolution stressed that priority should be given to the production of food over biofuels, which EU nations have agreed should make up 10 percent of vehicle fuels by 2020. "Biofuel production should be linked to strong sustainability criteria," the MEPs agreed. Current biofuels have been criticised for diverting land from production of food for people and animals and for accelerating deforestation. The 27 EU member states are seeking to define social and environmental criteria for biofuels to help address the problem. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Share This Article With Planet Earth
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French parliament adopts contested GM crops bill Paris (AFP) May 22, 2008 The French parliament on Thursday adopted a controversial bill on genetically-modified (GM) crops that had raised hackles in both the right-wing ruling camp and the opposition. |
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