Even today, a variety of genetically modified plants have been authorized for import or use as food or feed (see here). In Germany, commercial cultivation has only been authorized for the so-called Bt maize. This Bt maize is a genetically modified maize variety which produces a certain protein in its cells because of a new gene introduced into its genome. This new gene has been taken from Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally occurring bacterium common in soils. The Bt protein protects the Bt maize against the larvae of the European corn borer, a common European maize pest.

Commercial cultivation of Bt maize in Germany is governed by the German Genetic Engineering Act and the German regulation on good farming practice. Click here to read about the Genetic Engineering Act.

Opponents to genetic engineering disregard global developments. Since more and more European and German farmers opt for gm plants, a radicalization of anti-GMO actions has to be noted. Apart from personal diffamation, field destruction tourists keep devastating GM cultivations and infringe on property rights of farmers, research institutes and enterprises. They willfully endorse the ensuing violation of the liberty to research just as much as the prevention of new findings concerning the biosafety of GM plants.

The number of field destructions has reached record levels in 2008 (click here (PDF, 29.36 KB) for details (PDF, 29.36 KB)). Field squatting continued for several weeks hasforced universities and research institutes to give up on their planned experiments, with already uncalculable consequences for Germany as a research location.