Opponents of GM crops protest in Spain

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of the Spanish city of Zaragoza calling for a ban on the use of genetically modified crops.

They want their government to follow Germany’s lead in banning GM maize. Berlin’s action is against EU rulings that the biotech grain is safe.

The use of GMOs in agriculture is a hugely controversial issue across the EU. Opponents say there are health concerns to be addressed while supporters say it is a perfectly safe and efficient way of meeting Europe’s food needs.

Zaragoza is a major centre of GM research and production. Forty percent of 80,000 hectares devoted to GM maize in Spain are in the Zaragoza region.