ROME (AFP) — More than three million Italians have signed a petition against genetically modified organisms, organisers said Tuesday.
"We have reached our goal of three million signatures," said Mario Capanna, a spokesman of the Italy/Europe GMO-Free coalition, bringing together 32 organisations of farmers, consumers and environmentalists.
The coalition claims a combined membership of nearly 11 million and includes Italy's largest farmers unions, main consumer groups, environmental organisations such as Greenpeace and the Worldwide Fund for Nature and COOP, a major chain of cooperative stores.
Organisers hope the government will impose an "unlimited moratorium" on growing GMO produce.
So far, 14 of Italy's 20 regions have declared themselves GMO-free.
In launching the campaign, Capanna said: "This isn't 'technophobia'. We want a strictly scientific approach, we want more research."
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