“Earth and wine of the world
Mr Marcel GUIGAL – MAISON GUIGAL
Mr Michel CHAPOUTIER – MAISON CHAPOUTIER
Mr Alain GRAILLOT – DOMAINE GRAILLOT
Mr Gérard CHAVE – DOMAINE CHAVE
Mr Alain VAUTHIER – CHATEAU AUSONE
Mr Frédéric ENGERER – CHATEAU LATOUR
Mr Jean-Claude ROUZAUD – CHAMPAGNE LOUIS ROEDERER
Mr TRJMBACH – TRIMBACH
Mr Marcel DEISS – DOMAINE DEISS
Mr Leonard HUMBRECHT – DOMAINE ZINO HUMBRECHT
Mr Georges DUBOEUF – VINS GEORGES DUBOEUF
Mr Jean-Guiliaume PRATS – CHÂTEAU COS D’ESTOUIUJEL
Mr Michel JABOULET – MAISON JABOULET
Mrs Philippine de ROTHSCHI LD – CHATEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD
Mr Christian MOUE1X – CHATEAU PÉTRUS
Mr Nicolas JOLY – COULEE DE SERRANT
Mr Hubert de BILLY – CHAMPAGNE POL ROGER
Mr Egon MÜLLER – EGON MULLER
Mr Pablo ÂLVAREZ MEZQUIRIZ – BODEGAS VEGA SICILIA
Mr Noël PINOUET – DOMAINE HUET-L’ECHANSONNE
Mrs May-Eliane de LENCQUESAING – CHATEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE
Madame Colette FALLER – COLETTE FALLER ET SES FILLES
Mr Alexandre de LUR SALUCES – CHÂTEAU D’YQUEM
Mr PERRIN – CHATEAU DE BEAUCASTEL
Mr René RENOU – DOMAINE RENÉ RENOU
Mr Ludovico ANTINORI – LA BANDIERA
Mr Etienne HUGEL – HUGEL & FILS
Mr Pierre LURTON – CHATEAU CHEVAL BLANC
Mr Aldo CONTERNO – PODERI ALDO CONTERNO
Affirm:
“We are independent European wine producers concerned about the prospect of introducing Genetically Modified Organisms (plans and micro-organisms) into our business. We note that many questions remain unanswered:
-diminution of the genetic diversity of our grape varieties
-risk of losing the typicality of our wines
-risk of dissemination into the environment
-other unforeseen and irreversible effects
As a result, we are calling for a 10-year moratorium on any marketing of Genetically Modified Organisms for vines and wine”.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANIZATIONS
Beaune, June 29, 2000
You will find below a text explaining the point of view of a group of Burgundy wine producers on the issue of GMOs:
SIGNATORIES
Xavier BARBET – MAISON LORON ET FILS
Christophe BOUCHARD – MAISON BOUCHARD PÈRE ET FILS
Bruno CLAIR – DOMAINE BRUNO CLAIR
Jean-François CHAPELLE – DOMAINE DES HAUTES CORNIÈRES
Guillaume de CASTELNAUT – CHÂTEAU DES JACQUES
Jean-Charles de la MORINIERE – DOMAINE BONNEAU DU MARTRAY
Bertrand DEVILLARD – MAISON ANTONIN RODET
Philippe DROUHIN – MAISON JOSEPH DROUHIN
Jean-Paul DURUP – MAISON JEAN DURUP PÈRE ET FILS
Denis FETZMAN – MAISON LOUIS LATOUR
Pierre-Henry GAGEY – MAISON LOUIS JADOT
Emmanuel GlBOULOT – DOMAINE GIBOULOT
Dominique LAFON – DOMAINE DES CONTES LAFON
Jacques LARDIERE – LOUIS JADOT HOUSE
Anne-Claude LEFLAIVE – DOMAINE LEFLAIVE
Didier MONTCHOVET – DOMAINE CHRISTINE ET DIDIER MONTCHOVET
Pierre MOREY – DOMAINE PIERRE MOREY
Frédéric MUGNIER – DOMAINE JACQUES-FRÉDÉRIC MUGNIER
Gilles REMORIQUET – DOMAINE REMORIQUET
Christophe ROUMIER – DOMIAINE GEORGES ROUMIER
Jean-Pierre DE SMET – DOMAINE DE L’ARLOT
Eric de SUREMAIN – DOMAINE DE SUREMAIN
Aubert de VILLAINE – DOMAINE DE LA ROMANÉE-CONTI
Renaud de VILLETTE – DOMAINE MARQUIS D’ANGERVILLE
IN SUMMARY
We are independent Burgundy wine producers (winegrowers and merchants) concerned about the prospects of introducing GMOs (plants and micro-organisms) into our profession. After meeting with specialists from all fields and taking stock of the current state of research, we note that many questions remain unanswered: reduction in the genetic diversity of our grape varieties, risks of losing the typicality of our wines, risks of dissemination into the environment and other unforeseen and irreversible effects. GMO yeasts in particular present dangers in all these respects. Consequently, we are calling for a moratorium of at least 10 years on the marketing of GMOs for vine and wine, and for a complete reorientation and transparency of research and approval procedures. A monitoring and information committee will be set up in Burgundy.
BURGUNDY WINES AND GMOs
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been in the news for the past two years.
WHO WE ARE
We are independent Burgundy wine producers (winemakers or merchants).
We do not speak on behalf of other wine-growing regions or of agriculture in general.
We are in no way specialists in transgenesis, and have no expertise in general public health issues, nor in environmental issues in the broadest sense.
However, we all share the same goals:
- Preserve the high quality of our wines by respecting their typicity and the authenticity of our terroirs.
- Respect our environment and its biological diversity.
- Securing the future of our children and our region.
In pursuing these objectives, we wish to benefit as much from the wisdom of tradition as from the constant progress of science. We ask ourselves the following question: Are GMOs a source of progress for the production of Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée wines from Burgundy? Since July 1999, we have welcomed the most qualified people from all backgrounds and convictions:
JEAN-PIERRE BERLAN – Agricultural engineer, INRA Montpellier
BRUNO BLONDIN – Director of Research at INRA Montpellier, transgenic yeasts
M. ALAIN BOUQUET – Director of Research at INRA Montpellier, transgenic vines
MME. SYLVIE DEQUIN – INRA Montpellier, transgenic yeasts
PHILIPPE DESBROSSES – European Parliament Ecology Advisor, runs Ferme de Sainte Marthe
MRS. CORINNE LEPAGE – Former French Minister for the Environment and founder of CRIGEN (independent GMO watchdog)
MME. SERGE MICHELS – Founder of Entropy Conseil (research and consulting firm specializing in the food industry)
GILLES FRIC SERALINI – Professor of molecular biology at the University of Caen and team leader at CNRS, author of several books on the subject.
Mr BERNARD WALTER – Director of Research, INRA Colmar
These meetings reinforced our approach: it is of the utmost importance that the future of our profession is not shaped solely by the influence and interests of scientists, industrialists and technocrats. The past has taught us lessons in this respect: we must inform ourselves and intervene.
REVIEW OF MEETINGS
STATE OF RESEARCH
- To date, no vine or wine GMO has obtained marketing authorization in Europe.
- Studies are well advanced:
GMO yeasts are already being used in the laboratory to:
– Carry out malolactic fermentation at the same time as alcoholic fermentation, all in 4 days;
– Acidify musts by transforming some of the sugars into lactic acid;
– Increase glycerol production.
Rootstocks resistant to short-noué are currently being tested.
- Other projects are currently being evaluated or developed:
– Yeasts secreting enzymes, antibacterial agents, varietal aromas, etc.
– Rootstocks resistant to leafroll.
– Varieties resistant to oidium, eutypiosis, flavescence dorée, phylloxera.
– Varieties with low potassium absorption.
– Etc. - Very limited field trials with transgenic grapevines have been or are being carried out in France and Germany. Research is well advanced in the New World, particularly in Australia.
OUR ANALYSIS
Research topics that would enable us to reduce chemical interventions in vineyards and sulfites in wines seem to be the most in line with our objectives. However, many questions remain unanswered:
- Diversity:
The development of GMOs would accentuate a phenomenon that appeared with the generalization of selected organisms: the use of a limited number of varieties, leading to a reduction in the genetic diversity that is inseparable from our terroirs. - Typicity:
The risks of losing the typicity of our wines are high when using GMO grape varieties and yeasts. - Dissemination:
GMO yeasts and bacteria present risks of uncontrollable dissemination in the environment, and therefore of modification of indigenous flora. These risks appear to be lower for GMO grape varieties and rootstocks. - Irreversibility:
The use of GMOs would be a decision with far-reaching consequences, since we might not be able to turn back the clock. - Unintended effects:
It is not at all impossible, for example, that by increasing a vine’s resistance to one disease through transgenesis, we do not diminish its ability to defend itself against another. What’s more, we don’t know exactly where the introduced gene will be inserted in the plant, or the quantitative and qualitative modifications of its functions (color, taste, texture, etc.).
IN CONSEQUENCE
In the name of typicality, we believe that it is dangerous to use GMO microorganisms in the production of our wines. No new developments should be undertaken until we can ensure their non-dissemination. As far as grape varieties and rootstocks are concerned, we are well aware of the progress that needs to be made in certain current cultivation methods if we are to preserve the environment. The GMO route must therefore be explored and evaluated, but only as one option among others. In all cases, we need to take time and great care, and make sure that when the time comes, everyone will be able to make a free and informed choice.
We ask:
- A minimum 10-year moratorium on the marketing of GMOs for vines and wine.
- That genetic engineering is not the only priority for public research, and that it is pursued and supported at least as much in other fields (biology of vines, parasites, micro-organisms, organic or biodynamic cultivation and all alternative solutions).
- Full transparency in private and public research.
- Better information on approval procedures for oenological products and plant material.
For this purpose:
- We have decided to set up a watch and information committee in our region of Burgundy to disseminate information and take action.
- We hope that the other French wine-growing regions will each take a similar step, so that we can all work together to raise the profile of our viticulture. We have taken note of the INAO’s decision to ban all genetically modified grape varieties and rootstocks for Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée. We regret, however, that such a clear position has not been taken on the use of GMO micro-organisms.
We’re all in favor of progress. However, GMOs could pose an enormous danger to a viticulture where the expression of terroir comes before technology. Let’s not let anyone decide the future of our profession for us.