The French deal: GM technology traded off for nuclear energy

In an interview in the French daily newspaper ‘Les Echos’, former French Prime Minister François Fillon confirmed the widely circulating rumor about a  deal between President Sarkozy and ecologists in which GM technology was traded off for nuclear energy.

Discussing the topic “Biotech and precaution”, the article says (translation): “Among the sectors that will be essential to move towards progress, François Fillon immediately refers to biotechnologies. “France has a history, an experience, an excellence, but for some reasons that are largely related to the precautionary principle, we have lagged behind. This sector of excellence for France will determine whether we move ahead or not in the debate on GMOs. We have taken very narrow positions through the Grenelle, in a sort of “deal” between Nicolas Sarkozy and the greens: nuclear against GMOs. But who can say today that in fifty years, nuclear technology will be more important than GMOs?”

The full article can be found here.

Background: Presentation of the Grenelle Environment Forum conclusions – Speech by M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic