Benedikt Haerlin

Benedikt Haerlin works for the German Foundation on Future Farming in Berlin, Germany, which is the principal organizer of "Planet Diversity". He co-ordinates the European initiative "Save our Seeds" to keep conventional and organic seeds free of GMOs and is also a member of the International Commission on the Future of Food (www.future-food.org).

Haerlin has worn many hats in the fight against genetically modified organisms (GMOs): campaigner, journalist and politician to name a few. Back in the early days of the GM issue, he served one legislative period (84-89) as Member of the European Parliament (Green Party, Germany), where he specialised in genetic engineering issues. He founded the Gen-ethic Network in Germany in 1987 and was global co-ordinator of Greenpeace International’s Genetic Engineering Campaign from 1996 to 2002. He continues to advise the organization and represents it in the Bureau of the United Nations International Agricultural Assessment of Science and Technology for Development (www.agassessment.org). (2009)