With over 1.2 million signatures, the genetic engineering referendum is by far Austria’s most successful referendum. It was opened for signature in 1997.

The demands included: no food in Austria should come from a genetic engineering lab, no genetically altered living organism should be released in Austria, and it should not become possible to patent life.

The poster here is from the environmental protection organization “GLOBAL 2000”, and belonged to their campaign to get people to sign the referendum. It shows a disturbing image of a genetically modified cow on the right.

The debate around making genetic engineering a common practice was effective. Today it is still prohibited to grow genetically modified crops in Austria. Food containing or produced with genetically engineered and modified plant or animal matter must be clearly marked as such. Importing genetically modified organisms is now allowed. However, most of it is feed for animals, like genetically modified corn or soy.

There are strict laws on genetic engineering in the EU, which carefully examine genetically altered products and require that they are also labelled as such.

Genetic engineering refers to deliberately manipulating the genetic material from living organisms in order to alter its genetic information or DNA. This enables certain characteristics to be cultivated. The first time genetic information was successfully transferred from one organism to another was in 1973. Since then, the research in the field has developed rapidly.

So-called “green” genetic engineering refers to genetic alterations on plants. It plays an important role in agriculture today. Genetically modified plants are primarily farmed in North and South America, as well as in India and South Asia. They are altered to make them more hardy and able to withstand diseases, pests, heat or cold. Or so that they have certain qualities, such as, contain added vitamin A.

Critics are concerned with the yet unexplored and already proven risks and effects of genetic engineering. Economic interests are often at stake, and the debates are not always objective.

The fact of the matter is: genetic engineering has become part of our lives in so many ways, even if we are not aware of it. For instance, most cotton produced worldwide is from genetically modified plants. It is also used in medicine, such as in the production of vaccines or insulin.

Today, genetic engineering and other modern cultivation methods are able to make such minimal changes that they are hardly any different from a plant’s own natural processes. In the debate on genetic engineering, the question of what is “natural” takes on a new dimension.