Esperanza intercepts GE shipment in southern Spain

This morning our 'Gene Detectives' from the Esperanza intercepted and boarded the 'Winner' a ship carrying thousands of tons of GE soya where it is anchored just off Malaga in southern Spain.

Our climbers boarded the ship from inflatable boats, six are now on the Winner's cranes to prevent them being used to off-load the portion of the cargo known to be GE should the ship continue into Malaga harbour. Two volunteers are carrying banners in English and Spanish saying, 'Spain does not want GE Food' and 'We don't want GE Food' on the mast and another one on the anchor.

Lindsay Keenan, our GE Campaigner onboard the Esperanza said: "GE soya does not feed the world as suggested by the misleading and cynical marketing of GE companies like Monsanto. GE soya destroys the environment where it is grown in Argentina and then millions of tons of it are used to feed pigs, cows and chickens in Europe."

The Winner from Argentina is carrying about 9,000 tons of GE soya and about 11,000 tons of maize for the company Nidera. The GE status of the maize is not known at this time. Our 'Gene Detectives' are demanding documentation from the captain of the 'Winner' to find out exactly what GE crops his ship is carrying. We also plan to take samples for independent analysis.

Spain is the second largest importer of soya into the EU, importing 6 million tons annually from the USA, Argentina and Brazil, of which over 4 million tons are estimated to be GE contaminated.

"In Argentina we have people going to bed hungry yet between 1997 and 2002 farmers in Argentina planted GE soya in over 14 million hectares of arable land, lured by the promises of higher crop yields and cheaper seeds," said Daniela Montalto, our campaigner from Argentina.

"For a while the illusion worked, but now the truth is we are facing an environmental and social nightmare in Argentina. We invite people the world over to reject GMOs in favor of real, sustainable agriculture which feeds people not pigs and we invite people to also vote with their wallet - don't buy GE food."

Find out More

- Read our story about how Greenpeace helps protect Argentinean reserve

- Read about how the Spanish take action to stop GE Soya

- Read about GE Soya – The First & Final Fight?

- For more information about the implications of the new EU labelling and traceability rules read this

- Get involved in our Trolley Watch Click here to see how you can help.

- Check out what is happening in your country

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