In early October the environmental group Greenpeace said it had more than a million signatures supporting its call for ahalt to the sowing of genetically modified (GM) crops in Europe.
Petitions already under way include a proposal to halt the introduction of genetically modified crops, and one that would bar Turkey from the EU for ever.
Several years ago a coalition of environmental groups joined with a handful of organic farmers to sue in federal court to halt the planting of genetically engineered sugar beets modified for resistance to the herbicide glyphosate (better known by its trade name, Roundup).