2010-02-05 | permalink

Genetical modified rice has long-term risks

Der Gentechnik-Reis LL62 von Bayer Crop Science ist gegen das hauseigene Spritzmittel Glufosinat resistent. ©Fotograf: Christian Seidel, www.pixelio.de

Fang Lifeng, Greenpeace’s food and agriculture campaigner, told China Daily that the long-term risk of genetically modified rice should be taken into consideration. ”Once the engineered rice gets into the food chain on large scale, it will have a very big impact on food safety, environmental safety and biological diversity,” Fang warned. He cited some examples on the long-term risk of genetically modified food since it first appeared on the market in 1994.

• China Daily, China: GM rice has long-term risks

2010-02-02 | permalink

EU farmers face genetic contamination of seeds

Foto: Marco Barnebeck, www.pixelio.de

Biodiversity, already decaying fast as a result of climate change and intensive farming, is under further threat by genetic modification (GM) of seeds, says a leading German ecological activist. Genetic modification of seeds is dangerous, ”since it is at the beginning of the agricultural chain, and can spread all over,” says Benedikt Haerlin, former campaign manager at the environmental organisation Greenpeace and former member of the European Parliament. Haerlin now leads the global ’Save our Seeds’ campaign in cooperation with some 300 environmental organisations across Europe.

• Inter Press Service News Agency, Italy: EU farmers face genetic contamination of seeds

2010-01-21 | permalink

Poland divided over GM crops

polish flag

More than twenty Polish ecological farms have extended an invitation to MPs and senators to taste real organic food on the spot, at meetings organized in the second half of this month. This is a part of a nationwide campaign sponsored by the International Coalition to Protect the Polish Countryside, which is fighting for a GMO free Poland. A survey taken in three EU nations by the UK’s National Farm Research Unit found that support for GM crops among farmers was highest in Poland, with over 80 percent support, while 45 percent of British farmers wanted access to the crops.

• Polskie Radio, Poland: Poland divided over GM crops

2010-01-18 | permalink

Turkish Parliamentary Commission for Health adopts biosafety bill

Seit der Einführung der Gentechnik ist der Pestizidverbrauch in den USA deutlich angestiegen.

In case of feeding stock with GMO feed, meat consumers will see the impacts of the feed, Durmuş [Nationalist Movement Party] said. ”Genetically modified seed should not be imported. If it is imported, then it should have the necessary signs showing that it includes GMO and is safe. All products with GMO should be examined, and their impacts for five to 10 years should be researched.”

• Hürriyet, Turkey: Parliament commission adopts biosecurity draft

2009-12-17 | permalink

Monsanto wins award for worst corporate climate lobbyist in Copenhangen

©photographer: Cornerstone, www.pixelio.de

The winner of the Angry Mermaid Award 2009, announced by award-winning writer and journalist Naomi Klein at the UN climate talks in Copenhagen today is the biotech giant Monsanto with 37 per cent of the total vote. Oil giant Shell took second place (18 per cent) in the Award for lobbying to sabotage effective action on climate change, followed by the American Petroleum Institute (14 per cent). Agriculture giant Monsanto was nominated for promoting its genetically modified (GM) crops as a solution to climate change and pushing for its crops to be used as biofuels. The expansion of GM soy in Latin America

is contributing to major deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.

• Angry Mermaid Award: Monsanto wins award for worst corporate climate lobbyist in Copenhangen
• Youtube: Monsanto wins angry mermaid award
• Planet Interview: Interview mit Marie-Monique Robin

2009-12-04 | permalink

New evidence shows huge price rises for GM seed - a stark warning to UK farmers

©photographer: S.Hofschlaeger, www.pixelio.de

Against a background of continuing calls from the GM lobby for the Government to back the growing of GM crops in the UK, a new report shows that GM seed prices in America have increased dramatically, compared to non-GM and organic seeds, cutting average farm incomes for US farmers growing GM crops. In the 25 years from 1975 to 2000, non-GM soybean seed prices rose a modest 63%. Since 2000, as GM soybeans came to dominate the market, the price rose by a massive 230%. Farmers buying Monsanto’s new Roundup Ready 2 soybean seed in 2010 will pay 42% more per bag than they paid in 2009. Maize (corn) growers planting the new GM variety ‘SmartStax’, will pay more than twice as much as farmers planting conventional non-GM seeds. This is almost four times more than conventional farmers paid just ten years earlier. Today, GM cotton seed costs $700, a staggering six times the price of non-GM cotton seed. From 1975 to 1996, the price of cotton seed only doubled, but in the GM cotton era, it has risen from $73 to $589. In a recent speech Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant said the company’s goal was to double gross profits in 2012, from 2007 levels. He said that increases in the price of new GM RR 2 soybeans and GM ‘SmartStax’ maize hybrids will create about one-third of the company’s gross profit growth in 2012. Peter Melchett, Soil Association policy director, said:“This new data on the massive rises in the costs of GM seeds for those US farmers who now have no alternatives, coupled with steep increases in pesticide use, should serve as a stark warning to UK farmers. If GM crops are allowed here, UK farmers could find themselves contributing to another doubling of Monsanto’s profits.”

• The Soil Association, UK: New evidence shows huge price rises for GM seed - a stark warning to UK farmers
• Charles Benbrook: Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use: The First Thirteen Years

2009-12-01 | permalink

The monopoly named monsanto

Im Jahr 2009 waren 12/367 Proben mit insgesamt 6 unterschiedlichen Events verunreinigt.

Monsanto is the largest seed company in the world. It controls 95 percent of the market for insect and herbicide resistant cotton traits. In 2008, Monsanto had shares of up to 65 percent for traited corn and soybeans and about 45 percent for traited corn. During the late 1990s and through the 2000s, Monsanto acquired almost 40 companies.

• Triple Pundit, USA: The monopoly named monsanto

2009-11-06 | permalink

Too many farmers growing genetically engineered corn not complying with key environmental requirements

One out of every four farmers who plants genetically engineered (GE) corn is failing to comply with at least one important insect-resistance management requirement. That increases the likelihood that pesticide-resistant bugs will threaten the future of biotech crops and some of their non-biotech neighbors. That finding comes in a report released today by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to not renew registrations of the GE corn varieties unless compliance rates improve.

• Center for Science in the Public Interest, USA: Too many farmers growing genetically engineered corn not complying with key environmental requirements
• The New York Times: Rules on Modified Corn Skirted, Study Says
• Center for Science in the Public Interest: Complacency on the Farm
• Gregory Jaffe, Director, Biotechnology Project: Letter to EPA

2009-10-27 | permalink

German coalition cautiously favorable on GMOs

Germany’s incoming government drew mixed responses on Monday to its cautiously-favorable policy toward genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). The incoming coalition between the conservative and pro-business liberal parties which won Germany’s parliamentary elections in September announced its core policies over the weekend which included a statement in overall favor of GMO crops if they are found to be safe.

• Reuters, UK: German coalition cautiously favorable on GMOs

2009-10-27 | permalink

Agriculture appointment has Greens seeing red

The Obama Administration has just announced the nomination of Islam Siddiqui, a pesticide industry lobbyist, to the position of Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Green activists say that the appointment places the president’s commitment to progressive environmental policy in serious question.

• Air America, USA: Agriculture appointment has Greens seeing red