Insect Experts Issue 'Urgent' Warning On Using #Biotech Seeds
For America’s agricultural biotech companies, the corn rootworm is threatening to turn into their worst nightmare.
Last year, we reported that a major insect pest, the corn rootworm, had “found a chink in the armor” of genetically engineered crops. In several different places across the corn belt, the insects have developed resistance to an inserted gene that is supposed to kill them.
Now, in a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released this week, 22 of the nation’s top experts on corn pests lay out some of the implications of this discovery, and they are potentially profound.
In order to slow down or prevent the spread of resistance, the scientists are calling for big changes in the way that biotech companies, seed dealers and farmers fight this insect. The scientists urge the agency to act “with a sense of some urgency.”
The rethinking that’s laid out in this letter, in fact, goes beyond what the EPA is able to do under current law. For instance, the researchers want seed companies to stop routinely inserting anti-rootworm genes into their most productive hybrid seed lines. According to the letter, this practice means that farmers “often have few options” apart from rootworm-protected seeds — even in some areas where rootworms don’t pose a serious problem.
When farmers plant hybrids that contain the same gene, year after year, it dramatically increases the chances that this gene quickly will become useless, because insects will become resistant to it.
Students Support legal action against #Monsanto
February 3rd, 2012 | By Emma Sinai-Yunker
Occupy Grinnell members and allies gathered outside of the local Monsanto Plant with the purpose of a non-violent protest against the large corporation and its effects on organic farming on Tuesday, Jan. 31. The same day, in New York, members of around 60 family farms, seed businesses and organic agricultural organizations were facing Monsanto as plaintiffs. The lawsuit is led by the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA).
“Monsanto has had a huge monopoly for a long time,” said local farmer and Grinnell College library assistant Chris Gaunt, “and it just so happens that there is one in Grinnell. We’re really here today in solidarity with the whole group of organic farmers facing Monsanto in New York.”
“We’re here, and we’ve reached out to other Occupy groups in Iowa to say, ‘Look, we’re here in support of the Organic Seed Growers and Traders,’” added Grinnell alum and Occupy Grinnell front man Aaron Wagner ’99.
The suit tells Monsanto to keep their GMOs out of organic farm areas, so that (largely natural and unintentional) contamination will cease. Monsanto genetically engineers seeds for the most common crops grown in Iowa such as corn and soy. These genetic alterations to the plant’s genome can allow them to be directly sprayed with herbicides and not be affected.
Family Farmers Get Their Day In Court Against #Monsanto
By Leah Baines | via @AdamfromNorway
On January 31st, family farmers will begin the first stage of a court case filed against agro-business powerhouse, Monsanto. The goal of the case, Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) vs. Monsanto, is to protect the 300,000 organic and non-GMO American farmers from the genetic trespass of Monsanto’s genetically modified seeds, which contaminate organic crops and often leave farmers vulnerable to harmful patent infringement lawsuits.
On January 31st, American family farmers will fight for their right to grow organic crops with fear of genetic trespassing against Monsanto. (Image credit: Food Democracy Now!)
Monsanto currently controls the genetics of nearly 90 percent of 5 major commodity crops including corn, soybeans, cotton, canola and sugar beets. Many farmers who do not use Monsanto seeds have had to stop growing their own crops in order to avoid genetic contamination from those used in fields nearby. According to OSGATA, Monsanto has “created an atmosphere of fear in rural America and driven dozens of farmers into bankruptcy.”
Food Democracy Now!, an organization working towards building a sustainable food system, says that Monsanto has filed 144 lawsuits against farmers, and settled out of court for undisclosed amounts of money for an additional 700 cases. These lawsuits leave farmers broke and unable to afford the legal costs associated with fighting Monsanto for something beyond their control in the first place.
