No role for GMOs in solving poverty and hunger

[nosmokes]

Yet more evidence AgBiotech is more than a bad idea.It's doing more harm than good for everyone. ExceptAgBiotech, of course.
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original-gmwatch

No role for GMOs in solving poverty and hunger (15/4/2008)

EXTRACT: 'Dependency on world agricultural commodity prices and speculation, as well as on seed and toxic agricultural inputs controlled by a few transnational players is literally a kiss of death for small-scale and poor farmers.'

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Urgent changes needed in global farming practices to avoid environmental destruction Greenpeace International, 15 APRIL 2008

*World's leading scientists condemn industrial farming methods and see no role for GE as a solution to soaring food prices and hunger crisis fears*

AMSTERDAM, International, 15 April 2008 – Greenpeace welcomed the publication today of the first assessment of global agriculture as an historic opportunity to replace destructive chemical-intensive agriculture with methods that work with nature not against it. The report says industrial agriculture has failed and, regarding genetically engineered (GE) crops, found they are no solution for poverty, hunger or climate change.

Some 60 governments signed the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD)'s final report <1> last week in Johannesburg, South Africa. The United States, Canada and Australia were the only governments in attendance not to sign. Despite being among the stakeholders who selected the report's authors, they accuse the assessment of being 'unbalanced' and are attacking the authors' independence <2>.

'This report proves we can produce more and better food without destroying rural livelihoods and our natural resources. Modern farming solutions champion biodiversity, are labour intensive and work with nature, not against it,' says Benny Härlin from Greenpeace International, who was on the IAASTD’s governing body. 'This report is a call for governments and international agencies to redirect and increase their funding towards a revolution in agriculture that is firmly agro-ecological.'

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complete article here

[JohnyCanuck]

1. GM Failures Continue

GM cotton debacle in India

GM cotton has been failing in India and elsewhere for years <1> (Broken Promises, SiS 22), escalating the epidemic of farmers’ suicides <2> (Stem Farmers’ Suicides with Organic Farming, SiS 32). Unfortunately, the Indian government has allowed the commercial planting to continue with drastic consequences.


SNIP

Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Department warns against Bt cotton

The state department of agriculture in Andhra Pradesh has finally conceded that Bt cotton is not beneficial to rainfed farmers. The commissioner and director of the state department of agriculture has furthermore admitted that “the introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops, engineered for a specific trait, was also resulting in new pest problems”<9>

SNIP

Pests and superweeds on the rise

US corn pest expansion a consequence of GM crops?

A corn pest that can devastate yields may be increasing in prevalence across Illinois and other states because Bt crops are reducing predators that once kept the pest at bay <13>. Western bean cutworm, a major pest in Nebraska and Colorado, was first detected in Illinois in 2004, and has since spread to 49 counties.

SNIP

Market failure of GM hormone

A growing number of US consumers are choosing milk that comes from cows not treated with Monsanto’s controversial GM growth hormone, rBGH (also known as rBST and Posilac), the New York Times reports <22>. The marketplace has responded, and now many food retailers, from Whole Foods Market to Wal-Mart Stores, sell milk that is labelled as coming from cows not treated with the hormone. Some dairy industry veterans say it’s only a matter of time before nearly all of the milk supply comes from cows that weren’t treated with Posilac. The article commented: “It may be the last stand of Posilac.”

Monsanto has attempted to defeat consumer choice by introducing bills to US states that would ban milk labels claiming products are “growth hormone-free”<23>. Pennsylvania dairies successfully fought to keep their labels. Monsanto is now using a front group, American Farmers for the Advancement and Conservation of Technology, or Afact, to fight its corner. Afact describes itself as a grass-roots organization that came together to defend members’ right to use Posilac. But the New York Times revealed that Afact was organized in part by Monsanto and a Colorado consultant who lists Monsanto as a client. Furthermore, it has received help from Osborn & Barr, a marketing firm whose founders include a former Monsanto executive and receives financial support from Monsanto <24>.

http://www.i-sis.org.uk/gmFailuresContinue.php

[JohnyCanuck]

2. Deleted duplicate post