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"Mr. Mallaby did not address why, if this food is so needed in the Third World, most of it is sold here. If it is so safe, why does the biotech industry resist efforts to tell American consumers what they are buying via labels?

And if biotech food is so wonderful, why have nonindustry-funded and peer-reviewed scientific studies failed to show that this food is higher yielding, more nutritious or safe?" (from item 2)

1. FARMERS TO OPPOSE GMO CORNFIELD TESTS
2. BIOTECH FOOD: AN UNHEALTHY ENDORSEMENT - 3 letters

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1. FARMERS TO OPPOSE GMO CORNFIELD TESTS
July 16, 2001
Inquirer News Service
Cynthia D. Balana

Philippine farmers will protest the government's approval in principle of the field trials of genetically modified corn in several locations nationwide.  The National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines recently approved the application for field tests of Bt corn by the multinational Monsanto in only 10 barangays instead of the proposed 32 sites.

The barangays are located in the provinces of Bukidnon, South Cotabato, Camarines Sur, Pangasinan and Isabela.  Two of the barangays are in South Cotabato where the city council of Koronadal recently approved a resolution declaring the city a GMO-free zone, that is, free of genetically modified organisms or GMOs.

"The people of South Cotabato are opposed to these field tests of Bt corn," said Sr. Susan Bolanio of the justice and peace desk of the Social Action Center of the Archdiocese of Marbel.  She doubts the field testing of Bt corn in two barangays in the city, Topland and Paraiso, would push through.

The Quezon City-based Southeast Asia Regional Institute for Community Education (SEARICE) said the field test applications were being opposed by organized groups of farmers, consumers and other non-governmental organizations.

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2. BIOTECH FOOD: AN UNHEALTHY ENDORSEMENT
July 16, 2001
Washington Post (via Agweb)

Larry Bohlen, Director, Health and Environment Programs writes that despite Sebastian Mallaby's endorsement of biotechnology [op-ed, July 9], most varieties of genetically engineered crops produced thus far are not designed to reduce hunger.

For instance, a recent survey of more than 8,000 field studies showed that genetically engineered soybeans yielded an average of 6 percent less than traditional varieties. Engineering soybeans allows more of the biotech company's patented herbicide to be applied to wipe out weeds but not kill the crop. This increases the use of pesticides and lines the pockets of the biotech company, but it certainly does not do anything to feed the world. ...

Martin Teitel, President, Council for Responsible Genetics, writes that Sebastian Mallaby added little to the debate about the complexities of biotechnology in our food supply. When he suggests that environmentalists are favoring butterflies over starving Third World children, he engages in the "murderous nonsense" he claimed to eschew.

Teitel says we have almost no impartial evidence that eating biotechnology-derived food improves well-being. What we do know is that this food has been rushed to market before objective safety testing is complete and that it transfers ownership of humanity's food supply to a handful of unaccountable multinational companies.

Mr. Mallaby did not address why, if this food is so needed in the Third World, most of it is sold here. If it is so safe, why does the biotech industry resist efforts to tell American consumers what they are buying via labels?

And if biotech food is so wonderful, why have nonindustry-funded and peer-reviewed scientific studies failed to show that this food is higher yielding, more nutritious or safe?...

Dennis J. Kucinich, U.S. Representative (D-Ohio), writes that in his op-ed Sebastian Mallaby called me an "anti-genetic activist." The people of the United States have the right to know whether the food they are eating is genetically engineered. Genetically engineered foods ought to be subject to adequate safety testing. Such demands have no bearing on how developing nations resolve their hunger issues.Let us all resolve to feed the hungry throughout the world. And let us all resolve to label and safety test genetically engineered food in the United States. The two are not mutually exclusive.