GMWatch News Review archive

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WEEKLY WATCH number 270
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from Claire Robinson, WEEKLY WATCH editor
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Dear all:

Lots of important news including yet more about glyphosate resistant weeds, in North and South America, as the Argentinian government comes under pressure to ban glyphosate on human health grounds (THE AMERICAS).

Claire <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
www.gmwatch.org / www.lobbywatch.org

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CONTENTS
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GMOs, POVERTY AND HUNGER - NEW REPORT
ROUND TABLE ON "RESPONSIBLE" SOY
AUSTRALASIA
FOOD SAFETY
EUROPE
ASIA
THE AMERICAS
GM TREES
NEW FILM

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GMOs, POVERTY AND HUNGER - NEW REPORT
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+ GM CROPS, POVERTY AND HUNGER NEW REPORT
An important new report by Dominic Glover and published by the UK's Institute of Development Studies, reviews the literature that's been published in peer reviewed journals on Bt cotton. It concludes:
*Bt cotton has had only a marginal impact on pesticide use
*Bt cotton has been shown in some studies to have less impact than farmer training
*Bt cotton's impacts are not, as has been claimed, necessarily significant, consistent or even positive.
Glover and other experts spoke of their findings at a meeting at Westminster of the UK's All-Party Parliamentary Group on Debt, Aid and Trade. The topic was GM crops and their potential to counteract the global problems of poverty and hunger. Links to multiple related audio files and documents via
http://www.ids.ac.uk/go/news/gm-crops-and-the-global-food-crisis
Dominic Glover's paper: Undying Promise: Agricultural Biotechnology's Pro-poor Narrative, Ten Years on
http://www.ids.ac.uk/go/idspublication/undying-promise-agricultural-biotechnolog y-s-pro-poor-narrative-ten-years-on

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ROUND TABLE ON "RESPONSIBLE" SOY
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+ WWF: "YOU'RE STABBING US IN THE BACK"
A group of NGOs based in Germany has written a powerful open letter to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) condemning it for participating in the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS), a WWF-industry initiative that attempts to greenwash GM and intensively farmed soy as "responsible". The RTRS includes Monsanto, Syngenta, Bunge and Cargill on its board. The German original can be found at
http://www.bluehende-landschaft.de/nbl/nbl.news/news.nbl.6/index.html
EXTRACTS from the open letter: 
*We do not accept that the WWF should contribute to keeping alive a failed system of intensive farming.
*Do you seriously believe you could force corporations like Monsanto and Syngenta to make concessions, and hold them at bay?
*How do you explain to the NGOs in the South ... that you are pushing a process to legitimise the cultivation of GM soy against their wishes.
*Isn't it clear to you that by doing this you're stabbing us - and many more NGOs in the South and North - in the back? Are you not aware that your own credibility is at stake?
*We will never certify GM soy "sustainable". We will not shy away from calling the RTRS a greenwashing project...
*We are heading for open dissent with the WWF - in the media and amongst the general public.

+ WWF DEFENDS ITS SUPPORT OF RTRS
WWF has defended its support of the RTRS, despite strong opposition from over 90 international environmental organizations. The groups signed an opposition statement to the RTRS standards agreed at the end of May, condemning them for promoting GM soy as "responsible". They have called for the abandonment of the Round Table on Responsible Soy, saying that its agreed voluntary production standards are too weak to protect biodiversity. They add that GM soy should be excluded from the program, and that "RTRS allows and encourages the expansion of soy monocultures". The full statement and list of signatories is at:
http://www.bangmfood.org/take-action/23-take-action/36-letter-of-critical-opposi tion-to-the-round-table-on-responsible-soy.
The RTRS statement is at:
http://www.responsiblesoy.org

+ NEW REPORT: "RESPONSIBLE SOY" IN PARAGUAY
A new report has been published by Corporate Europe Observatory exposing the reality of "responsible" soy production in Paraguay.
http://www.corporateeurope.org/agrofuels/content/2009/05/responsible-soy-paragua y-grupo-dap
http://www.lasojamata.org/en

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AUSTRALASIA
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+ GM CROPS FOOD SECURITY CONCERN HEALTH REGULATOR
Australia's long-term food security is being severely compromised by GM crops and the use of pesticides, according to a former senior health regulator from Canada. Far from being the answer to higher yields or a drought-proofing option, Dr Shiv Chopra told a forum in Parliament in Canberra that GMOs and pesticides in particular were a serious threat to public health. Dr Chopra believes they are behind huge increases in cancer rates, neurological and reproductive disorders and breakdowns in immune systems. Dr Chopra came to prominence in 1998 when he told a Canadian Senate hearing that supervisors had pressured him, in his role as a Health Canada regulator, to approve Monsanto's GM bovine growth hormone in spite of safety concerns.
http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/state/grains-and-cropping/general/gm-crops-food -security-concern-says-senior-health-regulator/1542076.aspx
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200906/s2599503.htm

+ AGRESEARCH LOSES BID TO EXPAND GM ANIMAL RESEARCH
GE-Free New Zealand has won a legal challenge to an AgResearch application to expand its research into GM animals. A High Court Judge agreed with GE Free NZ that AgResearch's application lacked essential information required under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act, and said the regulator ERMA - erred by receiving the application in the first place.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/06/07/1245b5811d2c
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0906/S00077.htm

+ AUSTRALIA: REPORT SHOWS NO FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE IN GM CANOLA
A cross-industry information paper on GM canola has been released which shows that, despite non-GM yields being affected by inadequate weed control, if technology access fees were included, there is no financial advantage in using Roundup Ready canola. In addition, the report shows there may be health risks to livestock that eat GM canola and to the humans who eat their produce: "GM canola was approved for commercial release without any long-term feeding trials performed on GM canola oil. The remaining meal escapes regulation as meal is used for stock feed and FSANZ has no authority over stock feed. The results of Roundup Ready canola fed to stock compared to non-GM canola meal showed an increase in liver weights of up to 17 per cent after a few weeks feeding trial. This was claimed to be due to an increase in glycosylates and was not investigated further."
Report available at:http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/OBJTWR/imported_assets/content/food/Ministerial_GMO_Industry_Reference_GM_Canola.pdf

+ GM CANOLA WILL IMPACT JAPANESE MARKET -- WESTERN AUSTRALIA OFFICIAL 
Email correspondence has revealed Western Australia's (WA's) trade commissioner to Japan has serious concerns about the production and sale of GM crops to Japan. One of the emails, written by Craig Peacock, the WA trade commissioner to Japan, warns a colleague that there is a strong concern the new WA government is ignoring the concerns of a major customer base. 

"I must stress how strongly the Japanese feel about this and the impression is that the new government is ignoring or taking lightly the concerns of a major customer base," Mr Peacock wrote. "This is not the voice of a crank group of zealots; it is in the press and on TV. If this continues it will eventually have a negative impact on all facets of Japan-WA agribusiness. It is that serious."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/07/2591540.htm
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/minister-denies-trade-with-japan-threatened-by -gm-canola-20090607-bzof.html

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FOOD SAFETY
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+ IRISH DOCTORS CALL FOR A MORATORIUM ON GM FOODS
The Irish Doctors' Environmental Association (IDEA) has backed calls for an immediate moratorium on GM foods. A new position paper from the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) had said that GM foods "pose a serious health risk" and called for a moratorium on them. The paper also said doctors must educate their patients and the public to avoid GM foods and that doctors should consider the role of GM foods in the "patient's disease processes".
http://www.imt.ie
Irish Doctors' Environmental Association's position on GM foods:
http://www.ideaireland.org/gmfood.htm

+ INTERVIEW WITH ARPAD PUSZTAI ON GM FOOD RISKS
An excellent interview with Dr Arpad Pusztai, the scientist who conducted ground breaking research into the safety of GM foods, is at
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_18101.cfm

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EUROPE
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+ FUTURE OF BASF GM POTATO IN DOUBT
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has been unable to reach a unanimous opinion on the use of antibiotic resistance genes in GM plants. EFSA's panel on GM crops claims it is "unlikely" that antibiotic resistance genes in GM crops pose health and environmental risks. However, two senior scientists from EFSA's biohazard panel, which was jointly responsible for the assessment, did not agree with the conclusions and raised serious concerns about adverse effects on public health and the environment.

Marco Contiero of Greenpeace said, "BASF had eight years in which to produce a potato without an antibiotic resistance gene, but chose not to in order to save money and time. Authorising it now would be as crazy as restarting the production of cars without seatbelts or airbags.”
http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/press-centre/press-releases2/EFSA-opinion-GM-potato-09-06-11
BASF says EFSA deems GM potato safe http://www.iii.co.uk/news/?type=afxnews&articleid=7366739&subject=economic&actio n=article

+ FRANCE: "GM-FREE" LABELLING FOR ANIMAL PRODUCTS
France’s National Consumer Council (CNC) has announced its position in favour of GM-free ("sans OGM") labelling for certain products (meat, eggs, fish) produced from livestock fed without GM animal feed.
http://www.infogm.org/spip.php?article3984
Find out more about GM in animal feed:
http://www.bangmfood.org/stealth-gmos
TAKE ACTION: If you're in the UK, tell the supermarkets you want animal products free from GMOs and clearly labelled, as is now happening in Germany, Austria, Italy and France.
http://www.bangmfood.org/take-action

+ GM-FREE PRODUCTS: THE ILLEGAL BRETON STICKER
"Animals fed without GMO" stickers will soon flourish on food products for sale by Brittany's retailers, thanks to a move by the Regional Council of Brittany. They will probably be approved in the future, but in the meantime are illegal.
http://www.letelegramme.com/ig/generales/regions/finistere/produits-sans-ogm-la-pastille-bretonne-anticipe-02-06-2009-405916.php
Consumer guide to GM-free products and where to buy them:http://www.consommersansogmenbretagne.org

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ASIA
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+ MONSANTO INDIA'S DISMAL FINANCIAL FIGURES
Monsanto India Ltd reported dismal financial figures for its fourth quarter results for 2009.
http://www.commodityonline.com/commodity-stocks/Monsanto-India-tanks-9-on-dismal -Q4-results-2009-06-11-18571-3-1.html

+ INDIA: BT BRINJAL CAN WAIT - MINISTER
There is "no great urgency for Bt brinjal [eggplant/aubergine] to be launched," says India's forests and environment minister Jairam Ramesh.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4641818.cms

+ INDIA: CORPORATES ENDANGERING FOOD SECURITY - MINISTER
Kerala’s Agriculture Minister, Mullakkara Ratnakaran, has stressed the need for the state to create a bulwark against monopoly trends in agriculture that pose a serious threat to food security. Ratnakaran accused multinational corporates of promoting "food terror" through GM crops. "Corporate agenda should not be allowed to dictate agricultural practices and dietary habits," he said. Ratnakaran said sustainable agriculture was a natural defence against greedy corporates. He stressed the need to promote organic farming and protect natural resources.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/06/stories/2009060661000300.htm

+ MONSANTO INDIA SEEKS APPROVAL TO SELL GM CORN
Seed producer Monsanto India Ltd has sought regulatory approval in India to sell its insect-resistant, herbicide-tolerant GM corn.
http://www.livemint.com/2009/06/15224315/Monsanto-India-seeks-approval.html

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THE AMERICAS
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+ ARGENTINA PRESSED TO BAN GLYPHOSATE AFTER HEALTH CONCERNS
Argentina's government is under pressure to ban glyphosate, the world’s best selling herbicide, after new research found it might harm human health. A group of environmental lawyers has petitioned the Supreme Court to impose a six-month ban on the sale and use of glyphosate, which is the basis for many herbicides, including Monsanto's Roundup. A ban, if approved, would mean "we couldn't do agriculture in Argentina", said Guillermo Cal, executive director of CASAFE, Argentina's association of fertiliser companies.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3d74344c-4be8-11de-b827-00144feabdc0.html
GMWatch comment: To equate the use of glyphosate with "agriculture" when the herbicide occupies a tiny niche in the long history of global agriculture is absurd beyond belief - not to mention insulting to the skills of the countless farmers who manage without it. 

+ NEW STUDY ON ROUNDUP-RESISTANT WEEDS IN ARGENTINA
A new paper "'Transgenic treadmill': Responses to the emergence and spread of glyphosate-resistant johnsongrass in Argentina" has been published:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V68-4W5M0FH-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVers ion=0&_userid=10&md5=da330e627c85e3e4677d87da9912d605

+ GROWING PROBLEM OF GLYPHOSATE RESISTANCE
In an effort to manage the growing problem of glyphosate resistant weeds in North America, farmers are being advised, "Don't wait too long before spraying your weeds" and don't go easy on the amount of herbicide applied.
http://www.agweek.com/articles/?id=4364&article_id=14360&property_id=41
GMWatch comment: This, of course, makes a complete nonsense of the claims made by GM promoters in Europe, like Brooms Barn in the UK, that GM herbicide resistant crops need not damage biodiversity if farmers delay spraying their GM crops long enough, and thus improve the lot of the species that feed on the weeds, with positive knock-on effects up the food chain and for biodiversity. Such an approach hardly tallies with hitting the weeds early and hard. Letting the weeds thrive was always, of course, an unlikely strategy for most farmers to adopt, but in the context of the potential impact of resistant weeds it's a complete non-starter.

+ GM CROPS - POISONING THE PLANET
A damning article detailing the terrible effects of soya expansion in South America, by Miguel A. Altieri, lecturer in agroecology at the University of California, is at
http://www.resurgence.org/magazine/article2803-Poisoning-The-Planet.html

+ DUPONT AND BASF IN LEGAL BUNFIGHT
Chemicals and GM firms DuPont and BASF have sued each other, charging patent infringement over GM herbicide tolerant technology.
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN0125324620090601

+ COLOMBIAN COTTON GROWERS WANT TO SUE MONSANTO
Colombian cotton growers want to sue Monsanto for selling them a bad GM seed that caused damage to crops. According to the growers, the seed caused damage to 13 percent of cotton crops in the north of Colombia, resulting in a 7 million dollar loss, even though the GM seed was three times more expensive.
http://www.colombiareports.com/colombia-news/economy/4472-colombian-cotton-growers-want-to-sue-monsanto.html

+ DOW'S GM SOYA CROP A STEP BACK TO DARK AGES
Dow AgroSciences' request to the regulatory authorities in Brazil to field test a new GM soyabean tolerant to weedkillers 2,4 D and haloxyfop R has been described by GM Freeze as "a step back into the Dark Ages". 2,4 D has been approved since the 1940s and was a constituent of Agent Orange - the devastating defoliant produced by Dow and Monsanto and used by the US military during the Vietnam war. It is rated as "moderately toxic" and is considered by some authorities to be a possible cancer-causing agent. It is highly toxic to fish. It is still approved for use in the EU. Dow's application for the approval of haloxyfop R has been rejected by the EU, citing potential contamination of groundwater, the risk to mammals, and the high toxicity to fish.
http://www.gmfreeze.org/page.asp?id=385&iType=

+ U.S. HEALTH CARE REFORM: SCRAP GMOS
President Obama has said health care reform must no longer mean "reform that throws good money after bad habits". An usually wide array of interest groups hope Obama’s commitment to eradicating health care reform bad habits extends to the nation’s investment in GM crops, which have been linked to 65 health risks and long-term health care costs. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) is reaching out to the medical community, their members and independent scientists in an effort to collect case studies to assess health effects that can be ascribed to the consumption of GM foods. The organization plans to begin epidemiological research as well to examine how GM foods impact human health.
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-267750
Consumer-led movement to scrap GM food:
http://nl.odemagazine.com/exchange/7812/consumer_led_movement_to_scrap_genetically_modified_food

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GM TREES
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+ USDA SEEKS COMMENTS ON FIELD RELEASE FOR GM EUCALYPTUS TREE HYBRID
USDA is seeking comments on this proposal before 6 July:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/notices/content/2009/06/geeucal.shtml

+ DANGERS OF GM TREES
Ann Peterman of the Global Justice Ecology Project explains the risks of developing and growing GM trees in an interesting interview at:
http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.htm?programID=09-P13-00022&segmentID=2
It becomes clear from the interview that the qualities that companies want in trees are often not the qualities that the rest of us, and nature, favour. For example, companies are genetically engineering low lignin trees to make them easier to process into fuel or paper. But lignin is what makes trees strong and able to resist pests and extreme weather conditions.

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NEW FILM
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+ BIG AG SHUDDERS AT FOOD, INC.
In the wake of the recent US release of the film Food, Inc., an expose of industrialized food production, corporations and corporately supported groups from Monsanto to the National Chicken Council have created special sections of their websites in an attempt to mislead the public on the facts that the film is bringing to light.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paula-crossfield/food-inc-gets-rave-review_b_214766.html

Around the Web:
Official Food, Inc. Movie Site - Hungry For Change?
http://www.foodincmovie.com/
YouTube - Food, Inc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqQVll-MP3I
Apple - Movie Trailers - Food, Inc.
http://www.apple.com/trailers/magnolia/foodinc/
Food, Inc. Review : Rolling Stone
http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/24044311/review/28631104/food_inc