GMO Food Issues

Submitted by fyl on 14 June, 2008 - 16:46.

I just watched a video called The Future of Food which, amazingly enough, is sold on the website http://www.TheFutureOfFood.com. While I am well aware that GMO food can be a problem, this documentary moved my concern up about 100 times.

You don't have to put on your conspiracy theory hat as there is no theory here. It does a good job of documenting how, in the U.S., "big food" and "big government" seem to go hand in hand. That is, even people either having their hand in both the corporate and regulatory pie at the same time or moving between the two regularly.

Aside from the absurd legal issues of Monsanto, for example, sueing a farmer for "stealing" their GMO seed when, in fact, what happened is that his crops got polluted with it (and winning), there is the practical side of controlling the spread of GMO food. For the third world, the most immediate is that GMO crops either won't produce viable seed or, even scarier, won't germinate without the use of a particular chemical (made by the same manufacturer as the GMO grain).

It spends a reasonable amount of time first showing that "Mexico equals corn" and why diversity is important and then shows how Mexico is concerned with this problem (as is most of the rest of the world).

My concern is to what extent, if any, the Nicaraguan food supply has been contaminated with GMO seeds?

‹ Would you tell a friend to move to Nicaragua now? devaluation of currency ›
( categories: )

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

LL601 rice

Submitted by migs on 16 June, 2008 - 13:27.

Three out of four Nicaraguans are consuming transgenic rice known as LL601. The rice was removed from markets in Japan, the European Union, and the U.S.

Dated Feb. 16, 2007: http://impreso.elnuevodiario.com.ni/2007/02/16/nacionales/41473

Is this still happening?

Read this to get some facts

Submitted by ATZ on 16 June, 2008 - 14:08.

on what this is about and what it really means.

http://ucbiotech.org/resources/factsheets/LibertyLink.pdfATZ

I read that yesterday.

Submitted by migs on 16 June, 2008 - 15:44.

Whether LL601 is safe or not is only part of a larger issue.

A few points:

1. What about the protection of native plants from GMO's.

2. What happens when farmers cannot sell their GM harvest to the rest of the world?

3. Really, who owns what farmers produce, who holds the patents, who sets the price?

4. How do herbicides affect the soil, the habitat of other organisms?

I don't know about you, but I don't intend to be a lab rat for these multinational companies whose main objective is profit.

Did you really

Submitted by ATZ on 16 June, 2008 - 16:16.

take the pics on your site?

Magnificent!!

You make a living at that? Cool!ATZ

Yup.

Submitted by migs on 16 June, 2008 - 21:20.

Thanks for stopping by. I am into astronomy, and do a little bit of photography. It's a lot of work, but it's only a hobby so I don't make money from the photographs.

Valid concerns

Submitted by ATZ on 16 June, 2008 - 16:12.

The point was not to brush aside all the legitimate concerns about GMO (or agriculture in general, which is the issue in your point #4 and that one is more relevant to non-GMO crops), but to help clarify the safety to humans as a food issue. This appeared to be the point of your question. I do work in agriculture and have mixed feelings about GMO crops. From a food production standpoint they offer unparalleled opportunities for feeding more people at lower cost. On the other hand, the long term environmental affects, I am not sure about. We need to be very careful. Food safety is not an issue.....in fact a good case could be made that they enhance this. As a witness to, (and sometimes a participant) in) the wars between industry and the anti's (for lack of a better word) I see clearly that the cause of those who think this (or other things) is a bad idea is really hurt by mixing in things that are clearly not true or relevant. There is enough doubt about GMOs to carry the arguement without that.ATZ

So that you can reach a

Submitted by James 08 on 16 June, 2008 - 10:24.

So that you can reach a sound judgment on genetically modified foods, why can't you make a point of reading and watching/listening pro-biotech literature? This film has been produced by people who don't like genetically modified foods. I'd advise you to make some effort and visit pro-biotech web sites such as Monsanto's and DuPont's and hear what they have to say about these foods. Watch videos like these:

http://www.monsanto.com/biotech-gmo/asp/default.asp http://www.monsanto.com/biotech-gmo/asp/videogallery.asp?fr_story=9240d5... http://www.monsanto.com/biotech-gmo/asp/videogallery.asp?fr_story=9240d5...

I know they're all partisan and are likely to be viewed as PR materials for Monsanto. But don't forget they feature such respected personalities such as Jeffrey Sachs and Norman Borlaug.

Of all people, I really don't think somebody like Norman Borlaug can be wrong on genetically modified foods. He's so educated and informed about crop genetic engineering to engage in propaganda on behalf of corporations like Monsanto and DuPont.

And with all due respect to those who disagree that genetically modified crops hold no benefit to farmers, they ought to know that the number of countries currently growing genetically modified crops is higher than was the case in 1995 when the first GM crop was commercialized. So, my dear friend, before you make a judgment on genetically modified foods, please ensure you've your facts right.

On my blog, GMO Africa, I've always argued that a scientifically-grounded discussion on the benefits, or disadvantage for that matter, of genetically modified foods is what this world needs. We want to hear scientists play a more active role in this debate. They should not leave it to social scientists who seem to dominate and control groups that advocate against genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

"I know they're all partisan

Submitted by migs on 16 June, 2008 - 12:43.

"I know they're all partisan and are likely to be viewed as PR materials..."

Uh.. OK...

http://www.politicalfriendster.com/showPerson.php?id=6040&name=James-Wac...

Corruption

Submitted by fyl on 16 June, 2008 - 11:33.

In a word, corruption. The film I reference seems to do a good job of showing why what has happened with regard to regulation is not a good thing. In particular, that the regulators and the regulated are, in effect, the same people. That doesn't make me want to see what propaganda they have put together.

For comparison, I worked in the nuclear industry. Whether or not nuclear power is a good thing is not the issue as I see it. It is the amazing set of lies that the public is told to make them think it is a good thing. There is a reason for government regulation or, at least we should get what we are paying for.

I all for science but let's make sure it is good science.

Plan libra por libra in Esteli.

Submitted by migs on 15 June, 2008 - 16:43.

Short video (in Spanish): http://video.aol.com/video-detail/plan-libra-por-libra-esteli/3877915918

They mention MAGFOR (Ministerio Agropecuario y Forestal) and their involvement in the pound for pound plan.

So it appears that genetically modified seeds are part of a government initiative to "aid" struggling farmers.

After seeing the Future of

Submitted by tacomasteve on 14 June, 2008 - 17:00.

After seeing the Future of Food I saw seed banking as a revolutionary act. Another excellent documentary about the future of food is King Corn.

"Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one." Henry Mencken

Some info

Submitted by migs on 15 June, 2008 - 14:26.

The following article is a few years old:

http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-4171039/GLOBALIZATION-AND-STERIL...

Excerpts:

Starting in 2002, Bolaños has been pushing a program that simultaneously deprives campesinos and other growers of their native seed stocks and replaces them with genetically modified (GM) seeds patented by these companies.

The program is known as Libra por Libra (Pound for Pound). Financed in part by the World Bank and other international lender-donors, the program encourages farmers to trade in the rice, bean, corn, and sorghum seeds they have been using for generations for GM seed advertised to bring bigger yields.

...

Campesinos also use these stores of native seed to feed livestock. When they tried this with the GM seed, animals developed weak joints, campesinos discovered.

Rather than becoming competitive with Cargill, ConAgra, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), and the like, forum participants just become hungry, dependent, and alienated from an identity based on traditional practices.

More info:

Documentary: The World According to Monsanto http://underdogcinema.com/politics/the-world-according-to-monsanto/

Deutsche Welle TV report, 3 parts. It brings up the involvement of high-ranking U.S. officials, as well as the effects GM crops have on Argentinian farmers, who have been using this stuff for 10 years. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joweZ6uM5iY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHobGDHtq4E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SBH88lvlos

That's where I used to be

Submitted by fyl on 14 June, 2008 - 17:06.

I always figured "ok, we will have our seed" but from what I heard it seems there are GMO seeds that, if introduced, could contaiminate future generations of "your" seeds in such a way that they would not reproduce. And that ignores the "we sue you for stealing our stuff" side issue.