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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Disturbances on the GM front
  • Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:06:54 -0700


Disturbances on the GM front
Mar 12 2010
http://www.foodpolitics.com/2010/03/disturbances-on-the-gm-front/

If you want to know what’s really happening in the world of food and
nutrition, the business pages are a good starting place. Today’s New York
Times business section documents the “stunning” rise in the price of soybean
seeds (up 108% since 2001) and corn seeds (up 135%).

Why care? Genetically modified (GM) varieties are now the majority – and
increasingly the vast majority – of crops planted in the United States. The
seeds are patented. Farmers cannot harvest and save them. Farmers must buy
new patented seeds every year. And since one company – Monsanto – owns most
of the patents, it gets to set the price.

USDA keeps track of the rise in use of GM crops. Impressive, no?

The USDA does not track GM sugar beets on this chart, but should. Monsanto
also patents GM sugar beets. The USDA approved Monsanto’s sugar beets in
2005. By 2009, 95% of U.S. sugar beets were grown from Monsanto’s patented
varieties.

Oops. When it approved the beets, the USDA let them be planted without the
required environmental impact statement (EIS). Advocacy groups argued that
the beets should not be planted without that assessment. A judge agreed and
blocked further plantings. The judge is still sitting on the case. Until he
rules, no GM sugar beets can be planted.

We have a similar situation with GM alfalfa. This crop was also approved in
2005 without an EIS and also was taken to court and banned. But now the EIS
is done and the USDA has found “no safety concerns.” Perhaps GM alfalfa will
be added to the chart next year?

What are we to make of this? Is it a good idea for one company to own most
of the seeds planted in the United States? Especially when that company is
permitted to enforce its own patent protection and to set its own prices?

The great promise of food biotechnology is that it will feed a hungry planet.
Is this the best way to met world food needs? Whatever you think of GM
foods, these questions are worth pondering.





  • [Livingontheland] Disturbances on the GM front, Tradingpost, 03/14/2010

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