Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumOrganic Farmers Suffering due to GMO Contamination
From Ring of Fire:
One out of three farmers have dealt with GMO contamination on their farm and over half of those have had their grain rejected by buyers for that reason, according to a new report released by Food & Water Watch and the Organic Farmers Agency for Relationship Marketing (OFARM). Nearly half of the respondents to the new survey were skeptical that GMO and non-GMO crop production can coexist, as the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) claims.
The USDA recently extended the period for public comment on a controversial study concluding that genetically modified and non-genetically modified crops can coexist through cooperation and collaboration. A major review by the USDA Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture concluded that it lacked the data to determine the extent to which GM contamination was happening in the US or to estimate the costs of GM contamination to organic and non-GMO farmers.
According to the Inter Press Service (IPS), the results of the USDA study were released in 2012 and have received strong criticism. The USDA is being accused of collaborating with the biotech industry and weighting the results of their study in favor of the industry.
You can read the full story here at Ring of Fire.
upaloopa
(11,417 posts)we needn't worry because we fucked up in the past so this isn't any big thing.
Cha
(297,274 posts)wtf they're talking about.
cui bono
(19,926 posts)gets into this sort of thing. Iirc, it also talks about how because of the contamination Monsanto sues them for using their seeds. I may be wrong about that, it's been a while since I've seen it, but they did mention the contamination. And I know that Monsanto does sue them if they try to use the seeds from their "Monsanto" grown crop. They have to buy the seeds again to use them for a new crop.
We really need better appointments/hires to these agencies. Unfortunately even a Dem POTUS failed us there.
truedelphi
(32,324 posts)That didn't let the Powers that Be know they would support GMO's. And both Kagen and Sotomayor are in the Monsanto camp!
Of course, the Democratic Presidents end up getting $ 100,000 per speech in front of Corporate Podium, once they leave office. All as payment for such favors done while in office. So they are certain that their own families can avoid eating the contaminated foods.
savannah43
(575 posts)That's where we're headed. Money and power cannot protect anyone from everything.
For some interesting info, Google "Monsanto cafeteria food."
savannah43
(575 posts)your next crop of homegrown seeds belongs to them and you are a thief. They then sue you and force you to pay them much money. Most courts, many who have been previously purchased by "Monsatan," rule for the corporate plaintiffs. BTW, you do NOT have to know that Monsanto GMO seeds are being used in your neighborhood. In the law, this situation is known as "...knew or should have known." A very handy little thing sometimes. Here, a complete perversion of the intent of the law and of Nature's intent for her offerings. This will end badly.
Oh, yes. You are correct in that every single year that one grows a crop with Monsanto seeds, said seeds must be paid for again. And again. And again.... They really are "Monsatan."
I have a question for you and anyone who wants to discuss this: Why does the GOP want to starve poor people? I want to know what they gain from doing this? They hardly pay any taxes, so, why do they care if the rest of us buy food for those who need it? I am fed up with all the nonsense that gets spouted on the news, etc., so we won't just attack this basic issue. I have a name for it: Soft Genocide. Are we ruining their view? Polluting their air? What?
pnwmom
(108,978 posts)the GMO patent holders if their crops became contaminated.