10 reasons why we don't need GM foods (updated)
05/02/2010

http://www.gmwatch.org/10-reasons-why-we-dont-need-gm-foods

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With the cost of food recently skyrocketing hitting not just shoppers
but the poor and hungry in the developing world genetically modified
(GM) foods are once again being promoted as the way to feed the world. But
this is little short of a confidence trick. Far from needing more GM
foods, there are urgent reasons why we need to ban them altogether.

1. GM foods won't solve the food crisis

A 2008 World Bank report concluded that increased biofuel production is
the major cause of the increase in food prices.[1] GM giant Monsanto has
been at the heart of the lobbying for biofuels (crops grown for fuel
rather than food) — while profiting enormously from the resulting food
crisis and using it as a PR opportunity to promote GM foods!

"The climate crisis was used to boost biofuels, helping to create the food
crisis; and now the food crisis is being used to revive the fortunes of
the GM industry." - Daniel Howden, Africa correspondent of The
Independent[2]

"The cynic in me thinks that they're just using the current food crisis
and the fuel crisis as a springboard to push GM crops back on to the
public agenda. I understand why they're doing it, but the danger is that
if they're making these claims about GM crops solving the problem of
drought or feeding the world, that's bullshit." – Prof Denis Murphy,
head of biotechnology at the University of Glamorgan in Wales[3]

2. GM crops do not increase yield potential

Despite the promises, GM has not increased the yield potential of any
commercialised crops.[4] In fact, studies show that the most widely grown
GM crop, GM soya, has suffered reduced yields.[5]

A report that analyzed nearly two decades worth of peer reviewed research
on the yield of the primary GM food/feed crops, soybeans and corn (maize),
reveals that despite 20 years of research and 13 years of
commercialization, genetic engineering has failed to significantly
increase US crop yields. The author, former US EPA and US FDA biotech
specialist Dr Gurian-Sherman, concludes that when it comes to yield,
"Traditional breeding outperforms genetic engineering hands down."[6]

"Let's be clear. As of this year [2008], there are no commercialized GM
crops that inherently increase yield. Similarly, there are no GM crops on
the market that were engineered to resist drought, reduce fertilizer
pollution or save soil. Not one." – Dr Doug Gurian-Sherman[7]

3. GM crops increase pesticide use

US government data shows that in the US, GM crops have produced an overall
increase, not decrease, in pesticide use compared to conventional
crops.[8]

"The promise was that you could use less chemicals and produce a greater
yield. But let me tell you none of this is true." – Bill Christison,
President of the US National Family Farm Coalition[9]

4. There are better ways to feed the world

A major UN/World Bank-sponsored report compiled by 400 scientists and
endorsed by 58 countries concluded that GM crops have little to offer
global agriculture and the challenges of poverty, hunger, and climate
change, because better alternatives are available. In particular, the
report championed "agroecological" farming as the sustainable way forward
for developing countries.[10]

5. Other farm technologies are more successful

Integrated Pest Management and other innovative low-input or organic
methods of controlling pests and boosting yields have proven highly
effective, particularly in the developing world.[11] Other plant breeding
technologies, such as Marker Assisted Selection (non-GM genetic mapping),
are widely expected to boost global agricultural productivity more
effectively and safely than GM.[12] [13]

"The quiet revolution is happening in gene mapping, helping us understand
crops better. That is up and running and could have a far greater impact
on agriculture [than GM]." – Prof John Snape, head of the department of
crop genetics, John Innes Centre[14]

6. GM foods have not been shown to be safe to eat

Genetic modification is a crude and imprecise way of incorporating foreign
genetic material (e.g. from viruses, bacteria) into crops, with
unpredictable consequences. The resulting GM foods have undergone little
rigorous and no long-term safety testing, but animal feeding tests have
shown worrying health effects.[15] Only one study has been published on
the direct effects on humans of eating a GM food.[16] It found unexpected
effects on gut bacteria, but was never followed up.

It is claimed that Americans have eaten GM foods for years with no ill
effects. But these foods are unlabeled in the US and no one has monitored
the consequences. With other novel foods like trans fats, it has taken
decades to realize that they have caused millions of premature deaths.[17]

"We are confronted with the most powerful technology the world has ever
known, and it is being rapidly deployed with almost no thought whatsoever
to its consequences." — Dr Suzanne Wuerthele, US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) toxicologist

7. Stealth GMOs in animal feed - without consumers' consent

Meat, eggs and dairy products from animals raised on the millions of tons
of GM feed imported into Europe do not have to be labelled. Some studies
show that contrary to GM and food industry claims, animals raised on GM
feed ARE different from those raised on non-GM feed.[18]  Other studies
show that if GM crops are fed to animals, GM material can appear in the
resulting products[19] and that the animals' health can be affected.[20]
So eating "stealth GMOs" may affect the health of consumers.

8. GM crops are a long-term economic disaster for farmers

A 2009 report showed that GM seed prices in America have increased
dramatically, compared to non-GM and organic seeds, cutting average farm
incomes for US farmers growing GM crops. The report concluded, "At the
present time there is a massive disconnect between the sometimes lofty
rhetoric from those championing biotechnology as the proven path toward
global food security and what is actually happening on farms in the US
that have grown dependent on GM seeds and are now dealing with the
consequences."[21]

9. GM and non-GM cannot co-exist

GM contamination of conventional and organic food is increasing. An
unapproved GM rice that was grown for only one year in field trials was
found to have extensively contaminated the US rice supply and seed
stocks.[22] In Canada, the organic oilseed rape industry has been
destroyed by contamination from GM rape.[23] In Spain, a study found that
GM maize "has caused a drastic reduction in organic cultivations of this
grain and is making their coexistence practically impossible".[24]

The time has come to choose between a GM-based, or a non-GM-based, world
food supply.

"If some people are allowed to choose to grow, sell and consume GM foods,
soon nobody will be able to choose food, or a biosphere, free of GM. It's
a one way choice, like the introduction of rabbits or cane toads to
Australia; once it's made, it canâ€t be reversed." – Roger Levett,
specialist in sustainable development[25]

10. We can't trust GM companies

The big biotech firms pushing their GM foods have a terrible history of
toxic contamination and public deception.[26] GM is attractive to them
because it gives them patents that allow monopoly control over the world's
food supply. They have taken to harassing and intimidating farmers for the
"crime" of saving patented seed or "stealing" patented genes — even if
those genes got into the farmer's fields through accidental contamination
by wind or insects.[27]

"Farmers are being sued for having GMOs on their property that they did
not buy, do not want, will not use and cannot sell." – Tom Wiley, North
Dakota farmer[28]

References

1. A Note on Rising Food Prices. Donald Mitchell, World Bank report, 2008.
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Environment/documents/2008/07/10/Biofuels.pdf

2. Hope for Africa lies in political reforms. Daniel Howden, The
Independent, 8 September 2008,

3. GM: it's safe, but it's not a saviour. Rob Lyons, Spiked Online, 7 July
2008, http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/5438

4. The adoption of bioengineered crops. Jorge Fernandez-Cornejo and
William D. McBride, US Department of Agriculture Report, May 2002,
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/aer810/aer810.pdf

5. Glyphosate-resistant soyabean cultivar yields compared with sister
lines. Elmore, R.W. et al., Agronomy Journal, Vol. 93, No. 2, 2001, pp.
408–412

6. Failure to Yield: Evaluating the Performance of Genetically Engineered
Crops. Doug Gurian-Sherman, Union of Concerned Scientists, 2009,
http://tiny.cc/eqZST

7. Genetic engineering — a crop of hyperbole. Doug Gurian-Sherman, The
San Diego Union Tribune, 18 June 2008,
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080618/news_lz1e18gurian.html

8. Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use: The First
Thirteen Years. Charles Benbrook, Ph.D., The Organic Center, November
2009,
http://www.organic-center.org/science.pest.php?action=view&report_id=159

9. Family Farmers Warn of Dangers of Genetically Engineered Crops. Bill
Christison, In Motion magazine, 29 July 1998,
http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/genet1.html

10. International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and
Technology for Development: Global Summary for Decision Makers (IAASTD).
Beintema, N. et al., 2008,
http://www.agassessment.org/index.cfm?Page=IAASTD%20Reports&ItemID=2713

11. International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and
Technology for Development: Global Summary for Decision Makers (IAASTD).
Beintema, N. et al., 2008,
http://www.agassessment.org/index.cfm?Page=IAASTD%20Reports&ItemID=2713

12. Marker-assisted selection: an approach for precision plant breeding in
the twenty-first century. Collard, B.C.Y. and D.J. Mackill, Phil. Trans.
R. Soc. B, Vol. 363, 2008, pp. 557-572, 2008

13. Breeding for abiotic stresses for sustainable agriculture. Witcombe
J.R. et al., Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B, 2008, Vol. 363, pp. 703-716

14. Gene mapping the friendly face of GM technology. Professor John Snape,
Farmers Weekly, 1 March 2002, p. 54

15. Here is a small selection of such papers: Fine structural analysis of
pancreatic acinar cell nuclei from mice fed on GM soybean. Malatesta, M.
et al., Eur. J. Histochem., Vol. 47, 2003, pp. 385–388; Ultrastructural
morphometrical and immunocytochemical analyses of hepatocyte nuclei from
mice fed on genetically modified soybean. Malatesta, M. et al., Cell
Struct Funct., Vol. 27, 2002, pp. 173-180; Ultrastructural analysis of
testes from mice fed on genetically modified soybean. Vecchio L. et al.,
Eur. J. Histochem., Vol. 48, pp. 448-454, 2004; A long-term study on
female mice fed on a genetically modified soybean: effects on liver
ageing. Malatesta M. et al., Histochem Cell Biol., Vol. 130, 2008, pp.
967-977; Effects of diets containing genetically modified potatoes
expressing Galanthus nivalis lectin on rat small intestine. Ewen S.W. and
A. Pusztai, The Lancet, Vol. 354, 1999, pp. 1353–1354; New Analysis of a
Rat Feeding Study with a Genetically Modified Maize Reveals Signs
of
Hepatorenal Toxicity. Séralini, G.-E. et al., Arch. Environ. Contam.
Toxicol., Vol. 52, 2007, pp. 596-602.

16. Assessing the survival of transgenic plant DNA in the human
gastrointestinal tract. Netherwood T. et al., Nature Biotechnology, Vol.
22, 2004, pp. 204–209.

17. Trans Fats: The story behind the label. Paula Hartman Cohen, Harvard
Public Health Review, 2006
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/review/rvw_spring06/rvwspr06_transfats.html

18. Report on animals exposed to GM ingredients in animal feed. Professor
Jack A. Heinemann, PhD. Prepared for the Commerce Commission of New
Zealand, 24 July 2009, http://bit.ly/4HcJuJ

19. Detection of Transgenic and Endogenous Plant DNA in Digesta and
Tissues of Sheep and Pigs Fed Roundup Ready Canola Meal. Sharma, R. et
al., J. Agric. Food Chem., Vol. 54, No. 5, 2006, pp. 1699–1709;
Assessing the transfer of genetically modified DNA from feed to animal
tissues. Mazza, R. et al., Transgenic Res., Vol. 14, No. 5, 2005, pp.
775–784; Detection of genetically modified DNA sequences in milk from
the Italian market. Agodi, A., et al., Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Health, Vol.
209, 2006, pp. 81–88

20. Report on animals exposed to GM ingredients in animal feed. Professor
Jack A. Heinemann, PhD. Prepared for the Commerce Commission of New
Zealand, 24 July 2009, http://bit.ly/4HcJuJ

21. The Magnitude and Impacts of the Biotech and Organic Seed Price
Premium. Dr Charles Benbrook, The Organic Center, December 2009,
http://www.organic-center.org/reportfiles/Seeds_Final_11-30-09.pdf

22. Risky business: Economic and regulatory impacts from the unintended
release of genetically engineered rice varieties into the rice
merchandising system of the US. Blue, Dr E. Neal, report for Greenpeace,
2007,
http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/international/press/reports/risky-business.pdf

23. Seeds of doubt: North American farmers experience of GM crops. Soil
Association, 2002, http://www.soilassociation.org/seedsofdoubt

24. Coexistence of plants and coexistence of farmers: Is an individual
choice possible? Binimelis, R., Journal of Agricultural and Environmental
Ethics, Vol. 21, No. 2, April 2008

25. Choice: Less can be more. Roger Levett, Food Ethics magazine, Vol. 3,
No. 3, Autumn 2008, p. 11, http://www.foodethicscouncil.org/node/384

26. See, for example, Marie-Monique Robins documentary film, Le Monde
Selon Monsanto (The World According to Monsanto), ARTE, 2008; and the
website of the NGO, Coalition Against Bayer-Dangers, http://www.cbgnetwork.org

27. GM company Monsanto has launched many such lawsuits against farmers. A
famous example is the case of the Canadian farmer Percy Schmeiser. Just
one article on this case is "GM firm sues Canadian farmer", BBC News
Online, 6 June 2000, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/779265.stm

26. Monsanto "Seed Police" Scrutinize Farmers. Stephen Leahy, InterPress
Service, 15 January 2004,

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0115-04.htm

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