GMO ~ ORGANIC GM ALTERNATIVE CONSIDERED

I am always on the lookout for more material on genetically modified foods. My extremely food and nutrition conscious daughters tell me saying "G M O" is just not hip by the way. HIP people say "geemos". I tell them, it doesn't matter what you call it, it is still toxic food and I am glad we do our best to avoid it at all possible opportunities.

Fortunately, on my island, there are hundreds of small organic family farms so that natural foods are available year round if one eats seasonal produce.

Truth About Trade and Technology

Concern was raised over the organic agriculture industry’s ability to cope with the onslaught of climate change while spurning GM technologies, at a high-level debate in the capital last week.

A panel of experts discussed the possibilities for organic food to become “more robust” in front an audience including the government’s chief scientific advisor John Beddington, who last month called for GM crops to ensure global food security.

Experts in what field I would ask right away. Who pays their salaries?

The view from a Silver Rill cornfield overlooking the Pacific on Vancouver Island. This year the field rests and rejuvenates.

The panel, in discussing the role of GM in 21st Century Farming at last week’s Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum, suggested that if GM could overcome issues relating to its public image and the vandalism of trials, it could make real progression in replacing fertilizers, which continue to increase in cost and tackling food security.

How can ANYTHING that is genetically modified pass as NATURAL? It is to avoid such manipulation that the natural food movement has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past few years.

Dominic Dyer, chief executive of the Crop Protection Association, said:

“In the US they are way ahead of the game on organic genetically modified foods and then there was a whole load of opposition.

“That was the last opportunity we had on that front before trench warfare set in. It is my concern that you can have a few organizations that scaremonger and make the governments back off.”

Did he really say anything of importance here? I still insist, how can genetically modified corn possibly be organic? Natural and organic means as nature created them with possibly some breeding and blending by the farmers who have been growing from the seeds for many decades ~ not chemical or scientific intervention.

Julian Little, chair of the Agricultural Biotechnology Council, told delegates that GM could be vital with changes to the environment impacting on agriculture. He said:

“Drought tolerance will definitely be important. Climate change means there will be insect problems in the UK that we have not had to deal with before.

“There were trials into blight tolerance in potatoes in the UK which were trashed twice, but if we could find a potato that gave true blight tolerance then organic growers would have a real option to continue in a difficult climate.”

There would be fewer blights and stronger plants if there was more variety in the types of corn grown. Mono agriculture encourages these problems as the plants' vitality weakens over the years. Diversity is the key as victim farmers of Monsanto are rapidly learning.

An annual southern Vancouver Island ritual. Eager consumers are filling bags with cobs of fresh corn, usually brought in from the field within minutes of being purchased. Also available are a variety of seasonal vegetables, equally natural and delicious, as well as delicacies from the farm kitchen.

But Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association, hit back at suggestions the lobbying body harness the opportunity. He said:

“We looked at the option of GM with interest when it was first debated, but the more we looked at it the more concern grew. The GM debate is a distraction and it is a dangerous issue with the possibility of some of the larger developing companies having a vice-like grip over agriculture. I see no future for GM in the future of UK agriculture and the answers lie in things like plant breeding tactics.”

At last! A man who makes sense. Well put Mr. Holden!

The debate comes as the Foods Standards Agency embarks on a 12-month consultation exercise looking into the various challenges surrounding GM food.

Perhaps they should look at the health impacts of GMO products. According to Russian studies, since its introduction into the US, over 2000 000 have died from resultant illnesses and weaknesses. That is more important then anything else. Perhaps look into phasing out both GM and nano foods before the toll on humanity is too great.

"Effects were mostly concentrated in kidney and liver function, the two major diet detoxification organs, but in detail differed with each GM type.

In addition, some effects on heart, adrenal, spleen and blood cells were also frequently noted. As there normally exists sex differences in liver and kidney metabolism, the highly statistically significant disturbances in the function of these organs, seen between male and female rats, cannot be dismissed as biologically insignificant as has been proposed by others.

We therefore conclude that our data strongly suggests that these GM maize varieties induce a state of hepatorenal toxicity. These substances have never before been an integral part of the human or animal diet and therefore their health consequences for those who consume them, especially over long time periods are currently unknown." ~ the International Journal of Biological Sciences

Dyer added: “A lot of what the Soil Association says is about lifestyles and we are not going to stop people eating meat and creating food shortages tomorrow, so we need to use the world’s resources well. We need to get realistic about the problems we face.”

A Comparison of the Effects of Three GM Corn Varieties on Mammalian Health

Monsanto's GMO Corn Linked to Organ Failure

GM Crop Failure Petition 2009

Séralini Speaks: Organ Damage Linked to GM Maize

Whistleblower: Monsanto ‘faked’ data for approvals

Failure to Yield

Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use: The First Thirteen Years