Monsanto

beerwm said:

there are benefits;

if a crop is made pest-resistant
-then you're no longer spraying it with pesticides.

i'd rather eat a non-toxic pest deterant derived from nature than artifical chemicals.

i dont know the full argument though

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Germany the latest to ban Monsanto crop
Our German colleagues have good cause to break out the Riesling this week. Germany has become the sixth European Union country to ban the cultivation of Monsanto’s genetically engineered (GE) corn ”” MON810.

“I have come to the conclusion that there are legitimate grounds to accept that genetically modified corn from the MON810 strain constitutes a danger to the environment.” These are the very words of Germany’s Minister for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Ilse Ainger.

Germany now joins five other countries that have already banned the crop ”” France, Greece, Austria, Hungary and Luxembourg.

MON810 is the only GE crop grown in Europe, mostly cultivated for animal feed. The crop is now due for re-authorisation under EU rules after the expiry of its 10-year licence. Greenpeace is now calling on the European Commission to stop any re-authorisation. An EU-wide ban is something we’ve been working on for years, and with two major EU countries (France and Germany) agreeing on a ban, we’re even closer to achieving this goal.

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What about Australia?

Australia is a bit of a mixed bag on GE crops. Canola was the first (and, as yet, only) GE food crop in Australia to be commercially grown. Both NSW and Victoria lifted their moratoria on GE crops last year so they could grow it. This month, the WA Government ignored its moratorium on GE canola by deciding to go ahead with field trials of GE canola at 20 locations across the state.

South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT still have their moratoria on GE canola in tact.

The truth is Australia is at a pretty critical juncture with GE crops. Only small quantities of GE canola have been grown, and government results from last year’s harvest show that the GE crops don’t really achieve the higher yield promised. In fact, the results found crops yielded 10% less than conventional crops.

The German Minister had the sense to see the risks to consumers, farmers and the environment posed by genetically engineered food crops. Australia needs to take its toe out of the uncertain gene pool, and follow the lead of other major agricultural producers such as Germany and France. Last month, two North American farmers visited Australia to share their experiences with GE crops ”” both the US and Canada have witnessed the contamination risks of GE crops, as well as their impacts on farmers’ rights. It’s a path Australia should avoid taking.

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theasxgorilla said:

Sweden is like an oasis for good old fashioned cuisine. I suffer from allergies and it got to the point where I struggled to get from day to day without being affected by the food on offer in Aust. I mean, how can you hope to win when they add MSG to wheat flour but don't have to disclose it as an ingredient because it was added by the suppliers supplier so it doesn't appear on the end product's label as an ingredient???

When I moved to Sweden I thought I was in heaven (still do!)... by and large food is still made the way it used to be... even the manufactured stuff. I pick up packet of Falukorv (big thick old fashioned Swedish sausage) and the packet proudly proclaims to be egg, soya, pea, milk etc. etc. protein free. That's right, just meat and spices! As if it was ever meant to be anything else!?!?

Moving to Holland was like going back to Aust in a sense... a more packet/processed/additive food culture. Back to the old days of trying to find the 1 in 100 ham or salami that doesn't contain hydrolised vegetable protein aka. soy, aka. meat-extender (yes, it's about profit, not yield).

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if a crop is made pest-resistant
-then you're no longer spraying it with pesticides.

Click to expand...