Monsanto to Re-brand as Climate Change Savior!
Written by Asinus Asinum Fricat on June 12, 2008 – 10:41 am -As John McSame clumsily attempts to re-brand himself as an economist,
From ETC Group [link and blockquote added by biscuit]:
the world’s largest seed and agrochemical corporations are stockpiling hundreds of monopoly patents on genes in plants that the companies will market as crops genetically engineered to withstand environmental stresses such as drought, heat, cold, floods, saline soils etc… BASF, Monsanto, Bayer, Syngenta, Dupont and biotech partners have filed 532 patent documents (a total of 55 patent families) on so-called “climate ready” genes at patent offices around the world. In the face of climate chaos and a deepening world food crisis, the Gene mongers are gearing up for a PR offensive to re-brand themselves as climate saviors, pushing genetically engineered crops as a silver bullet solution to climate change.
According to a new report,
patented techno-fix seeds will not provide the adaptation strategies that small farmers need to cope with climate change. These proprietary technologies will ultimately concentrate corporate power, drive up costs, inhibit independent research, and further undermine the rights of farmers to save and exchange seeds.
Tags: BASF, Bayer, Biotechs, Climate Change, Dupont, Environment, Farming, Monsanto, Syngenta
Posted in Environment, Farming and Homesteading, Food | 11 Comments »
GM Sugar: Another Threat from Monsanto
Written by Asinus Asinum Fricat on May 28, 2008 – 12:47 pm -Look out for genetically modified sugar in a shopping aisle near you by next Fall! American Crystal, a large Wyoming-based sugar company, has announced it will be sourcing its sugar from genetically engineered sugar beets.
However, the increasing presence of GM crops in the US food chain has led to a growing resistance movement. Several activists groups have filed lawsuits in California calling for the USDA to review its approval of the GM sugar beet, while planting of Monsanto’s alfalfa, also genetically modified to resist Roundup, has been delayed after a major campaign against the crop in 2006 calling for a federal environmental review.
GMO sugar beet seeds, supplied by Monsanto, have an inserted gene to make the plant resistant to the company’s Roundup herbicide. Monsanto already once postponed intro of the sugar beet (ready since 2004) when candy makers and other companies fretted - rightly so - that consumers would reject products with sugar from the beets. Read more »
Tags: American Crystal, Citizens for Health, Community, Environment, GMO, ICCR, Meiji Seika, Monsanto, Sugar, Sugar Beets, UOCA
Posted in Diaries | 3 Comments »
Food Crisis Looms: the Cost of Uncertainty
Written by Asinus Asinum Fricat on April 11, 2008 – 9:51 am -The sharp increase in food prices over the last couple of years has raised serious concerns about the food and nutrition situation of poor people in developing countries, about runaway inflation, and in some countries, growing civil unrest, as food riots break out across the globe.
Much has been written in these boards about the causes of rising prices and it should be noted that one of the major culprit is the shadow of “a new hunger” that has made food far too expensive for millions. Rising prices for all the world’s crucial cereal crops and growing fears of scarcity are sending shivers through international markets, creating turmoil and, as GWB is fond of stating his newly found word, uncertainty.
Uncertainty creates panic buying. Brokers know this well.
Tags: Costs, Food, IFAD, Monsanto
Posted in Biodiversity, Current Events, Environment, Farming and Homesteading, Food, The Politics of Food | 9 Comments »