Organic Food a Thing of the Past?

[Guest guest]

Organic Food May Become a Thing of the Past

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/11/11/how-monsanto-c

ontrols-the-future-of-food.aspx

Over the past 15 years or so, a collection

of five giant biotech corporations -- Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer, Dow and

DuPont -- have bought up more

than 200 other companies, allowing them to dominate access to seeds.

The takeover has been so dramatic that it is becoming difficult for

farmers to find alternatives. As a result, in the U.S., 90 percent of

soybeans

are genetically-modified, and many conventional farmers have trouble

obtaining non-genetically modified seeds.

According to The Ecologist:

" ... [O]ne solution to restricting their control would be through

banning

the practice of granting patents on seeds, plants and genes. A patent

gives

a company exclusive rights to sell and develop a new invention. In the

case of patents on plants and genes it grants them temporary monopolies

and

bans farmers from saving seeds " .

At this point, a mere FIVE companies †" biotechnology companies at

that --

own the vast majority of all worldwide seeds. The enormous ramifications

of

this should be fairly obvious.

Genetically modified (GM) seeds, particularly corn and soy, have already

taken over in many areas of the world, effectively eliminating the use

of

conventional and " heirloom " seeds, and along with them, the ancient,

sustainable farming practices that produces healthful food.

For example, in the US, as of 2009 genetically modified (GM) soybeans

accounted for 91 percent of the soybean market. Eighty-five percent of

all corn

grown was GM, as well as 88 percent of all cotton.

Many pro-GM crop fanatics argue that genetically engineered (GM) crops

are

superior in a number of ways, but evidence to the contrary is all around

us

…

Five Biotech Giants Now Control the Global Seed Market

The illustration below, provided by The Ecologist, shows how five

biotech

giants have gobbled up seed companies, large and small alike, across the

world, with Monsanto clearly leading the pack.

Since the 1980s, Monsanto has become the world leader in genetic

modification of seeds and has won at least 674 biotechnology patents,

more than any

other company.

This is not surprising, considering they invest over $2 million a day on

research and development!

But Monsanto is not only patenting their own GMO seeds. They have also

succeeded in slapping patents on a large number of common crop seeds, in

essence patenting life forms for the first time -- without a single vote

of the

people or Congress.

By doing this, Monsanto has become the sole owner of many of the very

seeds necessary to support the world's food supply … an

incredibly powerful

position that no for-profit company should ever hold.

The other heavyweights are Syngenta, Bayer, Dow, and DuPont.

Combined, they have acquired more than 200 seed companies in the past 15

years. And together, they not only threaten the continuation of

sustainable,

renewable farming practices, their monopoly over the food supply

threatens

the health of every single person on the planet.

The Impact of GM Seed Monopoly

Farmers are now increasingly forced to use GM seeds simply because there

are so few alternative sources of seeds remaining. The effect of this is

that we're losing renewable agriculture †" the age-old practice of

saving and

replanting seeds from one harvest to the next.

As mentioned in The Ecologist, one solution to this growing problem

would

be to make patenting seeds, plants, and genes illegal. As it stands now,

each GM seed is patented and sold under exclusive rights. Therefore,

farmers

must purchase the GM seeds anew each year, because saving seeds is

considered to be patent infringement. Anyone who does save GM seeds must

pay a

license fee to actually re-sow them.

This, of course, results in higher prices and reduced product options.

Add in the increased need for pesticides and herbicides that GM crops

require and the ever rising cost of these products, and what you end up

with is

a far more expensive crop that has the potential to not only fail more

frequently than conventional crops, but that can also be extremely

harmful to

the animals and humans who eat them.

(For more information about the health hazards involved, please see What

You Must Know About Dangerous Genetically Modified Foods.)

Talk about a lose-lose-lose situation.

GM Crops = Higher Costs, Lower Yields, and Far More Dangerous Foods

Two years ago, 400 scientists from around the world created a report

that

shows how seed and plant patents are increasing, as opposed to reducing,

costs as promised. For example, between 1996, when GE seeds were

introduced

to the market, and 2007, the price for soy and corn seeds doubled.

But the price farmers pay for using GM seeds do not end there.

Heartbreaking proof of the devastating effect of this agricultural

change

can be seen in the skyrocketing suicide rate in India, where rising debt

combined with frequent GM crop failures bring farmers to the brink of

despair

on a daily basis.

Africa is another nation that has been negatively impacted by GM crops.

SeattleGlobalJustice.org recently reported that " in 2009, Monsanto's

genetically modified maize failed to produce kernels and hundreds of

farmers

were devastated. According to m Mayet, environmental attorney and

director of the Africa Centre for Biosafety in Johannesburg, some

farmers suffered

up to an 80 percent crop failure. "

GM crops were brought to market with the promise of higher yields, lower

costs, and reduced pesticide use. None of them have turned out to be

true…

On the contrary, GM soya has decreased yields by up to 20 percent

compared

with non-GM soya, for example, and up to 100 percent failures of Bt

cotton

have been recorded in India.

In the US, studies by scientists from the USDA and the University of

Georgia has shown that growing GM cotton can result in a drop in income

by up to

40 percent.

As for pesticide use, USDA data shows that GM crops has increased

pesticide use by 50 million pounds from 1996 to 2003 in the U.S., and

the use of

glyphosate went up more than 15-fold between 1994 and 2005, along with

increases in other herbicides to cope with rising glyphosate resistant

superweeds.

These Roundup tolerant superweeds and Bt resistant pests render the two

major GM crop traits completely useless...

Not only that, we now have confirmed transgene contamination in the

wild.

Although Monsanto and others denied this possibility, this was long ago

predicted and precisely what one would expect.

Scientists have recently confirmed that the genome (whether plant,

animal

or human) is NOT constant and static, which is the scientific base for

genetic engineering of plants and animals. Instead, geneticists have

discovered

that the genome is remarkably dynamic and changeable, constantly

'conversing' and adapting to the environment.

In reality, GM crops are a scientific experiment based on flawed

assumptions, and anything is possible †" and I can strongly

guarantee you, it isn't

good, and it won't get any better.

The report, 'Future of seeds and food', published last year by the

international coalition of No Patents on Seeds, calls out for an end to

patenting

seeds, plants, and animals, and the need to stop the food monopoly

created

by Big Biotech. And I agree, little could be more important at this

point

in time.

There are already clear indications that unless the GM seed monopoly is

put to an end, our whole ENTIRE food supply will become contaminated,

putting

everyone's health at risk.

How?

Many conventional and organic livestock farmers alike are now being

forced

to use GM feed, simply because there are no other options available!

Situation is Actually Worse than We Knew

Not only do we have the problems that have been previously discussed

over

the years with GM crops but there are some new elements to the equation.

For now even those that are convinced of the dangers of GMO crops and

want to

avoid using them simply are unable to in some cases.

I recently received a personal letter from one such farmer, who runs a

small ecological farm in Ohio. Even though she is dedicated to organic

farming, she is now finding herself in the unthinkable predicament of

being forced

to buy Monsanto GM corn feed for her pigs and chickens.

Be Part of the Solution

In spite of what you have likely heard, a large shift to organic

agriculture -- which by definition is non-GM -- could protect and

improve both the

environment and animal- and human health.

It could even be the solution to world hunger. According to a Danish

study

presented to the U.N. in 2007, recent models of an organically grown,

global food supply shows that a more environmentally friendly approach

to

agriculture is in fact capable of producing enough food for the world's

current

population.

What prevents many farmers from making the move to organic is that crop

yields could initially drop as much as 50 percent in the very beginning,

before evening out over time. However, that problem may be mitigated

somewhat,

because farmers wouldn't need to dole out precious money for toxic

pesticides, the price of which have risen as much as 75 percent already.

Unfortunately, while we're waiting for the leaders of the world to catch

up and realize the dire straits we're in as a species, we're running out

of

time. As evidenced by Cappello's story above, our ability to produce

organic foods is under constant attack.

So, please, do not wait for some unspecified time in the future.

Instead, do what you can NOW to promote local organic food producers no

matter where you live by taking advantage of local sources of organic

foods

as often as you can.

In addition, please take every measure you can to avoid as many GM foods

as you possibly can. Here's a list of tips to help you do just that:

• Reduce or eliminate processed foods. Some 75 percent of

processed

foods contain GM ingredients.

• Read produce and food labels. When looking at a product label,

if any

ingredients such as corn flour and meal, dextrin, starch, soy sauce,

margarine, and tofu (to name a few) are listed, there's a good chance it

has come

from GM corn or soy, unless it's listed as organic.

• Buy organic produce. Buying organic is currently the best way

to

ensure that your food has not been genetically modified.

• Download and use the Non-GMO Shopping Guide, and share it with

your

friends and family

Avoid purchasing Monsanto-made pesticides and herbicides for your home

Wedding officiant and ceremonialist

http://home.earthlink.net/~lynnpax/

Each year New York City is forced to euthanize thousands of dogs and

cats

because there are simply not enough homes for them. Please do not buy a

pet

which only contributes to the problem, but instead rescue one in need of

a

guardian.

" The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not

made

for humans any more than black people were made for white, or women

created

for men. " Alice

" Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened. "

Anatole France (16 April 1844†" 12 October 1924)

Also:

Stop Regulating Small/Organic Farms in Name of Food Safety-Contact C

National Health Freedom Coalition supports the following Action Alert

from

National Health Freedom Action

Immediate Action Needed NOW to Oppose S510 AND S3767!

_Click Here_

(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/850/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5104)

to write directly to your Senator and Congressman

IT’S TIME TO SHOW OUR STRENGTH!

DEFEAT BOTH : S510 (The Food Safety Bill), and S3767, (The Food Safety

Accountability Act). Act now , because there is a motion pending to move

S510 forward after session reconvenes November 12 th.

MORE police power over small business is NOT THE ANSWER to making the

American food supply safe. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE REAL PROBLEM of the

dangerous consolidation of the food supply in order to keep Americans

SAFE!

_Click Here_

(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/850/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5104)

to write directly to your Senator and Congressman

S510 greatly expands FDA authority introducing huge and burdensome

regulations on all persons who manufacture, process, pack, distribute,

receive,

hold or import food in the U.S. S510’s burdensome regulations

could

virtually eliminate competition in the food market-place, especially

imperiling

small food producers, and only allow for the existence of large food

producers. _Click here to read current version of S510._

(http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/federal/S510_081210--WHI10337.PDF)

S3767 puts new and criminal enforcement provisions into FDA law,

mandating that if a person knowingly violates specific food laws with

conscious or

reckless disregard of a risk of death or serious bodily injury, they

will

be fined under title 18, United States Code, imprisoned for not more

than

10 years, or both. _Click here to read current version of S3767_

(http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills & docid=\

f:s3767

rs.txt.pdf) .

S510 will mandate Hazard Analysis and Risk-based Assessment Controls for

all “facilitiesâ€, and a farm will be considered a

“facility†if it sells

anything processed like sun-dried tomatoes, jams from their own fruits,

or

fermented vegetables! (See Fall 2010 Wise Traditions article Chameleon

Politics by Judith McGeaery, Esq.)

S510 gives the FDA power to set “safety standards†which

will govern how

farmers can grow and harvest their crops!

This gives FDA expansive

rulemaking capability over the way food is produced and creates a great

compliance burden for small farmers. Even the exempted certified organic

farmers

could find additional standards forced upon them.

S510 uses “reasonable probability†instead of necessary

“credible

evidenceâ€! S510 has sections where the FDA can go into action

simply if the “

Secretary believes that there is a reasonable probability†that

the use of or

exposure to an article of food, will cause serious adverse health

consequences or death. Why haven’t they chosen the higher level

of proof needed

for agency action used in the Bioterrorism law demanding if the officer

or

qualified employee “has credible evidence or

information†indicating that

such article presents a threat of serious adverse health consequences or

death?

And putting this bill in context…. The USDA and the FDA already

have

expansive food regulating powers, including powers given to them by the

2002

Bioterrorism Act which mandates registration of all food facilities in

the

United States and foreign importers that are not specifically exempted,

and

FDA authority to investigate and enforce.

There are already fifteen U.S. agencies and thirty main U.S. statutes

involved in Food regulation, not to mention over 3000 state and local

agencies

overseeing the food supply, with jurisdiction over retail food

establishments including supermarkets and restaurants. (See cite to GAO

(General

Accounting Office) 120 Harvard Law Review 1345).

USDA already has the resources and authority to ensure the quality of

meat and poultry through the inspection of carcasses and processing

plants, as

well as grading eggs, dairy, meat, and poultry products.

FDA already has the authority to inspect and ensure the quality of all

foodstuffs, as well as animal drugs and animal feed.

The Department of Health and Human Services houses the Center for

Disease

Control and Prevention and they already have the authority to

investigate

food borne illnesses.

THE REAL NEED is to stop multinational corporations from producing

dangerous and non-sustainable food products that contribute to the

economic and

health ruin of the people and dominate the marketplace.

THE REAL NEED is to promote the sources of real, healthy food in our

country, and we have lots of it!

THE REAL NEED is to stop regulating out of business small farms and

operations that are providing essential nutrients to local people.

Take Action NOW! Demand that Senators and Congressman stop these bills

and

go to the real source of dangers in the Food Supply! Stop caged animals

in overcrowded filthy environments, force-fed with genetically modified

grains, loaded with antibiotics, hormones and other medications,

creating

dangerous products for American consumption, contaminating our water

supply,

and monopolizing the food markets with industrialized products.

If the bill moves forward and is not stopped, SUPPORT THE TESTER-HAGEN

AMENDMENT . The very fact that the Tester-Hagen Amendment is not on the

final

bill tells us the whole truth. _Click here to read the Tester-Hagen

Amendment._

(http://farmandranchfreedom.org/sff/Tester-Hagan-amendment-Sept-2010.pdf)

The Tester †" Hagen amendment exempts producers who gross under

$500,000

and who sell more than half of their products to consumers (with no

restriction on location) or to restaurants or retailers who are either

in-state or

within 400 miles.

_Click Here_

(http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/850/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5104)

to write directly to your Senator and Congressman

Diane M. J.D.

Director of Law and Public Policy

National Health Freedom Action

PMB 218, 2136 Ford Parkway

St. , MN 55116-1863

Phone: 507-663-9018

Fax: 507-663-9013

Alt: 651-470-7367

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