Comments for Feeding the World Conference http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com Are GM Crops fit for purpose? If not, then what? Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:03:38 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Successful Agro-Ecology: drought by Dr Clive Richardson http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/agroecology-drought/#comment-99 Dr Clive Richardson Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:03:38 +0000 http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/?p=419#comment-99 When will you come to Tanzania? When will you come to Tanzania?

]]> Comment on Complaints to BBC on GM Food Fight by Wooly http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/complaints-to-bbc-on-gm-food-fight/#comment-97 Wooly Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:41:42 +0000 http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/?p=379#comment-97 Good one Jimmy, You focused on the benefits of GMO's and not so much on the negative. For instance, I never heard the word monsanto mentioned in the episode. Nor did I hear about the thousands upon thousands of Indian farmers that have committed suicide over the introduction of GM food in India. Nor did I hear about roundup introduced to soy bean. Thats right we are expected to eat roundup. Nor did we hear about monsanto passing H875 bill through the senate in the states to make GMO foods law and NOT natural organic heritage seeds. Nor did I hear about GMO pollen infecting neighboring properties foods, which then become the property of monsanto and the like. Nor did I hear that organic food will become illegal and that food will be owned by companies. How about you do another documentary, but this time cover the whole argument. I'd love to know how much you were paid to report half a story? Good one Jimmy, You focused on the benefits of GMO’s and not so much on the negative. For instance, I never heard the word monsanto mentioned in the episode. Nor did I hear about the thousands upon thousands of Indian farmers that have committed suicide over the introduction of GM food in India. Nor did I hear about roundup introduced to soy bean. Thats right we are expected to eat roundup. Nor did we hear about monsanto passing H875 bill through the senate in the states to make GMO foods law and NOT natural organic heritage seeds. Nor did I hear about GMO pollen infecting neighboring properties foods, which then become the property of monsanto and the like. Nor did I hear that organic food will become illegal and that food will be owned by companies. How about you do another documentary, but this time cover the whole argument. I’d love to know how much you were paid to report half a story?

]]> Comment on Oversold technology by J M Bruce http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/2009/02/01/oversold-technology/#comment-81 J M Bruce Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:24:42 +0000 http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/2009/02/01/oversold-technology/#comment-81 Thank goodness for that.. sense at last. Let's hope others take notice Thank goodness for that.. sense at last. Let’s hope others take notice

]]> Comment on BBC Horizon replies on GM programme by mark allen http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/2008/12/16/bbc-horizon-replies-on-gm-programme/#comment-80 mark allen Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:19:47 +0000 http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/?p=451#comment-80 I watched the Horizon GM program and I have to say that it was not as one sided as has been made out to be. However the subject of GMO technology will always be contentious. For every story and science journal paper released stating that cross pollination is possible, or that weeds are growing ressistant to herbicide, or that GMO plants are dangerous to health there is a always an equal counter-argument. Like most technological developments, my issue is not with the pure science but the financial mechanisms in place. We constantly hear how GMO technology will feed the world but then why have GMO technology companies installed GURTs, or terminator seeds, in their GMO seeds? This all comes down to agro-business not some humanitarian mission to feed the world. An easy way to keep people from starving is allow them to grow crops they can eat rather than enticing them into growing cash crops for the west. GURT,Genetic use restriction technology, in my opinion, is actually the scariest part of GMO technology. Included into the genetic make-up of the plant is the instruction to be infertile after one year, or one harvest. Horror stories are abound in GMO technology and I can see many a scientist raising their eyebrows at these words, but what does happen if cross pollination occurs. What does happen if this particular trait spreads? How ever small the potential for harm for the greater environment, this should make us think twice before using this technology. The propagnada machine has been used by both camps and it is almost impossible to see through the chaff. I have no doubt that GMO technology will be used more and more in the future. The simple question is; is there actually a need for the technology, maybe the way we live our lives and economical systems are the real cause of starvation, war, greed suffering etc. GMO is no miracle cure just another technological fix to create profits. Reduce our relience on profits and perpetual growth economical models and I suspect many people will be happier and have fuller bellies. Mark Allen I watched the Horizon GM program and I have to say that it was not as one sided as has been made out to be. However the subject of GMO technology will always be contentious.
For every story and science journal paper released stating that cross pollination is possible, or that weeds are growing ressistant to herbicide, or that GMO plants are dangerous to health there is a always an equal counter-argument.
Like most technological developments, my issue is not with the pure science but the financial mechanisms in place. We constantly hear how GMO technology will feed the world but then why have GMO technology companies installed GURTs, or terminator seeds, in their GMO seeds? This all comes down to agro-business not some humanitarian mission to feed the world. An easy way to keep people from starving is allow them to grow crops they can eat rather than enticing them into growing cash crops for the west.
GURT,Genetic use restriction technology, in my opinion, is actually the scariest part of GMO technology. Included into the genetic make-up of the plant is the instruction to be infertile after one year, or one harvest. Horror stories are abound in GMO technology and I can see many a scientist raising their eyebrows at these words, but what does happen if cross pollination occurs. What does happen if this particular trait spreads? How ever small the potential for harm for the greater environment, this should make us think twice before using this technology. The propagnada machine has been used by both camps and it is almost impossible to see through the chaff.
I have no doubt that GMO technology will be used more and more in the future. The simple question is; is there actually a need for the technology, maybe the way we live our lives and economical systems are the real cause of starvation, war, greed suffering etc. GMO is no miracle cure just another technological fix to create profits. Reduce our relience on profits and perpetual growth economical models and I suspect many people will be happier and have fuller bellies.

Mark Allen

]]> Comment on Systemic Risk in Food and Farming, the role of GM, the IAASTD assessment by GM Food - conference talks online « Sheepdrove’s Weblog http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/systemic-risk-iaastd/#comment-76 GM Food - conference talks online « Sheepdrove’s Weblog Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:50:02 +0000 http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/?p=373#comment-76 [...] The conference, supported by the Sheepdrove Trust, tackled the question of GM crops in relation to the challenge of feeding the world. Some speakers were distiguished as being participants of the famous 2008 IAASTD Report - a study which involved hundreds of researchers around the world - assessing the progress of agricultural science, knowledge and technology. Learn what the IAASTD said about GM crops. [...] [...] The conference, supported by the Sheepdrove Trust, tackled the question of GM crops in relation to the challenge of feeding the world. Some speakers were distiguished as being participants of the famous 2008 IAASTD Report – a study which involved hundreds of researchers around the world – assessing the progress of agricultural science, knowledge and technology. Learn what the IAASTD said about GM crops. [...]

]]> Comment on Greening the Desert (video) by Hans van den Broek http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/2008/12/09/greening-the-desert-video/#comment-75 Hans van den Broek Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:15:08 +0000 http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/?p=396#comment-75 Velp 18 december 2008, Dear Friends, Yes this is an very good documentation! As an Dutch Beekeeper in the Netherlands-Europe I see dayly the damage in our Environment made by Human people, Chemical, Pharmacie, Chemical- and Seed Firms we people must STOP them. I hope for GMO-FREE and POISON-FREE but also Phthalates and Bisfenol-A FREE WORLD............But I see in the near future an dy out by the insects our pollinators Worldwide...........We must think for the next 500 - 1.000 years think about the groundwater and our drinkwater we find now Worldwide Glyphosate-and their metaboliet AMPA in our groundwater also in the Netherlands-Waterland in Europe. STOP the GMO, also to much oestrogenic phthalates et al in our Environment it bring human people cancer end more illness. Yours sincerely, Hans van den Broek Stalen Enk 16 6881 BR Velp Netherlands e hans.v.d.broek@planet.nl Dutch Beekeeper they let all what the Bees take up for their Beecolonies, because to much filthiness in the pollen, honey, propolis. Velp 18 december 2008,

Dear Friends,
Yes this is an very good documentation!
As an Dutch Beekeeper in the Netherlands-Europe I see dayly the damage in our Environment made by Human people, Chemical, Pharmacie, Chemical- and Seed Firms we people must STOP them.
I hope for GMO-FREE and POISON-FREE but also Phthalates and Bisfenol-A FREE WORLD…………But I see in the near future an dy out by the insects our pollinators Worldwide………..We must think for the next 500 – 1.000 years think about the groundwater and our drinkwater we find now Worldwide Glyphosate-and their metaboliet AMPA in our groundwater also in the Netherlands-Waterland in Europe.

STOP the GMO, also to much oestrogenic phthalates et al in our Environment it bring human people cancer end more illness.

Yours sincerely,
Hans van den Broek
Stalen Enk 16
6881 BR Velp
Netherlands
e hans.v.d.broek@planet.nl

Dutch Beekeeper they let all what the Bees take up for their Beecolonies, because to much filthiness in the pollen, honey, propolis.

]]> Comment on BBC Horizon replies on GM programme by GM bias on BBC? « the natureheads blog http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/2008/12/16/bbc-horizon-replies-on-gm-programme/#comment-74 GM bias on BBC? « the natureheads blog Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:13:39 +0000 http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/?p=451#comment-74 [...] However, he does not seem to answer any of the specific criticisms from the ORC on factual error, the debate limitations, or journalistic weaknesses.  Read more… [...] [...] However, he does not seem to answer any of the specific criticisms from the ORC on factual error, the debate limitations, or journalistic weaknesses.  Read more… [...]

]]> Comment on GM Food Fight – letter from Organic Research Centre, Elm Farm by BBC Horizon replies on GM programme « Feeding the World Conference http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/gm-food-fight-letter-from-organic-research-centre-elm-farm/#comment-72 BBC Horizon replies on GM programme « Feeding the World Conference Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:41:44 +0000 http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/?p=390#comment-72 [...] Andrew Cohen, editor of Horizon, has replied to the letter from Richard Sanders of the Organic Research Centre at Elm Farm. (Original letter below.) [...] [...] Andrew Cohen, editor of Horizon, has replied to the letter from Richard Sanders of the Organic Research Centre at Elm Farm. (Original letter below.) [...]

]]> Comment on Systemic Risk in Food and Farming, the role of GM, the IAASTD assessment by Problems of transgene flow – a litigation nightmare « Feeding the World Conference http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/systemic-risk-iaastd/#comment-68 Problems of transgene flow – a litigation nightmare « Feeding the World Conference Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:39:19 +0000 http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/?p=373#comment-68 [...] Jack Heinemann from the University of Christchurch, New Zealand, a lead author on the IAASTD Report, told the Feeding the World Conference about the experiences of oilseed rape (canola) growers in [...] [...] Jack Heinemann from the University of Christchurch, New Zealand, a lead author on the IAASTD Report, told the Feeding the World Conference about the experiences of oilseed rape (canola) growers in [...]

]]> Comment on Systemic Risk in Food and Farming, the role of GM, the IAASTD assessment by Presentations now online « Feeding the World Conference http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/systemic-risk-iaastd/#comment-66 Presentations now online « Feeding the World Conference Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:38:10 +0000 http://feedingtheworldconference.wordpress.com/?p=373#comment-66 [...] The first audio files listed are the talks by Dr Antoniou and Professor Janice Jiggins. [...] [...] The first audio files listed are the talks by Dr Antoniou and Professor Janice Jiggins. [...]

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