Monsanto Co. wants to take over Mexico's heartland with GM corn

If their requests are approved by outgoing president Felipe Calderón, Monsanto Co. and DuPont will be planting 2,500,000 hectares (more than 6 million acres) of transgenic or GM maize in the heartland of Mexico.

According to ETC Group, the consequences will be devastating for the heart of the center of origin and diversity for maize, and also globally. 

Mexico is considered to be the global repository of maize genetic diversity, as scientists have identified thousands of peasant varieties of maize.

Should Monsanto's applications be approved, this would mark the world's first commercial-scale planting of GM varieties of a major food group, in it's center of origin.Basically this would wipe out all biodiversity, and all the various local varieties of maize, developed over around 7,000 years... read more and find out how you can help/sign petition.

South African consumers win GM labelling victory

The African Centre for Biosafety reports that South African consumers have just won a hard-earned victory, regarding the labelling of genetically modified (GM) foods.

GM crops have been grown in South Africa since 1999. However most consumers are largely unaware that their staple food, maize (or corn), has been genetically modified. GM soya and cotton are also grown in South Africa, and a significant amount of foodstuffs on the supermarket shelves now contain GM components or ingredients... read more.  

Review: The film 'Genetic Roulette' — gambling with our lives on GMOs

Jeffrey M. Smith of the Institute of Responsible Technology has brought out another excellent film on the dangers of genetically modified food.

Digital Journal reported on the Jeffrey M. Smith movie, "The GMO Threat", in August on this year.

Smith's latest film, "Genetic Roulette", features interviews with patients, doctors, and parents. It explains how consuming genetically modified food can lead to numerous health implications, including diabetes, cancer, heart attacks, allergies, autism, asthma, premature aging, autoimmune disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, infertility and other reproductive disorders.... read more and watch preview.

GM crop technology backfires as farmers need more pesticides

A newly-released, peer-reviewed study reveals that the cultivation of genetically engineered crops has increased pesticide usage by hundreds of millions of pounds.

On top of this, Reuters reported today that the pesticide problem will intensify if the new round of GMO crops is approved.

According to Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, PhD, who is a senior scientist at Pesticide Action Network, this newly released study “shatters one of industry’s long-standing myths” that GMOs reduce pesticide use... read more.

'No on 37' — False advertising on the radio, against GMO labeling

The "No on 37" campaign against labeling of GMO products has been advertising on the radio. This advertising is littered with falsehoods, and "Yes on 37" offer the facts.

Proposition 37 comes up for voting in California in November this year and is intended to make it mandatory to label products that contain GMOs or genetically modified products. The "No on 37" campaign is pushing big money from Monsanto and "Big Pesticide", in an attempt to stop this from happening.

This week the "No to 37" campaign is running radio adverts, which consist mainly of falsehoods. California Right to Know wish to point out these falsehoods, and tell consumers the truth.. read more.

'GMO Myths and Truths' — Report released by genetic engineers

In a groundbreaking report, two genetic engineers explain in detail why GMOs are not good for human health or the environment.

The new report has been released today, July 5, and is titled “GMO Myths and Truths”.

The report presents a large body of peer-reviewed scientific and other authoritative evidence of the hazards to health and the environment posed by genetically engineered crops and organisms (GMOs).... read more.

AMA is considering labels on genetically engineered food

The American Medical Association is now considering the labeling of products that contain genetically modified or engineered foods.

While Monsanto continues to emphasize that there is no difference between traditional and genetically modified organisms, and while most medical organizations currently believe this, things are about to hopefully change.

The American Medical Association (AMA) might soon support the labeling of GMOs through federal legislation or regulation.

Hoping to accelerate the process towards direct labeling of GMOs, the Illinois State Medical Society and the Indiana State Medical Association have both introduced resolutions to the AMA on this subject. These resolutions urge the AMA to back labeling initiatives, such as Right to Know... read full article.

Op-Ed: California 'Right to Know' campaign news release: May 24, 2012

A near majority of U.S. Senators voted today to delay 'Frankenfish', which shows public concern about genetically engineered foods.

Today, May 24, 2012, a close majority of U.S. Senators voted for Senator Lisa Murkowski's (R-Alaska) amendment to further study genetically modified salmon before it ends up on the dinner plates of Americans.The vote was 46 in favor and 50 opposed to the amendment, with 60 votes required for passage.In her floor speech, Senator Murkowski laid out many concerns with what she referred to as "Frankenfish" and "test tube salmon." ... read full article.

Video: Right to know GMOs — The food fight of our lives

The 'Right to Know' initiative is growing by leaps and bounds with 9 out of 10 Americans insisting that GMOs be labeled.

Digital Journal reported on May 3 that Californians are all set to vote on the labeling of genetically modified food.

Almost 75% of all supermarket foods sold in the U.S.A. are genetically modified, or contain GMO ingredients and currently the U.S.A. does not require labeling of these foods. Shoppers thus have no idea what they are buying. The produce could be natural, or you could be buying vegetables that have been modified with fish genes.

Monsanto does not want to label these products and now California is out there fighting for the imposition of labeling of all GMO related products... read full article and view video.

Ministry blames Bt cotton for Indian farmer suicides

While policy makers insist that Bt cotton in India is a success, the ministry says otherwise and blames the crop for suicides among India's farmers.

Digital Journal reported in March that cotton growing was not going well with the genetically modified crop.

Now for the first time suicides by farmers, including those in 2011 and 2012, have been definitively linked to the declining performance of the GM cotton.

Starting a decade ago, 90% of the country's cotton growers have adopted the GM cotton...read full article.

EU's demand for non-GM canola benefits Western Australians

European countries who have banned GM canola are turning to Australia for supplies. They previously bought from Canada, but now that country grows mostly GM crops.

The demand from European countries for non-GM canola has given growers in West Australia a boost in business.

There is quite a variation in price, with non-GM canola selling for approximately AUD 600 a tonne, which is AUD 40-50 more than the genetically modified alternative.... read full article.

Argentinian farmers suing Monsanto for 'poisoning'

Monsanto is once again in the news. This time they and other corporations are being sued for 'knowingly poisoning farmers' in Argentina.

Farmers from Argentina have claimed that agri-giant Monsanto, together with Philip Morris and other U.S. tobacco companies, asked them to use chemicals on their crops. Said chemicals have allegedly caused "devastating birth defects".

The farmers state that the corporations were aware of the implications, but failed to sufficiently warn farmers.

The corporations thus were driven "by a desire for unwarranted economic gain and profit".... read full article.

Video: Dr. Vandana Shiva talks on genetically modified food

A lot of controversy is floating around about Monsanto and its genetically modified seeds and crops and pesticides. For those who wish to learn more, Dr. Vandana Shiva is an expert on the subject.

With a bachelors degree in physics, Dr. Vandana Shiva started Navdanya International 20 years ago.

When she discovered that global corporations, such as Monsanto, wanted to patent seeds, crops and life forms, she started the organisation in an effort to protect biodiversity, to promote organic farming and also to defend the rights of farmers.

She has been involved in creating markets for farmers and in promoting healthy, high quality and tasty food for consumers, by connecting the seed to the kitchen, and biodiversity to gastronomy.... read more and view video.