Why was GM alfalfa grass ever developed?

January 2012

Round bales of alfalfa in a Montana field, USA.
Picture from Wikimedia Commons

In 2005, the US government approved the growing of a 'Roundup Ready' (herbicide-tolerant) GM fodder grass, 'RR alfalfa'. Since people don't eat grass, this might seem one of the less controversial GM crops to go on sale. Or, is it?

One US farmer, Philip Geertson, who has spent 30 years raising a diversity of crops and 25 years as a partner in alfalfa breeding programmes is having trouble understanding why anyone would want herbicide-tolerant alfalfa. He said:

“When Roundup Ready alfalfa was first suggested I did not think that it would be developed and introduced because most alfalfa fields are never sprayed for weed control. And, if a chemical weed control was needed, there is a long list of off-patent low-cost herbicides that are effective if used properly.”

Evidence of deformities caused by Roundup

January 2012

Evidence of deformities? ... what evidence?

The publication of a study showing that the herbicide, glyphosate, caused deformities in embryos must have sent a shiver down many a spine. Using amphibian embryos (a recognised model for early human embryo development), Argentinean scientists found that glyphosate disrupted the formation of the 'neural tube' which goes on to form the spine and cranium. They also identified the biochemical basis of the disruption. (See ROUNDUP CAUSES BIRTH-DEFECTS - GMFS News Archive, October 2010)

This finding is serious. Glyphosate is the active ingredient of Roundup herbicide, now used in huge quantities on all major GM crops in America including staples such as soya, maize, sugar-beet, oilseed rape, and cotton.

New US laws to regulate GM foods

January 2012

Rally for the Right2Know About GMOs, Washington DC, USA
Photo by Millions Against Monsanto on Flickr

Up until now, the biotech industry has succeeded in blocking just about every attempt to introduce honest labelling of GMOs in the USA. The result is that 74% of Americans don't know they're eating GM foods at all, and their food supply is being steadily polluted with both legal and experimental genes.

However, awareness is gradually spreading. The voices of dissent are beginning to shout in unison from Washington to San Francisco, and the scene is set for some new legislation which won't so easily be lobbied into oblivion by industry.

Support GM Watch

January 2012

If you're a regular visitor to GM-free Scotland's news, analysis and comment you'll be aware of what emerges as the GM threads are drawn together: no matter how bad each individual piece of news is, when you join all the dots, the bigger picture is always much, much worse.

In putting our articles together, the greatest hurdle to be overcome is often getting hold of all the dots to start with. One invaluable source of information over the years has been the regular, global news reviews prepared by 'GM Watch'.

Connections for connections sake

January 2012

Here's an uncomfortable thought...

The recognition that interconnectedness is the most fundamental quality lending stability to the natural world (living and non-living) has played a significant part in the ongoing global financial collapse.

Simplistic thinking joined up all the financial institutions into one great big web thought to imitate nature.

No silver bullet, except GM

December 2011

Rice farmers in Africa. Photo by Martapigs on Flickr

The philanthropic and hugely wealthy Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation acknowledges that its goal of providing solutions to global food problems will not be easy: 

“Having enough nutritious food to feed a growing population is a complex challenge; there's no silver bullet”.

Strange, therefore, that the Foundation puts so much of its attention on quick-fix solutions, and so little attention on the key resources which will generate a lasting food supply.

Top of the Gates' list for promotion is GM: a silver bullet by its very nature.

The risks of 'pharm' rice

December 2011

Different types of rice. Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Scientists in China have developed GM rice which could be used to produce an important human blood protein in the foreseeable future.

The protein is ‘human serum albumin’ (HSA), a major constituent of blood. It has wide, life-saving, clinical applications in treating, for example, burns and blood loss, and is necessary for the cell cultures used to produce vaccines and pharmaceuticals.