Court Rejects Genetically Modified Sugar Beets
By: Bob Egelko
San Francisco Chronicle, Wednesday, September 23, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO -- The government illegally approved a genetically modified, herbicide-resistant strain of sugar beets without adequately considering the chance they will contaminate other beet crops, a federal judge in San Francisco has ruled. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White rejected the U.S. Department of Agriculture's decision in 2005 to allow Monsanto Co. to sell the sugar beets, known as "Roundup-Ready" because they are engineered to coexist with Monsanto's Roundup herbicide. Sugar beets produce 30 percent of the world's sugar and, according to consumer groups, half the granulated sugar in the United States. This year's planting, centered in Oregon's Willamette Valley, is the first to include a full crop of the Monsanto product. White said the USDA, in concluding that the new crop would have no significant environmental effects, discounted the likelihood that wind-borne pollen would spread to fields where conventional sugar beets, table beets and the beet variety known as Swiss chard are grown. To read more click here
The American Academy Of Environmental Medicine Calls For Immediate Moratorium On Genetically Modified Foods
Full copy of the report can be found at: http:aaemonline.org/gmopost.html
Wichita, KS (5/29/09) - The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) today released its position paper on Genetically Modified foods stating that "GM foods pose a serious health risk" and calling for a moratorium on GM foods. Citing several animal studies, the AAEM concludes "there is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects" and that "GM foods pose a serious health risk in the areas of toxicology, allergy and immune function, reproductive health, and metabolic, physiologic and genetic health." To read more click here?
Stop Field Trials of GE Eucalyptus in the U.S.!
Public Comment Due by July 6th
Hinesburg, VT, U.S.--The U.S. government is set to approve [1] a request from ArborGen, the genetically engineered (GE) tree research and development giant, for permission to plant 260,000 GE cold tolerant eucalyptus trees in 29 "field trials" across seven southern U.S. states. Approval of such a large-scale planting of these dangerous flowering GE forest trees in the U.S. is completely unprecedented. The GE eucalyptus, to be planted in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina, would be allowed to flower and produce seeds, enabling them to potentially escape into native ecosystems and forests. The STOP GE Trees Campaign, an international alliance of organizations that has banded together with the goal of globally banning the open-air release of genetically engineered trees, this week issued an "Urgent Action Alert" about ArborGen's potentially disastrous plans, with information about how the public can make comments to the government to help stop this large-scale release of GE trees. Read more click here
Overwhelming U.S. Public Opposition to GE Papaya
News Release (11/30/08) from Global Justice Ecology Project
Organizations came together with scientists, businesses, organic farmers, bee keepers and others to oppose a U.S. Department of Agriculture proposal to allow the commercialization of genetically engineered (GE) papaya trees in Florida. Over 12,000 people opposed the commercialization while only 17 people submitted statements supporting the commercialization of GE papaya. The STOP GE Trees Campaign, which initiated the call for opposition, includes 137 organizations across the world (including Family Farm Defenders) that have united in the demand for a global ban on GE trees of all types.
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Action Alert!
Stop Monsanto's RoundUp Ready (RR) Sugar Beet!
This coming spring Monsanto plans to unveil its RoundUp ready (RR) sugar beet, designed to withstand heavy doses of the herbicide, glyphosate. In preparation for this announcement, the EPA has already increased the acceptable limit of glyphosate residue in sugar beet roots by 5000%. “Basically, we have not run into resistance,” said David Berg, president of American Crystal Sugar, quoted in the 11/27/07 New York Times, “We really think that consumer attitudes have come to accept food from biotechnology.” read more
Monsanto - How Now Brown Cow?
by: John E. Peck
Posted on Madison Indymedia 3/18/07 www.madisonindymedia.org
After decades of being consumed in the U.S., Monsanto's recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) may be headed to the technological dustbin due to human health concerns. Will this be the fate of other genetically modified organisms (GMOs)? read more...
Farmers, Cows, Bees Win Legal Victory Against Monsanto’s Introduction of GE Alfalfa
By: John E. Peck, executive director of Family Farm Defenders
Back in April 2004 Monsanto submitted a federal petition for commercial introduction of “Round-Up Ready” (RR) alfalfa in the U.S, and after a sixty day public comment period the USDA determined that this herbicide resistant alfalfa variety would have no significant environmental impact, formally approving its commercial introduction in June 2005. By fall 2005 Monsanto had obtained approval for export of RR alfalfa into Mexico, and was working to obtain the same from a host of other countries including Canada, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. On March 12, 2007, though, federal judge, Charles Breyer, of the northern CA district ordered an immediate injunction against U.S. sale of RR alfalfa, having earlier ruled back on Feb. 13th, 2007 that the USDA failed to conduct a full environmental impact study. read more
Federal Court Rules Against USDA and its Approval of RR Alfalfa
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 14, 2007
Contact: Will Rostov, Center for Food Safety, 415-826-2770
(415) 307-2154 (cell); Joseph Mendelson, Center for Food Safety (202) 547-9359 (703) 244-1724 (cell) (Note: Individual farmers and representatives of organizations who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit are available for comment).
Precedent-setting Decision May Block Planting, Sales of Monsanto Alfalfa
Washington, DC (February 14, 2007) - In a decision handed down yesterday, a Federal Court has ruled, for the first time ever, that the U.S. Department of Agriculture failed to abide by federal environmental laws when it approved a genetically engineered crop without conducting a full Environment Impact Statement (EIS). In what will likely be a precedent-setting ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Breyer of the Northern District of California decided in favor of farmers, consumers, and environmentalists who filed a suit calling the USDA's approval of genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa a threat to farmers livelihoods and a risk to the environment.read more...
A copy of the 20 pg. federal court decision can be found at:
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/Alfalfa%20Decision%202-13-07.pdf
FARMER TO FARMER CAMPAIGN ON GENETIC ENGINEERING ACTION ALERT!
Contact Congress to Oppose the Proposed Merger of Monsanto and Delta & Pines Land
On August 15, 2006, Monsanto, the world’s largest seed company, announced its intent to purchase Delta & Pine Land, the world’s leading cotton seed company. We are asking people to contact their elected officials requesting that they intervene with the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to oppose the pending merger. read more...
Biotech Crops Will Hurt U.S. Family Farmers and Deepen the Energy Crisis
By: John E. Peck
A version of this article was published by Common Dreams on 3/29/06 and is found at:
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0329-32.htm
As concerns about peak oil mount, the latest group to jump on the renewable energy bandwagon has been the biotech industry. In a March 13th 2006 press release building towards their national convention in early
April in Chicago, Jim Greenwood, president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), proclaimed that a new wave of genetically engineered technologies “will end our national addiction to oil.” Nothing could be
further from the truth. read more...
Public Comments
FFD Opposes Deregulation of Genetically Engineered Plum
Public Comment Submitted to USDA on June 16th, 2006:
Family Farm Defenders, a national grassroots organization based in Madison, WI with
thousands of members in all fifty states, strongly opposes deregulation of the genetically engineered plum tree.
Among our concerns are the following:
Organic and conventional plum growers stand to suffer lost markets both domestically and
overseas with inevitable contamination if genetically engineered plums are allowed to enter commercial production. It is well known that pollen can be transported by bees, other insects, and wind for many miles from its original source. The USDA's own study
recogizes that plum readily hybridizes within its species. As has already occured with the papaya industry in Hawaii, plum growers will be forced to bear the costs of criminal
trespass by unwanted pollen and genetic contamination with no legal recourse. This is an
undue economic hardship that should not be foisted upon responsible farmers.read more...
Lawsuit Filed to Stop Monsanto's Introduction of GMO Alfalfa
February 16, 2006
CONTACT: Will Rostov, CFS, (415) 826-2770, Charles Margulis, CFS, (510) 697-0615, Kevin Dowling, WORC, 406-252-9672, (Note: Individual farmers and representatives of organizations who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit are available for comment).
San Francisco, Calif. – Shortly after a government report cited problems with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) oversight of genetically engineered (GE) crops, a coalition of farmers, farm groups, consumers, and environmentalists filed a lawsuit today calling the department’s approval of GE alfalfa a threat to farmers’ livelihoods and a risk to the environment. The suit contends that the USDA improperly allowed the commercial release of GE alfalfa, the first commercial release of a GE perennial crop, and failed to analyze the public health, environmental, and economic consequences of the release. read more...
Fact Sheets
Biotech Warning - Monsanto Seeks Approval for “Round-Up Ready” Alfalfa
On April 16th, 2004 Monsanto submitted a federal petition for commercial introduction of “Round-Up Ready” (RR) alfalfa in the U.S, and on Nov. 24th the USDA began its required sixty day public comment period. Given that alfalfa is a common perennial forage and cover crop used in a wide variety of animal feeds and even eaten by humans, this latest move by Monsanto to bring another genetically modified organism (GMO) into the world is now ringing alarm bells across rural America.
read more...
Faith-Based Perspectives on Biotech and Genetically Modified Organisms (GM Os)
According to a 2001 poll by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, 57 percent of Protestants (62 percent of Evangelicals) oppose biotech based on their religious or ethical views while 37 percent are in favor; Catholics followed closely behind with 52 percent opposed and 42 percent in favor. Among Muslims, 46 percent said they are opposed, with 32 percent in favor. Jews were the most favorable towards biotech, with 55 percent in favor and 35 percent opposed. In all religious groups, women were more opposed to biotech than men (46% of Jewish women, 49% of Muslim women, 60% of Protestant women, and 61% of Catholic women).
read more...
FFD in the Media
Letter to the Editor
Catholic Herald (Madison, WI), Dec. 25, 2003
By: John E. Peck
Execuitve Director, Family Farm Defenders
I was a bit surprised by the recent “Frankenfood” article by George Weigel in the Catholic Herald (12/4/03), especially since it contradicted so many of the concerns I have heard from farmers and consumers about genetically modified organisms (GM Os). Having done a lot of work with family farmers in Africa myself, I must also say that the description of the situation and motivation behind the continent’s recent rejection of U.S. offered GMO “food aid” is not at all correct. read more...
