GMW: GM CROPS INDUSTRY HAS STALLED

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GMW: GM CROPS INDUSTRY HAS STALLED

" GM WATCH " <info

 

Fri, 28 Jan 2005 12:43:56 GMT

 

 

 

 

GMW: GM CROPS INDUSTRY HAS STALLED

http://www.gmwatch.org

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some v. useful points and statistics

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NEWS MEDIA RELEASE - THURSDAY JANUARY 25 2005

GM CROPS INDUSTRY HAS STALLED

 

GeneEthics today refuted claims by the industry-backed International

Service for the Acquisition of Agro-biotechnology Applications (ISAAA)

that the global area of genetically manipulated (GM) crops increased

rapidly from 2003 to 2004. Their latest annual review published today

shows

the GM crop industry remains stalled.

 

" GM crops are only 1.4% of global agricultural area and are not taking

the world by storm, " GeneEthics Network Director, Bob Phelps says.

 

" GM crops are also less productive than the best conventional varieties

and cannot feed the world as industry constantly claims, " he says.

 

" The ISAAA's own figures show commercial GM crops are not a global

industry, as 98% of GM crops are grown in just six countries - USA 59%;

Argentina 20%; Canada 6%; Brazil 6%, China 5%, and Paraguay 2%. 93% is in

the Americas, " he says.

 

" The GM industry's crop product range has also stalled, with only four

broadacre commercial crops - soy, corn, canola and cotton, " he says.

 

" And these GM crop plants have only two commercial traits - tolerance

to being oversprayed with toxic weedicides, and producing insecticide

toxins, " he says.

 

" Both traits add more chemicals to our environment and foods, " Mr

Phelps says.

 

" The ISAAA report offers no evidence that the GM industry can keep its

promises of more nutritious foods, longer shelf life products, drought

and salt tolerant crops, " he says.

 

" Other crops with new traits being field tested in many places are at

least ten years away from commercial reality, and most will fail, " he

says.

 

" Over ninety percent of all commercial GM crops are monopoly owned and

controlled by Monsanto, which is heavily backed by the US government at

home and abroad, with subsidies and sweetheart policies, " he says.

 

" Despite this, North American farming organisations rejected GM wheat

last year and Monsanto cancelled its GM wheat research, " he says.

 

" Farmers' grim experiences of lower yields and profits, and lost

markets, are a better guide to the bleak future of GM crops than ISAAA's

fantasy

trip, " he says.

 

" Shoppers, farmers and food processors will ensure that genetically

manipulated crops go nowhere fast, " Mr Phelps concludes.

 

 

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