-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- Dave Hartley http://www.asheville-computer.com/dave -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Organic Consumers Association Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2000 1:44 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Organic View Vol.2 Number 2 Organic View - An e-mail publication of the Organic Consumers Association The Organic Consumers Association is affiliated with the Bio-Democracy Campaign. To subscribe to Bio-Democracy - a free e-mail publication on genetic engineering and other adverse effects of industrial agriculture, go to: www.purefood.org v.2 n.2 February 29, 2000 Contents 1. Frito-Lay Asks Farmers Not To Plant Genetically Engineered Corn 2. Biosafety Agreement Achieves Partial Victory 3. Safe Seed Inititiative 4. EPA Told To Respond To Lawsuit 5. Gene Drift Research 6. Interesting Recent Articles 1. Frito-Lay Asks Farmers Not to Plant Genetically Engineered Corn In the first move of its kind by a major US food company, Frito-Lay has asked its farmers to not grow genetically engineered corn to be used in the company's corn chips and other food products. The Frito-Lay announcement is the most significant sign that major US food companies are trying to distance themselves from this uncertain technology. A Frito-Lay spokesperson told the Associated Press that the decision was made because consumers had expressed concern about genetically engineered foods. ``There is some consumer concern out there. We felt at this time it's appropriate to ask our growers not to sell us genetically altered corn.'' In 1999, Frito-Lay (owned by Pepsico) bought 1.2 billion pounds of corn to be used in products such as Doritos, Fritos and Tostitos chips. More than 95 percent of the corn purchased by Frito-Lay comes from farmers that are under direct contract to the company. It is unclear, however, how the company will take steps to guarantee the other five percent of its corn is non-engineered. In addition, Frito-Lay does buy some ingredients in bulk, including oils, that could derive from genetically engineered crops. The company is not guaranteeing that its products are genetically engineered free, and Frito-Lay has stated that it currently has no plans to start marketing its products as genetically-engineered free. While a number of organic and natural food companies have announced that they have no genetically engineered ingredients, Frito-Lay's announcement is by far the most significant by a major US food company. Last year, Gerber and Heinz announced that they would not use genetically engineered ingredients in their baby food. An estimated 60 to 70 percent of processed foods on US supermarket shelves have some genetically engineered ingredients in them. Frito-Lay is being sharply criticized by the biotech industry and other large US food companies for its decision. Give Frito-Lay a call: 1-800-352-4477. Or e-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Let them know that you support their decision to not grow genetically engineered corn. Ask them to take the next step and ensure that 100 percent of their ingredients are genetically engineered free. 2. Biosafety Agreement Achieves Partial Victory In Montreal last month, governments from around the world reached agreement on the first treaty governing genetically engineered crops. The agreement, known as the Biosafety Protocol, was hailed as a good first step by environmental groups. The agreement involved over 130 nations and sets the framework for additional negotiations over genetically engineered foods and crops. In a major victory for those fighting genetically engineered foods around the world, the treaty acknowledges the importance of the "precautionary principle" - which states that these new foods can be rejected by other countries if there are unanswered scientific questions pending their safety. The US delegation has previously argued that genetically engineered foods and crops should be considered safe unless there is scientific proof that they are dangerous. The Protocol for the first time establishes on an international level that genetically engineered foods are distinct and different, and should regulated differently than conventional foods. Under the treaty, shipments containing genetically engineered commodities must be labeled that they "may contain" genetically modified organisms. Farmers and food companies are not required to separate genetically engineered seeds and other seeds. However, if engineered and non-engineered crops are mixed together - they will have to be labeled as "may contain." It is unclear whether this label will serve as an incentive for US farmers to go GE-free or for US exporters to segregate crops. The protocol covers commodities, not foods, but most US exports are currently commodities, including seeds. The protocol is an outgrowth of the Convention on Biological Diversity created during the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Once 50 countries ratify the treaty and the Protocol goes into effect, which could take two or three years, a new round of negotiations on more specific labeling requirements will begin. Although the US has still not ratified the Convention, the US will have to comply with the Protocol when exporting to countries that have ratified the Convention. It is expected that large agricultural interests will challenge countries rejecting genetically engineered commodities through the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Biosafety Protocol does not override rules and obligations established under the WTO. Late last year, a WTO meeting was met with mass protests in Seattle over a number of issues, including the establishment of trade rules over genetically engineered foods. 3. Coalition Pushes Seed Companies To Go GE-Free The Safe Seed Initiative has received written assurance from 50 seed companies around the country that they will "not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants." The effort is being led by the Council for Responsible Genetics and the High Mowing Organic Seed Farm. Companies who support the Safe Seed Initiative sign a pledge which states in part, "We feel that genetically engineered varieties have been insufficiently tested prior to public release. More research and testing is necessary to further assess the potential risks of genetically engineered seeds. Further, we wish to support agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately people and communities." Seed companies who have signed the pledge include the following: Abundant Life Seed Foundation Bountiful Gardens Environmental Seed Producers Horse Creek Seed Sanctuary KUSA Seed Research Foundation Santa Barbara Heirloom Nursery Beauty Beyond Belief Wildflower Seeds Sunnyland Seeds New England Seed Co. Butterbrooke Farm The Pepper Gal Glendale Enterprises Florida Mycology Research Center Seeds Trust & High Altitude Gardens Underwood Gardens Borries Open Pollinated Seed Corn Farm Seed Savers Exchange Sand Hill Preservation Center FedCo Seeds Johnny's Selected Seeds Maine Seed Saving Network Wood Prairie Farm Pioneer Valley Seed Savers Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Barney's Ginseng Patch Morgan County Wholesale Garden City Seeds Seeds of Change Deep Diversity Boone's Native Seed Company Christopher Weeks Peppers Mellinger's Inc. Nichol's Garden Nursery Peters Seed & Research Territorial Seed Company Horizon Herbs Wild Garden Seed Heirloom Seeds Pepper Joe's Bethlehem Seed Company Heirloom Seed Project Seeds for the South Arethusa Seed Farm High Mowing Organic Seed Farm The Cook's Garden Zwaan Seeds Ladybug Herbs of Vermont Garden Medicinals & Culinaries Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants Filaree Farm Fungi Perfecti CANADA: Richters Herbs Alberta Nurseries & Seeds Prairie Garden Seeds Terra Edibles Mapple Farm Salt Spring Seeds For more information on the Safe Seed Initiative, contact Kim Wilson at the Council for Responsible Genetics - [EMAIL PROTECTED] 4. EPA Told To Respond To Lawsuit A federal judge ruled on January 19th that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has 60 days to respond to charges made in a lawsuit filed by Greenpeace, organic farmers, and other environmental groups regarding genetically engineered Bt crops. The lawsuit charges the agency with the wanton destruction of the world's most important biological pesticide -- Bt. This natural pesticide has been used sparingly by organic farmers for years but is now under threat from genetically engineered crops. Corn genetically engineered with the Bt pesticide in each of its cells could lead to insect resistance within 3 to 4 years, making it virtually useless for organic farmers. By approving engineered Bt crops, the EPA may necessitate the use of more powerful pesticides in the near future. Studies also have shown pollen from Bt corn to be toxic to monarch and other butterfly larvae. Market rejection of Bt corn has cost U.S. farmers more than $200 million in export revenue last year. A recent Reuters poll of 400 farmers (taken at the annual meeting of the nation's largest farm organization, the American Farm Bureau Federation) predicted a 24 percent decline in the planting of Bt corn and a 26 percent decline in the planting of Bt cotton this year. Currently, Bt corn is grown on approximately 20 million acres in the U.S., and Bt cotton on about 7 million acres. As stated in story one of this issue, Frito-Lay is now asking its contract farmers to no longer grow genetically engineered Bt corn. The original lawsuit was filed by legal counsel at the Center for Food Safety on February 18, 1998. The lawsuit was filed after the EPA failed to respond to a petition filed on September 16, 1997. For more information on the lawsuit, check out the Center for Food Safety's site: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/li/BTpress.html 5. Genetic Drift Research British researchers announced earlier last month that genetically engineered crops can send pollen over distances of several kilometres and spread their genes into conventional, non-modified crops. The discovery was made by analyzing pollen found in beehives. The problems associated with genetic drift raise questions of whether conventional or organic crops can be protected from contamination. The discovery comes after the British government mandated 200-meter buffer zones around test plots of modified canola, corn and other crops, in order to keep the test crops' pollen from fertilizing ordinary crops. But activists opposed to the tests in Britain set up pollen-catching "traps" over a wide area around a test farm this summer. And they found no limits to how far the pollen (and therefore the modified genes) spread. The U.K. chapter of Friends of the Earth hired an independent group, the National Pollen Research Unit, to put out pollen traps beginning 400 metres from the test field. The researchers scattered five more at increasing distances, the final one a full 4.5 kilometres from the test crop. As well as tracking the bees' pollen, the survey set out traps to catch pollen blown on the wind. This found wind-borne pollen travelled 475 metres, again well beyond the official buffer zone. Additional information on the flow of genetically engineered pollen can be found at the website of the Soil Association, based in the United Kingdom, http://www.soilassociation.org/ 6. Important Recent Articles Below are the titles and links to interesting articles published recently on issues related to organic food and food safety. These articles can be found on the website of our affiliated organization, the BioDemocracy Campaign (www.purefood.org) 2-6 - New Seed Planted in Genetic Flap - http://www.purefood.org/ge/fritolayhalf.cfm 2-3 - Agbiotech: Trouble in the Garden (Part 1) Rachel's - http://www.purefood.org/Corp/rach685.cfm 1-28 - Agribusiness Tells US Congress--Don't Label GE Foods Labels on biotech foods would raise prices-US industry http://www.purefood.org/ge/agriBusnoLabel.cfm <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. 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