News

2014-12-22 |

Florida Mayor Calls For GMO Free Vending Machines

GMO Free Florida GMO Free Florida

In a small victory against GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms), a mayor of a town in Florida has called for GMO free vending machines in all the city owned buildings.

Peter Bober, the mayor of Hollywood, Florida, has passed a new mandate that will require all of the 45 vending machines that the city owns to offer GMO free choices. The mandate will also require those vending machines to include healthier offerings that meet recommendations from the American Heart Association for healthier snack and drink options in the work place.

This is just one of the many measures that have been taken around the globe, as consumers, governments, and activists take steps against GMOs and demand healthier, more natural food. Other cities in Florida, including Hallandale Beach and Miami Beach, have passed local resolutions to require GMO labeling in their towns, and they are not alone.

2014-12-20 |

IFOAM EU: Key points to stay GMO free identified at first "Keeping GMOs out of organics" roundtable

IFOAM EU IFOAM EU

During the first roundtable meeting of the “Keeping GMOs out of organics” project, fifteen experts on prevention of GMOs in the GM-free supply chain identified key points to staying GM-free.

Among the key strategic points identified by the experts were the need to address the costs of coexistence, the socioeconomic impact of GMOs in the entire GM-free sector supply chain, the need to collect data in the field and the importance of better information sharing regarding best practices and available tools to prevent GM contamination. Moreover, the experts also discussed the need to join efforts and to develop better coordination with GM-free conventional agriculture regarding the introduction of GMOs in the supply chain.

2014-12-19 |

AFSA Open Letter Opposing Human Feeding Trials Involving GM Banana

Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa

We, the undersigned, representing diverse constituencies from across Africa and the world, working towards food sovereignty, are strongly opposed to the human feeding trials taking place at the Iowa State University involving the so called genetically modified (GM) ‘super banana’ - GM Matooke, Sweet and Roasting bananas.

These trials funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are being carried out under the leadership of Dr. Wendy White of the Iowa State University, on 12 young students, with the intention of introducing the GM banana first in Uganda and later, to other countries in East Africa. The GM banana, currently undergoing field trials in Uganda, was developed by scientists at Queensland University of Technology in Australia, similarly also funded by the Gates Foundation.

Despite claims to the contrary from the promoters and developers of GM crops, and to reiterate what nearly three hundred global scientists have stated in an Open Letter in December 2013, there is no consensus that GM crops are safe for human consumption. Most of the research carried out by independent scientists on GM crops directly contradicts the results of biotech industry-sponsored studies that claim no evidence of risk or harm.

2014-12-18 |

GMO testing procedure curtails US hay exports to China

GMO Alfalfa GMO Alfalfa

China's booming dairy industry has meant a surge in US hay exports, but the country's resistance to imports of some US genetically-modified crops (GMOs) is reducing US exports of hay modified with biotech alfalfa.

US farmers have embraced the GMO technology that helps to kill weeds, fight pests and improve yields. But China has not accepted all GMO agriculture products and has tight restrictions on imports.

Earlier this year, China started testing to determine if US hay imports contained the genetically modified alfalfa developed by Monsanto Co, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal on Monday.

"China is among the largest markets for US hay; so, of course it will affect exports. Again, it comes back to industry sourcing product as demanded by the customer. It is our understanding the Chinese government is aware of the need for regulatory approval and that it might take at least a year," he said. "In the meantime, we strictly adhere to China's zero-tolerance policy and do our best to please our customers in all markets with properly sourced product."

2014-12-18 |

EU: New scheme fails to change flawed GMO authorisation process

For a GMO-free EU! For a GMO-free EU!

The European Parliament's environment committee today voted to endorse an agreement on a new scheme for the authorisation of genetically-modified organisms in the EU. The Greens voted against the new scheme, as it would renationalise decisions about GMO cultivation instead of reforming the risk assessment process for GMOs, which is urgently needed. After the vote, Green food safety spokesperson Bart Staes said:

“This new scheme risks being a slippery slope for easing EU GMO authorisations, without providing certainty for those wanting to opt-out or say 'no' to GMOs. It fails to provide a legally watertight basis for those countries wishing to opt out and, as such, this 'renationalisation' of decisions on GMO cultivation is a Trojan horse. The agreement would also fail to ensure there are meaningful mandatory measures to prevent the contamination of non-GM crops, with the myriad of issues this raises for growers wanting to remain GM-free. More importantly, it fails to really change the fundamentally flawed EU approval process in itself.

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