NOFA/Massachusetts Social Action Center
Genetic Engineering News
Feburary 2009
compiled by Jack Kittredge
NOFA/Mass Social Action Coordinator
Agri-Mark Says Stop Usage or Truck Milk to N.Y. Instead
For all intents and purposes, the New England dairy industry will be "rbST-free" by the end of summer 2009. Facing the threat of losing markets for its highly successful Cabot brand of cheeses, cooperative owner Agri-Mark has told its member farmers that if they want to continue using bovine somatotropin to boost production their milk will have to go to a cheese plant in northern New York State at a cost to them of up to $2 per hundredweight to cover the trucking.
"Cabot sales were at risk, and we were going to lose markets if we continued to accept milk from rbST-treated cows at our Middlebury and Cabot (Vt.) cheese plants and our West Springfield (Mass.) butter and powder plant," says Bob Wellington, senior vice president of Agri-Mark, the largest producer cooperative in New England. Milk going into Class I, or fluid, sales had been essentially rbST-free in New England for at least the past two years. Promotion of "no artificial hormones" milk was a key to rapid growth for Portland, Maine-based Oakhurst Dairy starting a decade ago, and the rest of the fluid processors doing business in the six-state area eventually followed suit and committed to accepting only supplies from non-rbST herds. The two primary marketers of farm milk in New England, Agri-Mark and Dairy Marketing Services/Dairy Farmers of America, have wrestled with assembling and marketing two separate streams of farm milk, one from farms using rbST and one from farms that shun the technology.
Agri-Mark's board of directors has set Aug. 1 as the cutoff for any rbST milk coming into its system, a decision which essentially is the deadline for both its member farms and all the rest of the New England and eastern New York farms shipping into the New England market. Customers for rbST farm milk in New York have decreased sharply, with only a couple of Class I handlers and a handful of manufacturing plants left willing to receive product from producers employing the artificial hormone.
source: Lancaster Farming, 1/23/09
Different Roundup Formulations Lead to Embryonic, Umbilical Cord and Placental Cell Death
For the first time, the toxicity mechanisms of four different Roundup formulations were studied in human cells. The cells were neonatal cells freshly isolated from the umbilical cord, or less sensitive cell lines specially used to measure pollutant toxicity. The various components of these major herbicides were tested because they are among the most common in the world. They act at doses where they do not function as herbicides anymore.
In this research, the formulations were diluted at minimal doses (up to 100 000 times or more) and they programmed cell death in a few hours in a cumulative manner. Also noted were membrane and DNA damage, inhibited cell respiration. In addition, it was shown that the mixture of the components used as Roundup adjuvants amplified the action of the active principle called glyphosate; one of its metabolites may be even more toxic.
This independent work was performed by Nora Benachour and Prof. Gilles-Eric Séralini in the University of Caen in France. It is published in the Scientific American journal Chemical Research in Toxicology.
source: www.criigen.org Press Release CRIIGEN - January 2009
USDA Reopening Biotech/Pharma Crop Comment Period?
APHIS is reopening the comment period (for 2 months) on the biotech rule. They received many comments on the issues and criticizing the short comment period. While the public is invited to comment on any of the provisions outlined in the proposed rule, APHIS is particularly interested in receiving comments related to the following areas:
* The scope of the regulations and which GE organisms should be included or excluded from the proposed regulations;
* Incorporation of the noxious weed provisions of the Plant Protection Act into the proposed regulations,
* Elimination of the notification procedure--a streamlined procedure for authorizing the importation, interstate movement or environment release of certain GE organisms--including specific suggestions for protecting against the introduction of plant pests or noxious weeds while minimizing any additional burden or delay for applicants and
* Regulation of GE crops that produce pharmaceutical and industrial compounds, including specific suggestions on how to provide appropriate protection based upon risk.
Even with an extension, APHIS is not making the Environmental Impact Statement available,
source: http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2009-00905_PI.pdf.
USDA Proposes First-Ever Industrial GE Crop
USDA is poised to deregulate the world's first genetically engineered (GE) industrial crop. Similar to GE pharma crops that use corn for producing drugs, Syngenta's "Event 3272" is genetically engineered to use corn for energy (ethanol) production and not for food. This unprecedented, industrial application of a GE technology poses a variety of environmental, health, and economic risks that must be carefully evaluated to determine whether the widespread use of this GE industrial corn crop should be allowed on farms across our nation.
In a "business as usual" move, USDA has fast-tracked the commercialization of this GE industrial corn and has forgone conducting a full Environmental Impact Study (EIS), as required by law. Instead, USDA is basing its decision to approve the industrial GE corn upon a shorter assessment that falls woefully short of the thorough review the law requires before a new GE crop is approved. Moreover, USDA has failed to acknowledge that this GE technology requires even greater scrutiny since it transforms a ubiquitous food crop -corn- into an industrial crop - ethanol- making it no longer fit for human consumption.
Event 3272 corn contains an exotic enzyme derived from "thermophilic" (heat-loving) microorganisms living near deep sea hydrothermal vents. The enzyme - alpha-amylase - breaks down starches into complex sugars. Syngenta's alpha amylase is generated at extremely high levels in the corn kernels themselves for the purpose of eliminating one step in ethanol production and save a little money. The trouble is that this enzyme might be capable of causing food allergies in people who inadvertently consume this corn. Humans have never been exposed to this form of alpha amylase before. But, we know some versions of this enzyme (from fungi) cause respiratory allergies, which are closely related to food allergies. Syngenta's corn-embedded enzyme has two characteristic properties of food allergens: it's extremely resistant to breakdown by heat, and it tolerates somewhat acidic conditions. Thus it will likely survive food processing and may withstand gastric juices intact, which means a higher likelihood of triggering allergic reactions.
Despite the fact that this GE corn is meant strictly for industrial use, USDA admits that if Event 3272 corn is intentionally or accidentally diverted into the food supply, it could negatively impact food quality. And there's no doubt Event 3272 will enter the food supply. Corn cross-pollinates at great distances, and there are absolutely no requirements to plant this industrial corn away from food-grade corn. Instead of reviewing the foreseeable negative impacts of biological contamination on organic and conventional corn from Event 3272 corn, USDA has merely relied on Syngenta, the creator of the GE corn, to protect non-industrial corn from contamination.
source: http://ga3.org/campaign/EthanolCorn
Drug From Genetically Engineered Goats a First
In what would be a scientific first, an anti-clotting drug made from the milk of genetically engineered goats moved closer to government approval Wednesday after experts at the Food and Drug Administration reported that the medication works and its safety is acceptable. Called ATryn, the drug is intended to help people with a rare hereditary disorder that makes them vulnerable to life-threatening blood clots. Its approval would be a major step toward new kinds of medications made not from chemicals, but from living organisms genetically manipulated by scientists. Similar drugs could be available in the next few years for a range of human ailments, including hemophilia. ATryn was developed by a Massachusetts biotechnology company, GTC Biotherapeutics, by altering the genes of goats so they would produce milk rich in antithrombin, a protein that in humans acts as a natural blood thinner.
source: The Associated Press, January 7, 2009
Monsanto Doubles Quarterly Net Income on Seeds
Monsanto Co. said its fiscal first-quarter profit leapt 54% on farmer demand for its genetically-engineered seed and strength in its Latin America market. The St. Louis-based grain-seed and herbicide supplier also raised its forecast for the year ending Nov. 30 to a range of $4.40 to $4.50 a share, compared to the $4.20 to $4.40 a share outlook provided in October. Shares of Monsanto surged 13% to $82.97. On a post-earnings call with analysts, Chief Executive Hugh Grant said the outlook was based on conservative estimates that more corn will be planted this year over soybeans. Every one-million acre shift to planted corn from soybeans adds roughly one to two cents to the company's per-share earnings. Monsanto has about 26% of the global corn-seed market, and has managed to grow that by 1% to 2% a year as elbows out rivals such as DuPont's Pioneer seeds and others.
source: MarketWatch, Jan. 7, 2009
Catholic Healthcare West Presses Suppliers to Prohibit Animal Cloning and Genetically Engineered Foods
Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), a leading Catholic Hospital System, announced today that its food purchasing dollars will be focused on promoting sustainable food production practices, in part by seeking alternatives to foods produced with genetically engineered sugar, as well as meat and dairy produced with animal clones. The CHW position was developed in recognition of the serious health and environmental concerns these technologies raise and the threat they pose to healthier and more sustainable food production options. Among the concerns CHW is raising about genetically engineered and cloned foods are genetic contamination, increased pesticide use, animal cruelty, and the deep ethical and moral issues associated with these untested new technologies.
CHW recently asked eight of its largest food suppliers for their policies on genetically engineered sugar beets, which are being planted for commercial use for the first time this year. Results from the survey found that its suppliers would prefer non-genetically engineered sugar beets. Only Diamond Crystal indicated their intent to avoid buying genetically engineered sugar and that they will seek out suppliers that do not use genetically engineered foods through a validation process. CHW intends next to survey its meat and dairy suppliers on their potential use of animal cloning since the U.S. FDA recently decided to allow marketing of food from animal clones.
Genetic engineering and animal cloning are controversial in food production, since the technologies have not been subject to long-term safety testing and could create irreversible environmental damage. Genetically engineered crops can contaminate natural foods and have promoted the use of herbicides that may be harmful to human health and natural systems. Scientists say that animal clones are often abnormal and suffer from a host of often painful defects. A New England Journal of Medicine article stated that, "[It] may be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to generate healthy cloned animals."
"Genetic engineering and animal cloning are in direct conflict with our sustainable food service vision and corporate sustainability goals," stated Sr. Mary Ellen Leciejewski, CHW's ecology program coordinator. "We have numerous unanswered concerns about the imminent introduction of genetically engineered sugar beets and marketing of food from animal clones. Previous genetically engineered crops have increased pesticide use, and animal cloning is a cruel and unnecessary technology in meat and dairy production. Our aim is to promote alternative approaches that produce foods that are safer and healthier for our patients, staff, and visitors and that can sustain the farmers and food producers in our communities."
source: CHW press release, Jan. 6, 2009
Red Card for the Landmine Plant
For several years the biotech industry, beset by charges that it is only out for profit, has been citing work by a Danish firm with a common weed (thale-cress). The company is engineering it to turn from green to red in the presence of nitrogen dioxide, a component of most explosives. The plant has been hailed by both Reuters and Time Magazine as an exciting new way to detect landmines or other unexploded ordnance. But recent tests in Serbia have been disappointing and the company has laid off the scientists involved and is reinventing itself as an investment company.
source: http://www.aresa.dk/uploads/File/aresa-PR-311008-UK.pdf
Campaign to Pressure WWF on GM Soy
WWF (which used to be the World Wide Fund for Nature) is the largest environmental group in the world. But is has been keeping questionable company. In 1997 it was associated with 19 corporations cited in the National Wildlife Federation's survey of the 500 worst industrial polluters. Now it has been sitting as one of 32 members on the Round Table on Responsible Soy (other members are Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge, and Cargill). The group is supposed to certify soy produced "responsibly". Critics, however, consider such an effort to be classic greenwashing and point out that large swaths of jungle throughout the world are now being burned for new soy plantings. They call on environmentalists to contact WWF and urge them to oppose large-scale soy plantings, especially GM soy.
source: http://www.gmfreeireland.org/news/2008/dec/index.php#WWF
Cuba Seeks Mass GM Crop Planting
Cuban authorities are planning a mass planting of genetically modified crops for this year, the biotechnology information service, Fundacion Antama, reports. The Cuban biotechnology and genetic engineering centre, the CIGB, has hailed field trials on 1 ha of land a success and expects to receive permits by the end of January to plant a further 50 ha. Its deputy director, Carlos Borroto, believes that seed to plant 6,000 ha can be obtained from a 50 ha site. Cuba is developing its own insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant maize. The country needs its own products because of the US blockade, the CIGB explains. The sub-director is confident of the imminent adoption of the technology, saying there is "enormous political will and aid". There has a clear debate going on in Cuba on use of advanced technology, such as genetic engineering. It appears that the side favoring such use has prevailed.
source: AGROW, Published Online: 26/01/2009
This page was last modified on February 10, 2009 at 6:35:11 AM.
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