Seeds of Coercion copy

Barbara H. Peterson

Farm Wars

We have a choice to make before that choice is taken from us completely and we are left scrounging for whatever clean food sources that we can find that have not been contaminated with genetically modified (GMO) organisms, also referred to as genetically engineered (GE),  and/or Glyphosate (Roundup), courtesy of corporations intent on owning the world’s food supply. And those clean food sources are getting scarcer by the minute.

Sure, there is a pushback by consumers for ‘organics,’ and it appears that some of the larger companies in the U.S. such as Costco are increasing their organic options. But there is also a push to create GMOs that could possibly be included in what the USDA considers ‘organic’ due to new genetic engineering technology that so far, remain completely unregulated. If the biotech multinationals have their way, the consumer will not be able to tell the difference between a seed that has been diced and spliced in a lab and what has been grown naturally in a field. No oversight, no accountability, just buy it, plant it, eat it and shut up about it.

So, the question becomes; who will win? Will the people pushing for true organics sans GMOs be able to counter the effects of mass genetic contamination and pesticide pollution being spread worldwide by giant chemical corporations such as Monsanto, or is becoming GMO and chemical-free merely a pipe dream? Do we stand a chance in the fight for food that we can eat without contracting some sort of disease?

The world is facing a food crisis. GMOs and Glyphosate are poised to take over all of our farmland, worldwide, and if we don’t do something soon, the chemical corporations that create both the pesticides and seeds engineered to be resistant to them will win through sheer contamination. If these corporations have their way, there will be no seed that they will not own a patent on, and no method of farming that will be allowed except for the industry-approved method, including massive doses of proprietary chemicals such as Glyphosate. Not even organics will be safe from the onslaught.

GMOs

In 2014, the global area of biotech crops continued to increase for the 19th year at a sustained growth rate of 3 to 4% or 6.3 million hectares (~16 million acres), reaching 181.5 million hectares or 448 million acres (Figure 1). Biotech crops have set a precedent in that the biotech area has grown impressively every single year for the past 19 years, with a remarkable 100-fold increase since the commercialization began in 1996. Thus, biotech crops are considered as the fastest adopted crop technology in the history of modern agriculture.

PIC 1

In 2014, a total of 18 million farmers planted biotech crops in 28 countries, wherein over 94.1% or greater than 16.9 million were small and resource-poor farmers from developing countries. The highest increase in any country, in absolute hectarage growth was US with 3 million hectares.

PIC 2

(ISAAA)

And these statistics only include those GMO/GE crops using the traditional method of inserting what is considered a ‘plant pest’ in their engineering. Now, with new gene editing techniques that don’t use a bacteria or virus (plant pests) to insert foreign DNA in the cells, the USDA has absolutely no regulatory framework to even minutely control the end products. In traditional genetic engineering, an agrobacterium is used that basically infects the cell to transfer foreign DNA into it, including a virus. It is the bacteria and virus that is covered by USDA regulations only. Take these elements out of the equation, and you have a free-for-all approach to releasing GMOs on the world via stealth.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), have taken steps to regulate genetically-engineered (GE) crops (i.e., crops whose genetic makeup has been modified), but USDA has not updated its regulations to oversee GE crops derived from alternative technologies in which the GE crop developed contains no plant pest DNA. EPA regulates certain GE crops as part of its pesticide registration process. FDA, through its voluntary consultation process, works with companies that develop GE crops to consider food safety issues.

EPA and FDA apply the same legal authorities and oversight processes to regulate GE and non-GE crops, regardless of how a GE crop was developed. Conversely, USDA’s GE crop regulations pertain only to crops for which the donor, vector, or recipient of genetic material is a plant pest.

In 2008, USDA took steps to update its regulations to capture GE crops developed with alternative technologies. However, in February 2015, USDA withdrew its proposed rule because, in part, the scope of this rule was not clear. USDA still intends to update its regulations, but has not established a timeline for doing so.

GAO’s [U.S. Government Accountability Office] body of work has shown that without milestones and interim steps it can be difficult for an agency to set priorities, measure progress, and provide management a means to monitor the agency’s progression promulgating a new rule. In addition, until a rule is finalized USDA will continue to lack regulatory authority to assess the potential risks, if any, posed by GE crops created with alternative technologies. (GAO)

And the health effects? When you mix genetic material between organisms that could never breed with each other naturally, such as a tomato and a flounder, creating a tomato that has some of the characteristics of a fish, there is no possible way that you can predict what will happen. Anyone who says differently is either ignorant or lying. There is reason to believe that the DNA from these organisms is being transferred into our own genetic structure when we eat them, and the results? We are in the testing process right now. Every bite you take of a GMO enters you into the biggest quasi-scientific experiment of all time.

Glyphosate (Roundup)

Total worldwide glyphosate use (agricultural plus non-agricultural) rose more than 12-fold from about 67 million kg in 1995 to 826 million kg in 2014 (0.15–1.8 billion pounds; Table 4). Over the last decade, 6.1 billion kgs of glyphosate have been applied, 71.6 % of total use worldwide from 1974–2014.

PIC 3

(Springer)

Glyphosate is not only used on GMOs, but as a desiccant for non-GMO grain crops to prepare them for harvest.  In other words, right before harvesting, they are soaked in Roundup so that they will dry up and be easier on the equipment used to perform the harvest.

PIC 4

It is foolish to think that the widespread continued use of pesticides such as Glyphosate will not impact even organic crops due to water, air and soil pollution.

POISONED FIELDS – GLYPHOSATE, THE UNDERRATED RISK?

And to make matters worse, there is no known antidote for Glyphosate poisoning, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

So, you want to eat non-GMO and Glyphosate-free…

The best we can do if we want to keep GMOs soaked in Glyphosate off of our plates is to know which foods have been genetically engineered and which have not; at least for the present, as the biotechnology juggernaut is expanding quickly. As for the Glyphosate being dumped on non-GMO crops? Know your farmer, and only buy from companies that you trust to follow pure organic guidelines so that you get the least exposure as possible.

foods at riskGMO-Compass has an extensive database in which you can search for foods that are or contain genetically engineered ingredients. Just bear in mind that it is a decidedly pro-GMO and chemical agriculture site. A list of processed foods that may contain, and most likely do, genetically engineered ingredients is located at this link at the site, and to find out which plants have been genetically engineered, or are being field tested and where such tests are occurring, GMO-Compass has a searchable database for this also.

I would love to say that it is easy to figure out what to eat and what not to eat, but it’s not. Not with the ever-expanding list of engineered crops. That is, if you depend on the grocery and feed stores to sustain you, your family, and your animals. So, what is the solution? Grow your own while there is still good seed left, and before the entire global food supply has been contaminated with GMOs and pesticides such as Glyphosate. These seeds are best obtained from someone whom you trust to supply you with seeds that have a known heritage sans contamination.

Start a garden, milk a goat, get some chickens and find a water source that has not been contaminated with Glyphosate while it is still possible to do so. The next best solution is to get your produce, milk, eggs and meat from a local rancher who will attest to the farm’s purity and who will allow you to take a look around for yourself, because at the current rate of genetic pollution and pesticide drift, as well as the implementation of more and more GMO crops in the pipeline, it will not be very long until we have no choice but to eat what we are told by corporations bent on owning and controlling the entire world’s food supply. And that, my friends, is the bottom line.

Corporations such as Monsanto exist to maximize profit, and that profit has proven time and time again to be at the expense of the very people that trust them to supply safe, healthy food. They cannot be trusted to do the right thing. History proves this.

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO MONSANTO

DAVID VS MONSANTO

©2016 Barbara H. Peterson

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2 Responses to “GMOs and Pesticides: Ruining the Global Food Supply”

  1. Irene says:

    the fix is in, just like the elections. The poisoning of the environment is all part of the depopulation agenda. The U.N compels nations to kill of a percentage of their population in return for plausible deniability.

  2. Abe says:

    This is a communication between myself and one of the Moms Across America

    N,
    I don’t think most people know the gravity behind TPP & TTIP, as if NAFTA wasn’t bad enough. I guess that will explain the secrecy behind it. The media did what they were paid to do, as same with the politicians. The hell with “We the People”. If this passes were truly screwed. Organic would be as meaningless as natural. Scary days ahead. I feel sadness for the young, and there anger on why no one did anything to stop this. We’re truly and rapidly on our way to be a 3rd world country.

    These Globalist trade deals are, indeed, exercises in eliminating nations and turning over the economy of the world to mega-corporations.

    For example, as The Independent reported (10/16/15), the TTIP embodies Investor-State Dispute Settlements (ISDS), whereby corporations can sue governments when their profits are endangered.

    For instance, Monsanto could sue the EU for refusing to accept the import of GMO food crops, thereby enabling a Monsanto end-run around Europe’s tight restrictions on GMOs.

    The Guardian (May 22, 2015) headline and tag says it all:

    “EU dropped pesticide laws due to US pressure over TTIP, documents show… US trade officials pushed EU to shelve action on endocrine-disrupting chemicals linked to cancer and male infertility to facilitate TTIP free trade deal”.
    J

    I know J. And most people are clueless. I feel sadness and fear for my children as well.

    N

    We had a major victory a few weeks ago. I called Al & Amy’s offices and was as mean and vulgar as I could be. Time to take off the gloves people and bare knuckle it! Them rats are against us, by hook or crook!
    Let them whore’s in DC KNOW where you stand!
    No Guts No Glory!!
    God bless Percy where ever you are!!
    Draw your line in the sand people!! Do or die!!

    Pro-GMO Congress Critter Klobuchar Exposed

    http://farmwars.info/?p=9687

    “Nobody is waiting in the wings to save us. The cavalry isn’t coming. The cavalry is here. If you’re still looking for your hero, check the mirror.” (Nick Brannigan)
    May we all have the courage to stand up for what we know to be true like Jon. Check the mirror… Is your hero looking back? If not, do something about it. Take a stand. Make your voice heard. Ban GMOs now!
    Barbara H. Peterson