More Saying No to Monsanto

Opposition to biotech giant Monsanto growing worldwide, new report shows
A new report by civil society organisations shows that around the world small-holder and organic farmers, local communities and social movements are increasingly resisting and rejecting Monsanto, and the agro-industrial model that it represents. The new report, jointly produced by La Via Campesina, Friends of the Earth International and Combat Monsanto - available in English, French and Spanish - provides snapshots of frontline struggles against Monsanto and other agrochemical corporations pushing genetically modified (GM) crops onto farmers and into the environment.
Read press release on the Friends of the Earth International website

Survey reveals two-thirds of people in the UK want GM crops to be kept out of the food chain

Two-thirds of people in the UK want GM crops to be kept out of the food chain, survey reveals.
Read Friends of the Earth and GM Freeze press release at oneworld.net

EU GMO-labelling laws fail consumers

France is poised to become the latest in a growing trend of European countries to introduce GMO-free labels for food in a bid to counter weaker EU standards and to compensate for a loophole in European labelling laws. Currently, EU labelling laws mean meat, dairy and eggs from animals fed with genetically modified animal feed do not have to be labelled.
Read article on the Friends of the Earth Europe website

Biotech industry fakes growth of GM crops in Europe

A new report released by Friends of the Earth International reveals the failure of genetically modified crops around the world, and how statistics showing their increase in Europe have been manipulated. The new 'Who Benefits from GM Crops?' 2009 report exposes inconsistencies in how the European biotech lobby group EuropaBio has reported the total area planted to GM crops. The group inflated the figures by almost a quarter in 2008 to mask an actual decline. The misleading numbers are used by companies to make genetically modified farming appear more widespread than it really is. In reality public opposition and safety-conscious European governments mean that planting of GM crops in Europe has decreased every year since 2005 with an overall drop of 35 per cent.
Read press statement on the Friends of the Earth Europe website

Prince Charles remains vehemently against genetically modified (GM) crops.

Prince Charles sparks debate over GM crops claims
Article in the Telegraph, following the Daily Telegraph's exclusive interview with Prince Charles

Extracts:

"In a statement setting the Prince against politicians who believe GM foods will be crucial to feeding under-nourished populations in the developing world, he said: "What we should be talking about is food security, not food production - that is what matters and that is what people will not understand."

His belief was backed up by Mike Childs, the campaign director for Friends of the Earth. "GM crops will not solve the food crisis - and forging ahead with an industrialised farming system will continue to fail people and the environment around the world," Mr Childs said.

However Phil Willis, a Liberal Democrat MP and the chairman of the Commons science committee, said the Prince's "lack of scientific understanding" would "condemn millions of people to starvation in areas like sub-Saharan Africa"."

"The Prince accused large corporations of conducting experiments with nature, which had, he said "gone seriously wrong". His comments were supported by Patrick Holden, a director of the Soil Association.

"If we go down this path I think we will put this country at risk. There could be a period of great difficulty in the next 10 or 20 years," Mr Holden said. "No evidence has emerged from the first round of GM crops of any public benefits. They have actually increased pesticide use in the farms that have used them.""

I've a lot of sympathy with Prince Charles' views on GM foods.