Dystopian Farm: the UK dairy industry & its technofixes

Thursday, 16 June 2022 — Corporate Watch

As the bill on gene-edited food goes through parliament, Corporate Watch takes a look at the dystopian technologies in the UK dairy industry and on the horizon.

In a new report, we explore the changing context – from the decline in milk consumption and the impact of Brexit, to the rise of the megadairies.

And we examine the technofixes being sold in the perpetual quest for productivity and profit, with mini-profiles on leading companies in each area. These include robotised milking systems, gene editing, ‘robot ready’ cows, low-emission cows, shock collars, and more.

Plus info on alternatives to the Dystopian Farm, and paths for resistance.

Find out more here: https://corporatewatch.org/dystopian-farm-the-uk-dairy-industry-its-technofixes/

If you don’t have time to read the full article, why not check out our interactive infographic here: https://corporatewatch.org/D3/Cow

UK Action Alert: Ask your MP to ensure your voice is heard

14 October 2021 — GMWatch

The vast majority of 6,440 submissions to the consultation on gene editing deregulation said NO to the proposals – but Defra is going ahead regardless

Environment Secretary George Eustice plans to ignore the results of his own public consultation and push on with proposals to dismantle GM safeguards, warns GM Freeze. Please ask your MP to tell him it’s time to start listening.

Continue reading

Eustice goes ahead with unpopular plan to dismantle GM safeguards

28 September 2021 — Reaction

Liz O’Neill

Earlier this week George Eustice, the  Environment Secretary, revealed plans to stop the likes of me being able to object to field trials of experimental genetically engineered crops. At least, I think that’s what he announced. The details of what is actually going to change were both vague and downplayed, occupying a mere 65 of the 1200-odd words in a Government press release that focused instead on the hypothetical potential for the latest GM techniques on the block to fix, well, just about everything.

Continue reading

UK: Putting money before life

29 September 2021 — GMWatch

UK government’s response to public consultation on gene editing is scientifically indefensible and a slap in the face for democracy

The UK government has released its response to the public consultation on its plans to deregulate gene editing – but only AFTER all the morning news broadcasts hyping the potential of the technology.

Continue reading

Chromothripsis: Bad news for gene editing

22 September 2021 — GMWatch

Chromothripsis - the result of a single catastrophic event in a cells history

Discovery of “catastrophic” unintended effect of CRISPR gene editing may have caused slump in companies’ stock. Report: Claire Robinson

CRISPR gene editing is often presented as a straightforward, precise, and safe procedure. But recent research findings on CRISPR gene editing for gene therapy applications show it can lead to massive damage to chromosomes. The phenomenon is known as chromothripsis.

Continue reading

The WHO Recommends Genetic Manipulation and Gene Editing of Humans “To Promote Public Health”

30 July 2021 — Global Research

The WHO has published official recommendations on DNA manipulation of humans.

By Jens Bernert

Those who warned that Corona “vaccinations“ were the first step towards the genetic manipulation of humans faced harsh attacks from quality media, politicians and activists who denied this and ridiculed the corresponding fears.

Continue reading

The stories we trust: Regulating genome edited organisms

26 July 2021 — GMWatch

Barbara Van Dyck unpacks the narratives that underpin corporate campaigns to deregulate new GM technologies

EXCERPT: In repeating industry narratives, decision-makers (and the media) pave the ground for a handful of corporations to advance false solutions that serve their encroachment of food systems. To help clarify valid claims from technological bluff, we recommend institutions, regulators and funders to carry out a ‘hype test’ by asking: What makes gene editing superior to other, more systemic options including agroecology, that makes it successful in producing healthier plants, animals and crops and healthier food?

Continue reading

Biotech: EU Commission spreading misinformation

14 July 2021 — GMWatch

Testbiotech warns against disregarding scientific evidence

The EU Commission has rejected criticism of its report on plants and New GE (New Genetic Engineering, genome editing). In a letter to Testbiotech, the Commission stated that there were no new risks associated with plants derived from genetically engineered plants compared to conventionally bred plants, as long as no transgenes were inserted. The Commission is directly repeating claims made by industry and affiliated experts that are contrary to existing scientific evidence. Testbiotech is therefore warning against the spread of misinformation and disregarding of science.

Continue reading

The Agri-Food Model, Unregulated Gene Editing Technologies

6 April 2021 — Global Research

Four Words Gates and His Pals Despise: Democracy and Minimum Support Price

By Colin Todhunter

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and an assortment of high-profile figures and policy makers are pushing for unregulated gene-editing technologies, the rollout of bio-synthetic food created in laboratories, the expanded use of patented seeds and the roll back of subsidies and support for farmers in places like India.

Continue reading

Bill Gates finances lobby for “new GMOs” in Europe

29 March 2021 — GMWatch

Bill Gates

Aim is to derail EU rules on GMOs

These new revelations from Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) are crucially important to read and understand if we want to preserve our democracy and food freedom. Please alert all your contacts.

1. Derailing EU rules on new GMOs
2. Bill Gates finances lobby for “new GMOs” in Europe

Continue reading

European Group on Ethics presents biased and inaccurate report on new genetic engineering

23 March 2021 — GMWatch

Ethics of genome editing report BIAS

Report is scientifically inaccurate and skewed by anti-regulatory agenda. Report: Claire Robinson and Jonathan Matthews

The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE), which advises the EU Commission, has published its report on New Genetic Engineering (New GE or gene editing). The report deals with New GE applications in humans, animals and plants. While the report makes thoughtful points on gene editing in humans and livestock animals, the chapter on plants is another matter. Separate analyses of the report by GMWatch and Testbiotech have found that this section lacks balance and scientific accuracy.

Continue reading

New analytical tool reveals massive DNA damage caused by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing

20 March 2021 — GMWatch

Much of the damage would have been missed by analyses conducted till now. Report: Claire Robinson

New research from Chinese scientists shows that CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing causes massive damage to the genome, much of which would have been missed by the analytical tools used so far.

Continue reading

GMWatch mythbuster exposes UK government misinformation on gene editing

16 February 2021 — GMWatch

Gene Editing Misinformation

DEFRA’s evidence-free leaflet is a wish list for GMO boosters and misleads the public

UK farm and environment ministry DEFRA published an “Explainer” document on gene editing as a guide for members of the public who want to respond to the UK government’s consultation on its plan to deregulate gene editing. It may also have been meant to assist the media, as parts of the text also occur in DEFRA’s press release for the launch of the public consultation.

Continue reading

Genetic Engineering, Agriculture and Brexit: Treachery in Our Midst

9 January 2021 — Counter Currents

By Colin Todhunter

The UK government has launched its public consultation on the deregulation of gene editing in England. To kick things off, somewhat predictably Environment Secretary George Eustice recently spun a staunch pro-industry line at the Oxford Farming Conference by stating:

Continue reading

GMO promoter Krebs misleads the BBC and the British public on gene editing

1 August 2020 — GMWatch

GMO promoter John Krebs and Gene Editing

Makes inflated promises and false claims for an unproven technology

Below is a transcript of what the GMO promoter and member of the UK’s House of Lords, John Krebs, told the BBC in an interview about the government’s intention to deregulate gene editing so that it’s no longer defined and regulated as a genetic modification technique.

Continue reading

British people won’t thank the NFU for its stance on gene editing

22 July 2020 — The Grocer

By Joanna Blythman, food journalist and author of Swallow This

Farmers’ popularity has shot up. The general public used to ignore them, or view them as subsidy junkies. Now, as the people who put food on our plates during the Covid-19 crisis, they are enjoying levels of gratitude unprecedented since the Second World War.

Continue reading