Dustin Broadbery
As we approach a winter of discontent and Global food systems go from bad to worse, there’s trouble in paradise.
At the root of these problems, Government responses to COVID-19 have contributed to a six-fold increase in famine-like conditions as global supply chains collapse, and field trials for gene-edited crops and farm animals begin in the UK.
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.
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.
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.
Commission reportedly aims to exempt some new GMOs from safety regulations within four years and change regulation for all new GMOs within 10 years
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?
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14 July 2021 — GMWatch
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.
23 June 2021 — GMWatch
Camilla Cavendish promotes false and misleading narratives to warm up the public to deregulated GMOs.
Report: Claire Robinson
An article has been published in the Financial Times, with the headline, “We must overcome the fear of genetic engineering in our food”, and the subhead, “From countering climate change to saving bananas, new gene-editing technology could prove crucial”.
3 June 2021 — GMWatch
Change in law could speed commercialisation of GM wheat for people who can’t “use a toaster properly”
This month the UK government is expected to follow through on Boris Johnson’s promise to “liberate the UK’s extraordinary bioscience sector from anti–genetic modification rules” by removing safety checks and (probably) GMO labelling and traceability from some crops and livestock made with experimental new genetic engineering techniques.
21 April 2021 — GMWatch
“We don’t want this toxic weedkiller sprayed in our community” – Guerrilla Gardeners
In Midlothian, Scotland, residents who are concerned about the use of toxic weedkiller in their community have come together to adopt public land and stop council workers spraying it, according to a report in Midlothian View.
Following is an excellent article about a new peer-reviewed paper with a message that should be highlighted first and last in any discussion about the supposed need for GMOs and pesticides in order to maximise food production. That is: There is no food crisis, nor is there ever likely to be one, in spite of the world’s growing population.
1. Agriculture’s greatest myth – commentary on new peer-reviewed paper
2. The myth of a food crisis – details of the new paper
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Wheat for people “who are unable to use a toaster properly” will be planted in open field
The New Dark Age 