GM crops

1. GM crops

2. GMO expansion in the world • After 12 years of commercialisation: • 4 crops, two traits and just a few countries • Herbicide resistant (99% Monsanto’s RoundUp Ready) • Bt crops (secrete insecticide, also called « Insect resistent ») • Over 90% of the area planted is found in 5 countries in North and South America: • US, Canada, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay • US and Argentina grow over 70% of all GM crops

3. GM soy in Latin America • 90% of all GM crops commercialised in South America are herbicide-resistant soy • 40% of soy is GM in Brazil • 90 % in Paraguay • Nearly 100% in Argentina

4. Argentina • RR soy increase from 2% in 1996/7 to virtually 100% today • Resulting in problems of glyphosate-resistant weeds and increased pesticide use • Glyphosate (Monsanto’s Round Up) use more than tripled from 1999/2000 to 2005/2006 while over the same period 2,4D (component of agent orange) even more as have other toxic pesticides such as atrazine (banned in the EU for health reasons)

5. The case of Johnsongrass: • Considered to be one of the worst weeds in the world • First reports by Argentinean farmers of the failure to control johnsongrass with glyphosate in the late 90s and glyphosate-resistant johnsongrass first confirmed 2003 • Announcement of resistant johnsongrass in 7000 to 10000 hectares in 2006 • In 2007, reported in 6 provinces in Argentina

6. The case of Johnsongrass: • Recommendation to control resistant weeds is to use a cocktail of herbicides including some of the most toxic. • Estimations are that additional 25 million litres of such herbicides will be needed each year

7. The case of Johnsongrass: • Increase in production costs of between USD 160 to USD 950 million per year • Estimation that herbicide costs will double in affected areas • Bill drafted by Argentinean Congressman in 2007 • Calls for an eradication of johnsongrass • Acknowledges that “market forces cannot control this pest” and that a special fund is needed to fund eradication measures. Fund would include taxpayers money, and contributions for International organisations

8. Social injustice and human rights’ abuses • Coalition of civil society groups in Paraguay (Mesa DRS) has placed a complaint against Paraguay at the UN: • Indiscriminate use of agrochemicals by soy landowners • Child mortality, abortions (miscarriages?) and birth defects • Cargill is planning to construct a huge harbour in the Paraguay River to export over a million metric tons of grain • Home to traditional fisherpeople and 500 metres upstream from the public company that distributes water to the capital city • 30% of all soy, maize and wheat production controlled by Cargill

9. Social injustice and human rights’ abuses • In Paraguay, just 2% of landowners control 70% of the land. 40% of people live below the poverty line • In Brazil in 2007, machine gun fired at Landless Rural Workers’ Movement and Via Campesina by Syngenta security guards. One farmer killed, others injured

10. Impacts of GM crops • GM soy and cotton occupy the majority of the areas planted with GM crops in developing countries • Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, India and China • Crops are destined for feed and fibre export to wealth nations not for food use • Patents on seed means that seeds are expensive and farmers unable to save seed • GM soy cultivation in Latin America is driving small farmers off the land, displacing acreage planted to food crops • Number of farmers in Makhatini Flats area of South Africa has decreased from 3229 in 2001/02 to 853 in 2006/7 after introduction of Bt cotton

11. So why grow GM crops? • GM crops are grown by large scale farmers who represent a minority of the world’s farmers • Benefit of GM crops is “convenience effect” • Reduction in farm labour and increased flexibility in the timing of herbicide applications (for how long?) • The ability to farm more acres with less labour has facilitated the worldwide trend for fewer and bigger industrial-style farms

12. The EU market • Consumer opposition and labelling has resulted in retailers adopting a GMO-free policy • Majority of GM therefore has been channeled into animal feed – the invisible presence of GM in Europe • Greenpeace petition signed by 1 million consumers calling for labelling of meat products • Although not perfect, the EU does have the strictest biosafety laws in the world

13. Rise in animal feed prices: GMOs in the EU • Livestock industry meeting with President Barroso of the European Commission • Commissioner for Agriculture issues a report saying that GMOs should be approved more quickly into the EU and that a review of EU’s “zero tolerance” policy (Commissioner for Agriculture is married to a Danish pig farmer …..) • EU biotech industry and animal feed industry warn of “mass slaughter of our animals” and that its “one minute past midnight” • Commissioner Mandelson (trade) speaks of Europe’s “hungry cows” • Rise in agricultural commodity prices is being used in the EU to push for more GMO imports and to weaken GMO laws

14. Some FoEE resource documents • Who Benefits from GM crops http://www.foeeurope.org/GMOs/Who_Benefits/FULL_REPORT_FINAL_FEB08.pd • EU Biotechnology Strategy: mid term review or midlife crisis? http://www.foeeurope.org/publications/2007/FoEE_biotech_MTR_midlifecrisis_March07.pdf • Briefing on increase in animal feed prices and the EU’s GMO policy http://www.foeeurope.org/GMOs/animal%20feed/GMO_Livestock_briefing.pdf • Too close for comfort http://www.foeeurope.org/corporates/pdf/too-close-for-comfort.pdf