and Soil and Geoderma).
Scientists also are finding that such ‘foreign’ genes in the environment are quite promiscuous and can persist, perhaps indefinitely, in soil, intestinal or plant environments with unknown health consequences (Reproductive Toxicology, Aquaculture Research and Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry). Several countries have banned im- porting crops grown in any field where one of five corn hybrids were previously grown, for instance, because soil mi- crobes have picked up the GMO genes from decomposing plant residues and can transmit the genes to future crops— resulting in the toxic product possibly being present in the later crop. No one knows how to remove the GMO foreign genes once they are introduced.
Looking to the future, should we be concerned by chemical companies’ lobbying for approv- al of the next leap in GMOs, to 2,4-D resistant crops? Like glyphosate tolerance, 2,4-D resis-
tance is based on flawed science and a failure to understand that agriculture is the management of a delicately inter- related ecological system, comprised of the plant and its various environments (biological, chemical and physical), rather than the selection of ‘silver bul- lets’. Adding 2,4-D tolerance introduc- es another foreign and potentially toxic protein in the plant and an additional toxic chemical applied directly to food and animal feed. Food safety, nutrition- al quality and potential yield will all be compromised in the process.
Do you see any benefits from this technology?
The GMO technology could be a pow- erful tool when we gain enough under- standing to use it properly and effec- tively. We are a long way from gaining that essential understanding. The current rush to commercialize it and widespread implementation of the associated haz- ardous and ineffective products currently on the market may well be a major deterrent to future use of the technology
when it is properly understood.
What can people do to avoid GMOs and protect their health? Buy organic foods, preferably from known local growers, and stay alert to the issue to take needed grassroots actions. Future historians may well remark not about how many pounds of pesticide we did or didn’t apply, but how willing we were to sacrifice our children and jeopardize future genera- tions for the massive flawed experi- ment of genetic engineering only to benefit the bottom line of a commer- cial enterprise.
Petition the U.S. Food and Drug Ad- ministration today to require labeling of GMO foods at
JustLabelIt.org.
Melinda Hemmelgarn, aka the “Food Sleuth,” is a registered dietitian and award- winning writer and radio host at
kopn.org, in Columbia, MO (FoodSleuth@gmail. com). Hear her interview with Don Huber at Tinyurl. com/foodsleuth.
natural awakenings July 2012
45
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64