GM

Dozens of cows invade flagship Sainsbury's

Last edited 20 February 2004 at 9:00am
20 February, 2004

London shoppers are getting a taste of the countryside today after Greenpeace released more than thirty costume cows into the flagship Sainsbury's store in Greenwich. The invasion is a protest against the supermarket chain's continued support for the GM industry.

Sainsbury's own-brand milk comes from cows fed on American GM animal feed. Although the company claims to lead its rivals in providing quality food, Sainsbury's is supporting the import of thousands of tonnes of GM into the UK every month.

Article tagged as: direct actions, GM, press releases, sainsburys, scary dairy, shoppers guide

Coexistence and Liability

Last edited 19 January 2004 at 9:00am

Last November, the Government's advisory body, the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC), published a report entitled "GM Crops - Coexistence and Liability".

This report examined whether GM crops might contaminate conventional and organic crops and/or the natural environment; if such contamination was acceptable and who would be liable to compensate for such damage?

The report has highlighted some serious problems regarding the commercialisation of GM crops, and found very few solutions.

Article tagged as: farmscale trials, future of farming, GM, reports

The World Trade Organisation

Last edited 5 December 2003 at 9:00am

Biotechnology companies are attempting a corporate take-over of the entire food chain. Farmers, especially those in developing nations, have already lost out because of subsidies and tarrifs. Meanwhile the World Trade Organisation (WTO), led by the USA, plans to bully more countries into accepting GM seeds, GM crops and unlabelled GM foods.

The WTO promotes free trade for the gain of private interests, over and above our health and the environment. Greenpeace is opposed to the globalisation that is increasing corporate power, evidenced by the agenda of the WTO.

Article tagged as: cancun, GM, GM food, press releases, WTO

GM crops need more pesticide

Last edited 3 December 2003 at 9:00am

Biotech companies have continually promised that genetically modified (GM) crops will benefit the environment. But now the countryside in the United States is suffering because of the rush to embrace GM.

A new study has revealed that pesticide use has increased by a massive 73 million pounds (33,112 metric tonnes) since US farmers started to grow GM crops commercially in 1996.

Article tagged as: agriculture, farmscale trials, GM, press releases

Government's GM advisors fail to answer the ultimate GM riddle

Last edited 25 November 2003 at 9:00am
25 November, 2003

A new Government report on 'coexistence' designed to examine whether GM crops can be grown without contaminating non-GM and organic crops has failed to answer this crucial question. The report published today (Tuesday) by the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC) also looks at who should foot the bill if something goes wrong. 'GM Crops? Coexistence and Liability ' is the Government's final piece of evidence in helping decide whether or not GM crops are to be grown commercially in the UK.

Article tagged as: contamination, GM, GM crops, government, press releases

The politics of GM in the UK

Last edited 12 November 2003 at 9:00am

The results of the GM Public Debate (dubbed 'GM Nation?') sums up the UK public's essential rejection of GM. The government launched the 'GM Nation?' exercise amid allegations that Downing Street was ignoring huge public disquiet over the proposed genetic modification of food and crops. Over 37,000 people took part, with 86 per cent of people firmly opposing the growing GM crops in the UK.

We also did some polling and submitted our results to the GM Public Debate committee. Again there was an overwhelming rejection of GM.

Article tagged as: farmscale trials, GM, GM jury, press releases

A brief history of science and society

Last edited 1 November 2003 at 9:00am
Oil seed rape

Oilseed rape

Article tagged as: environmental policy, GM, science

The politics of GM

Last edited 31 October 2003 at 9:00am

GM-o-Meter polling in London

GM-o-Meter polling in London

The results of the 'GM Nation?' debate show the essential rejection of GM. The government launched the 'GM Nation?' exercise amid allegations that Downing Street was ignoring huge public disquiet over the proposed genetic modification of food and crops. Over 37,000 people took part, with 86 percent of people stating an outright rejection of growing GM crops in the UK.

We did some polling of our own, and submitted our results to the GM Public Debate committee. Again there was an overwhelming rejection of GM.

The last major report on GM this year, the results of farm scale trials of GM crops, were published on 16 October. The trials only examined the effect of weedkillers on wildlife. The key issues of cross-pollination, contamination of the global food chain, gene transfer and effects on human health remain unexplored and will not be looked at by these trials.

A final commercialisation decision will be made in 2004, after the results of the Farm Scale Evaluations have been published.

Article tagged as: farmscale trials, GM, hachette, polling

GM animal feed

Last edited 31 October 2003 at 9:00am

The UK imports approximately one million tonnes of unsegregated soya and maize each year, mostly for use in animal feed. Over half the soya and one quarter of the maize grown in the United States is genetically modified (GM). The US soya and maize industry claim it is impossible to segregate GM and non-GM crops. The UK government says that a 'substantial proportion' of UK imports will contain GM material.

Article tagged as: animal feed, GM, press releases, scary dairy

There's something scary in the dairy ...

Last edited 18 September 2003 at 8:00am
What's lurking in the dairy?

What's lurking in the dairy?

Article tagged as: GM, GM food, sainsburys, scary dairy, supermarkets