September 9th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
Monsanto, your friendly neighborhood producer of genetically modified organisms, is catching some heat for its water-hungry ways on the Hawaiian island of Molokai.
Molokai is where much of the research into the seed corn takes place, making Monsanto the largest employer on the island.
Putting people to work is awesome, but Monsanto’s massive farming operations gobble up a bunch land and suck down a lot of water. That’s the problem.
Monsanto wants to make money and maximize profits, so these research and farming facilities need to run full-steam ahead, which demands the lion share of the island’s water supplies.
So when a drought on Molokai dried up reservoirs, prompting the local irrigation company to demand water cutbacks of 20%, Monsanto petitioned for the right to take more water—threatening small farmers.
By law, two-thirds of Molokai’s water must go to homestead farmers, but companies like Monsanto drink up 84% of the irrigation system. That’s why local farmers are currently seeking legal action against Monsanto.
Via Fred Pearce’s Greenwash.
Image credit: ismaSan
Tags: GMOs, Monsanto, water
Posted in Organic Food, Political Action | 3 Comments »
June 9th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
In a rare agreement with science, The Vatican—specifically the Pontifical Academy of Sciences—has endorsed genetically modified crops. On the grounds that GMOs can help end world hunger.
An odd endorsement, because initial reports said the church was against genetically modified organisms, since they conflict with “god the creator.”
During a week-long seminar participants concluded GMO crops enhance food safety, improve health and environmental sustainability.
But some who attended the seminar—these people I agree with—say GMOs allow big business to control agriculture and the high-cost of GMO crops would price out non-profit organizations trying to help the poor.
My concern has always been ecological implications. GMOs are mutant species that could muscle out indigenous plants. Plus, who knows what these Frankenstein foods will do inside our bodies!
Via NewScientist.
Tags: farming, GMOs
Posted in Organic, The Environment | 2 Comments »
June 1st, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
Looks like the French got us beat. In 2008, organic food sales in the United States increased by 17%, but during the same year. Sales of organics in France grew 25%.
And in the past three years, organic spending in France jumped 60%. That’s 2.6 billion euros, according France’s organic association.
There are some cool reasons why. French consumers are avoiding foods with pesticides and genetically-modified organisms and the government is encouraging more organic foods in schools and restaurants.
Now, to accommodate the higher demand, local farmers are converting more land for organics, nearly tripling the amount of hectares devoted to organic crops since 1999.
However, compared to total food sales, the percentage of organic sales only increased 0.6%, reaching 1.7% for 2008, up from 1.1% in 2007, but the recent economic downturn my harm those figures for next year. Let’s hope not!
Via Reuters.
Tags: crops, farming, GMOs, restaurants
Posted in Organic, Organic Food | 1 Comment »
May 28th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese
Some people feel genetically modified organisms are an unholy abomination, but others think they’re a scientific breakthrough. To put it lightly, the worldview is conflicted.
Recently, at the Vatican, activists argued that GMOs are invasive and will choke out indigenous plants, but in Uganda officials want to explore the usage of GMOs to help reduce the cost of food.
For the Vatican the major taboo about GMOs is their threat to God the creator. After all, God made tomatoes red. Who are we to make them blue with yellow polka dots
Although, I think God would appreciate our creativity, but then again, I doubt we REALLY need carrots mixed with scorpions.
Via Red Green and Blue.
Tags: food, GMOs
Posted in Health, Organic | 1 Comment »
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