Sweet victory for Mexico beekeepers as Monsanto loses GM permit

[Judi Lynn]

Sweet victory for Mexico beekeepers as Monsanto loses GM permit

Evidence convinced judge of threat posed to honey production in Yucatán – but firm will almost certainly appeal against ruling

Posted by
Nina Lakhani

Friday 8 August 2014 07.22 EDT
theguardian.com


[font size=1]
Greenpeace activists and Mayans form a human chain to spell out the words ‘ma ogm’,
which translates as ‘no gmo’ (genetically modified organisms).
Photograph: Arturo Rocha/Greenpeace[/font]

A small group of beekeepers in Mexico has inflicted a blow on biotech giant Monsanto, which has halted the company’s ambitions to plant thousands of hectares of soybeans genetically modified to resist the company’s pesticide Roundup.

A district judge in the state of Yucatán last month overturned a permit issued to Monsanto by Mexico’s agriculture ministry, Sagarpa, and environmental protection agency, Semarnat, in June 2012 that allowed commercial planting of Roundup-ready soybeans.

The permit authorised Monsanto to plant its seeds in seven states, over more than 253,000 hectares (625,000 acres), despite protests from thousands of Mayan farmers and beekeepers, Greenpeace, the Mexican National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity, the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas and the National Institute of Ecology.

In withdrawing the permit, the judge was convinced by the scientific evidence presented about the threats posed by GM soy crops to honey production in the Yucatán peninsula, which includes Campeche, Quintana Roo and Yucatán states. Co-existence between honey production and GM soybeans is not possible, the judge ruled.

Mexico is the world’s six biggest producer and third largest exporter of honey. About 25,000 families on the Yucatán peninsula depend on honey production. This tropical region produces about 40% of the country’s honey, almost all of which is exported to the EU. This is not small change: in 2011, the EU imported $54m (£32m) worth of Mexican honey.

More:
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2014/aug/08/sweet-victory-beekeepers-monsanto-gm-soybeans

[swilton]

1. More than just the Mexican beekeepers benefit

[roody]

2. But, but, but,.....science!

[Cha]

4. That's what I said..

Oooops, "Science"!

"In withdrawing the permit, the judge was convinced by the scientific evidence presented about the threats posed by GM soy crops to honey production in the Yucatán peninsula, which includes Campeche, Quintana Roo and Yucatán states. Co-existence between honey production and GM soybeans is not possible, the judge ruled."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1108&pid=32713

[ffr]

3. Obviously sighing with relief. But those same officials better watch out

Where there's money lost by a huge corporation, there's bound to be trouble, i.e suspicious circumstances.

I'd grow eyes in the back of my head.

[Fred Friendlier]

6. Eat enough GM food and you WILL grow eyes in the back of your head

[ReRe]

5. K&R

There you go. Just like Margaret Mead said, a few people got together

and changed their part of the world!

Ole!

[wisechoice]

7. Finally

We can shutdown the arrogance of people shouting anti science.

[calimary]

8. Welcome to DU, wisechoice!

Glad you're here! We HAVE TO shut down the arrogance of people shouting anti science. There's really no choice here. If our very planet is going to survive - there is no alternative. They have to be shut down and shut up. They do NOT deserve a seat at the table - any more than the Flat Earth Society is entitled to weigh in on any NASA coverage. The BBC has actually begun making that a policy. There's too much evidence to allow for any science deniers to force their worthless two cents on the rest of us.

There's no compromise on this, and no wiggle-room. This is NON-NEGOTIABLE. This is an ABSOLUTE.

[NealK]

9. Yes!