"GM Crop 'Ruins Fields for 15 Years'"

[GreenPartyVoter]

GM crops contaminate the countryside for up to 15 years after they have been harvested, startling new government research shows.

The findings cast a cloud over the prospects of growing the modified crops in Britain, suggesting that farmers who try them out for one season will find fields blighted for a decade and a half.

Financed by GM companies and Margaret Beckett's Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the report effectively torpedoes the Government's strategy for introducing GM oilseed rape to this country.

Ministers have stipulated that the crops should not be grown until rules are worked out to enable them to "co-exist" with conventional ones. But the research shows that this is effectively impossible.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1009-04.htm

[Cha]

1. Good Luck to all these

farmers who DO NOT want their crops "contaminated" by genitically modified organisms.

I've known Organic Farmers for 20 years who are fighting this Scourge.

And I know there are DUers who think it's harmless but I say it's very harmful and I don't want my crops to tainted with mansanto seeds.

[PurgedVoter]

10. I am working on a No GM Trespass sign.

I have not yet figured the wording, but here is my best so far.

Posted No Genetic Trespassing
The entry of genetically or otherwise biologically tagged, patented, modified or otherwise owned plant or animal genetics is forbidden entry unless the land owner is informed and consents to the entry. Any violation will be considered criminal trespass. All damage to original or natural genomes on this property is property destruction. Individuals or companies responsible for not securing genetic property will be responsible for all loss of property, income and potential income caused by trespass of genetic information or material.

[DemExpat]

2. I am so hoping that Europe keeps a relatively

closed door to GM crops!

This sounds encouraging
Last night Pete Riley, the director of GM Freeze, said; "It is becoming clearer and clearer that it is going to be impossible to grow GM crops in Britain."

DemEx

[Cha]

5. Lucky you, guys! Way

ahead of the USA. Poor USA is getting left in the lurch due to insane greed by corporatemeisters.

[G_j]

3. nominated n/t

[Greyhound]

4. When I lived in farm country several years ago this was

the topic of conversation. The dangerous GM seeds were blowing into their fields and contaminating their crops, and DoA regs protected the offenders from redress by their neighbors.
It's just another in the seemingly endless list of ways our country is going down the crapper.
:puke:

[Tigress DEM]

6. UM, a little confused here.

I read the article, but it seems like jargon to me. What exactly is GM Oilseed Rape? Is it a type of seed? A type of crop? What the seed does to other crops? What is the purpose of trying it to begin with? Do these seeds produce more crops?

[noamnety]

8. You probably know it as Canola Oil

Canola is the common trade name for rape seed oil. The GM means it's genetically modified under a patent.

If the winds blow it into an unsuspecting neighbor's field and pollinates his crops (which the neighbor has absolutely no way to prevent), the neighbor no longer owns his own harvest because he doesn't own the rights to the patent, and he can't legally save the new seeds to replant the following year, as farmers often do to save money.

The neighbors choices become either pay the company for the use of their (unwanted) product or dispose of the entire harvest - for as many years as his crops are contaminated.

[elehhhhna]

9. Utter bullsh*t. How can I violate the patent rights of another due

to a bird crapping a seed onto my land? If that's the case Mosanto should be (probably is) contaminating everyone's field right now, under cover of darkness.

Ridiculous.

[Tigress DEM]

11. Well, if they won't allow it's use, they should have to come and ...

claim each "weed" of theirs and till their neighbor's contaminated fields in recompense then.

[Tigress DEM]

12. Thanks for the clarification btw nt

[Tigress DEM]

7. I found another article, and now I'm more confused

http://tinyurl.com/a6c2x

EUROPA Press Release Brussels, 31 August 2005

GMOs: Commission authorises import of GM-oilseed rape for use in animal feed

The European Commission authorised today the placing on the market of the genetically modified oilseed rape known as GT73 for import and processing. This decision is valid for 10 years and results from an application submitted by the company Monsanto. The GT73 oilseed rape, which is tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate, is already widely used in North America with no reports of any adverse effects on health or the environment. The authorisation today, which is backed by science, covers the specific use for imports of the GM oilseed rape and processing for use in animal feed or for industrial purposes. The authorisation is complemented by a Recommendation concerning the measures to be taken by the consent holder to prevent any damage to health and the environment in the event of the accidental spillage of GT73. Refined oil derived from GT73 oilseed rape has already been approved for food use in 1997 in the EU.

The GT73 oilseed rape has been subject to a rigorous pre-market risk assessment. It has been scientifically assessed by the European Food Safety Authority as being as safe as any conventional oilseed rape. Clear labelling provides farmers and consumers with the information they need to decide whether to buy the product or not. And robust post-marketing rules will ensure that the product can be traced and monitored when put on the market.