A maizing roadshow
L:ifecycles | 13.09.2002 15:45
On 6th September 7 local cyclists will be setting out in silly costumes to talk to farmers and the public about GM maize.
The group are concerned that the government is about to start a propaganda campaign to convince people that GM should be grown commercially. The first variety to be proposed is a kind of fodder maize designed to be resistant to the herbicide Glufosinate Ammonium.
The west grows a lot of maize for it's dairy herds, but for the past 3 years Devon has remained GM free, due to strong resistance from farmers and rural communities, which have stopped the governments farmscale trials being conducted in the region.
Maizey, who will be cycling for 14 days dressed as a giant maize plant, said-
"Most of the major supermarkets have commitments to phase out the use of GM feed in their animal products, so making the peninsular a GM free zone could be a distinct economic advantage for our farmers. We need to make a strong decision now while we still can."
Dr Jean Splicer the gene juggling scientist added-
"The only apparent benefit from the proposed maize, Chardon LL , is that the herbicide can be applied after the crop has started to grow. But a recent study showed that in Canada both the current highly toxic chemical, Atrozine, and Gluphosinate, are needed to adequately control weeds. These patented seeds tie farmers into tough contracts with biotech companies which prevent the practice of seed saving. Not to mention the impossibility of growing GM and non GM, in the same area. This could result in complicated wranglings and lawsuits all round if we're not careful."
No insurer will insure against GM contamination because they believe the risks to be to high, and the European Landowners Association believes it could effect the long term value of land. Ms Bee said-
"If this goes ahead no one will be able to tell if they have a GM crop next door, and organic farming in the region will be devastated. But resistance is fertile- consumers kept GM off our shelves by refusing to buy it. Farmers and Councils can keep it off our land if they sign 'GM free zone pledges' and make it clear this is another agricultural albatross we can all do without."
Notes to Editors
The seven welcome anyone who would like to join them on their ride, and hope to visit farmers at home in both Devon and Dorset to discuss the situation.
The group also hopes to quash the myth that Gm is needed in the developing world. The UN says we already produce one and a half times the food needed to feed the world, the problem is one of distribution and war. And in 98 delegates from 18 African countries made a statement saying- "We strongly object to the image of the poor and hungry from our countries being used by giant multinational corporations to push a technology that is neither safe, environmentally friendly, nor economically beneficial to us."
In America farmers whose seeds have been accidentally contaminated by neighbouring crops are being sued by the biotech companies for infringement of royalties, because the GM seeds are patented.
The group are concerned that the government is about to start a propaganda campaign to convince people that GM should be grown commercially. The first variety to be proposed is a kind of fodder maize designed to be resistant to the herbicide Glufosinate Ammonium.
The west grows a lot of maize for it's dairy herds, but for the past 3 years Devon has remained GM free, due to strong resistance from farmers and rural communities, which have stopped the governments farmscale trials being conducted in the region.
Maizey, who will be cycling for 14 days dressed as a giant maize plant, said-
"Most of the major supermarkets have commitments to phase out the use of GM feed in their animal products, so making the peninsular a GM free zone could be a distinct economic advantage for our farmers. We need to make a strong decision now while we still can."
Dr Jean Splicer the gene juggling scientist added-
"The only apparent benefit from the proposed maize, Chardon LL , is that the herbicide can be applied after the crop has started to grow. But a recent study showed that in Canada both the current highly toxic chemical, Atrozine, and Gluphosinate, are needed to adequately control weeds. These patented seeds tie farmers into tough contracts with biotech companies which prevent the practice of seed saving. Not to mention the impossibility of growing GM and non GM, in the same area. This could result in complicated wranglings and lawsuits all round if we're not careful."
No insurer will insure against GM contamination because they believe the risks to be to high, and the European Landowners Association believes it could effect the long term value of land. Ms Bee said-
"If this goes ahead no one will be able to tell if they have a GM crop next door, and organic farming in the region will be devastated. But resistance is fertile- consumers kept GM off our shelves by refusing to buy it. Farmers and Councils can keep it off our land if they sign 'GM free zone pledges' and make it clear this is another agricultural albatross we can all do without."
Notes to Editors
The seven welcome anyone who would like to join them on their ride, and hope to visit farmers at home in both Devon and Dorset to discuss the situation.
The group also hopes to quash the myth that Gm is needed in the developing world. The UN says we already produce one and a half times the food needed to feed the world, the problem is one of distribution and war. And in 98 delegates from 18 African countries made a statement saying- "We strongly object to the image of the poor and hungry from our countries being used by giant multinational corporations to push a technology that is neither safe, environmentally friendly, nor economically beneficial to us."
In America farmers whose seeds have been accidentally contaminated by neighbouring crops are being sued by the biotech companies for infringement of royalties, because the GM seeds are patented.
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13.09.2002 16:24
Friday 6th September - Lifecycles 2002 Devon Tour
Lifecycles (www.lifecycles.info) has been on the road again. This time to visit farmers in south devon in order to find out what they think about the prospect of genetically modified crops being commercialised next year. The tour began from Totnes after showing a series of short films in the market square on Friday night - mostly anti-gentics protests and direct action over
the last year.
On saturday 7th September, the pedal power posse, consisting of five people, bikes, two trailers and a tandem, all headed south west over devon hills
towards Kingsbridge. Our priority, to visit the dairy farmers who will be the first people targeted by biotech companies attempting to sell GM varieties. Dairy farmers in the south west often grow fodder maize to feed
to their cows and the first GM crop likely to be marketed, should commercial sales be approved, will be a variety of fodder maize called Chardon LL.
The south west accounts for about 45% of fodder maize grown in the UK so we are ideally placed to speaked to the farmers who will be placed on the front line should commerciallsation of GM go ahead next year.
Cycling in short hops we started visting farmers. The hills were hard work and we were plagued by mechanical failures and punctures but the scenary was spectacular and we were blessed by the weather gods.
We came prepared with a GM free pledge for farmers to sign, a pile of 'GM free zone' plaques and stacks of leaflets and a film produced specifically for diary farmers on the subject of GM maize. We also carried video equipment with which we hopped to document the process and the opinions of
any farmers who felt willing to speak on camera.
Filming farmers or showing them our film proved to be quite difficult, although some of them were willing. However, we were pleasantly suprised by our reception and most farmers we visited were perfectly happy to find the
time to talk to us.
It appears that in general, farmers feel that nobody is interested in what they think and they certainly haven't been consulted about whether they want GM or not. Our discussions ranged freely from GM to supermarkets, the NFU,
free trade, rural housing, Blair, war, and the 'countryside a lie ance'.
Our goal was to find out what they knew, where their information came from and what their own views on the mater were. We gave them information leaflets and further sources of information on leaving but felt it more useful to hear from them, than attempt to 'educate' them.
Although most farmers we met admitted they knew very little about GM, we probably learned more about farming than they did about GM. One thing that struck us was that fodder maize is not grown at all by many conventional dairy farmers and all organic farmers. When one considers the
high costs, and the nesesity to use Atrizine (a very unpleasent chemical), it seems to make little sense that anyone in the UK grows this crop at all.
Another thing that became obvious was the decline in dairy farming, the number of people that had taken early retirement, the number of farm houses and associated buildings that had been sold as housing for commuters and
second homes.
Many farmers reported the difficulty in finding labour. There seemed to be two main reasons for this; rural housing being taking over by high income incomers who don't need work and wouldn't work in farming; plus the fact that farmers can only pay relatively low wages due to the low prices they get for their products from the supermarkets.
The role of supermarkets in the sorry state of farming was also very apparent. The prices paid to farmers for their products are often a tenth of the price that the consumer ends up paying. Sometimes the farmer is paid less than the production cost, but they have no choice but to sell at those prices since the supermarkets can always inport the products from elsewhere.
The organic farmers we spoke to were inspiring but depressing at the same time. The stories they told of why they converted confirmed much of the ideas we already hold but they, like the rest of the farmers, are being
screwed over by the supermarkets. A majority of their organic milk was being sold as conventional milk because the supermarkets wish to maintain a high premium price for organic and keep it as a niche market.
There seemed to be a overwhelming feeling of hopelessness. Farmers clearly feel under attack and this appears to have made many of them an easy target for the 'countryside a lie ance' which has co-opted their support for the pro-hunt 'liberty and livelyhood march'. However, an equal number felt that the country sidealliance was not really representing farmers or any important rural issues, and so were not supporting the march. Some said that hunting and other rural issues should not be mixed and are completely
unrelated.
There appeared to be a fair amount of resentment toward organic farmers by conventional farmers. But farmers in general seemed to find lots of groups to feel resentment towards. For some it was consumers to blame, others said it was the supermarkets, others said it was american farmers, others said it was french and german farmers, others blamed politician and beurocrates.
Despite the common themes, surprisingly few made connections and mentioned 'free-trade', globalisation and the WTO. When the subject was raised, many pointed out that there is no such thing a free-trade and a level playing field on trade terms is not possible. Some thought that free trade might solve their problems if it was ever really allowed to happen. Others thought that some form of protectionism was essential to protect British agriculture, jobs and industry.
We are now heading for Dorset for more of the same.
If you fancy joining us, give us a call on 07050 618445
jean splicer