The Daily Moosletter from Soya Samba
moo | 15.06.2005 14:46 | Bio-technology | Ecology | Health | London | World
Here is the text of the flyer distributed by the brazlian dancers during Tuesdays Brazilian themed demo outside Sainsburys HQ.
The Daily Moosletter from Soya Samba
Tuesday June 14th
Emergency- Brazil and your chocolate at risk.
It can be hard to imagine why anyone would worry about what crops are fed to cows. But the GM soya currently imported into the UK for the production of Sainsbury's milk is already at the heart of a serious crisis in Argentina. Respected scientific journals have cataloged the damaging effects GM crops have had on the country's agriculture, while charities have reported rain forest and villages being bulldozed to make way for GM soya plantations.
The issue has become more urgent because Brazil recently changed it's legislation to allow GM soya cultivation. If GM crops for feed are grown on a large scale these will cross pollinate with their non-GM neighbours, contaminating future seed stocks, potentially leaving farmers no choice but to grow GM.
Not just where the nuts come from
Brazil used to be the reliable source of the non GM soya, which is used in many processed foods. But 80% of the soya grown in Brazil is for animal feed, and the oils and lecithins used in chocolate are a byproduct of this animal feed industry.
The public are very clear that they don't want to eat GM food. If the big Supermarkets don't start making contracts with non-GM soya farmers in Brazil for animal feed now, then in a couple of years it may be difficult or impossible to source non- GM soya for food ingredients.
If UK supermarkets take the lead they've promised on GM animal feed then Brazil could be saved the damage patented seeds have wrecked on Argentina. The public could continue to eat food uncontaminated by GM and the safety problems it raises. Brazilian farmers just need to be assured that there is a clear market for their non GM crops.
Please don't betray your customers, or the people of Brazil by hoping this problem will go away. Sainsbury's can and must act now.
Tuesday June 14th
Emergency- Brazil and your chocolate at risk.
It can be hard to imagine why anyone would worry about what crops are fed to cows. But the GM soya currently imported into the UK for the production of Sainsbury's milk is already at the heart of a serious crisis in Argentina. Respected scientific journals have cataloged the damaging effects GM crops have had on the country's agriculture, while charities have reported rain forest and villages being bulldozed to make way for GM soya plantations.
The issue has become more urgent because Brazil recently changed it's legislation to allow GM soya cultivation. If GM crops for feed are grown on a large scale these will cross pollinate with their non-GM neighbours, contaminating future seed stocks, potentially leaving farmers no choice but to grow GM.
Not just where the nuts come from
Brazil used to be the reliable source of the non GM soya, which is used in many processed foods. But 80% of the soya grown in Brazil is for animal feed, and the oils and lecithins used in chocolate are a byproduct of this animal feed industry.
The public are very clear that they don't want to eat GM food. If the big Supermarkets don't start making contracts with non-GM soya farmers in Brazil for animal feed now, then in a couple of years it may be difficult or impossible to source non- GM soya for food ingredients.
If UK supermarkets take the lead they've promised on GM animal feed then Brazil could be saved the damage patented seeds have wrecked on Argentina. The public could continue to eat food uncontaminated by GM and the safety problems it raises. Brazilian farmers just need to be assured that there is a clear market for their non GM crops.
Please don't betray your customers, or the people of Brazil by hoping this problem will go away. Sainsbury's can and must act now.
moo