More proof that biofuels are a curse--camouflaged in green--not a blessing.
In addition to contributing to food inflation and food insecurity, mandates for biofuels are spurring development of genetically modified (GM) seeds for crops normally used to feed people and animals but increasingly in demand as energy feedstocks.
Introduction of the GM seeds will increase the risk of contamination of crops and grains for human use.
GM foods are foodstuffs produced from genetically modified organisms that have had their genome altered through genetic engineering. The most common GM foods are derived from plants, including soybean and canola, which are used in the production of biodiesel, and corn, which is used to make ethanol.
All the GM seeds commercially sown in the world are controlled by Monsanto, Syngenta, Dupont, Bayer, Dow and BASF. The top three--Monsanto, Syngenta and Dupont--together own 44 percent of the sales of patented seeds worldwide. If they can consolidate new sales niches for their patented seeds, they will increase their profits and their control of the human and animal food chain.
The new products will also tempt small farmers in developing nations who currently use little or no commercial seeds to switch in order to get in on the green gold rush.
In addition to contributing to food inflation and food insecurity, mandates for biofuels are spurring development of genetically modified (GM) seeds for crops normally used to feed people and animals but increasingly in demand as energy feedstocks.
Introduction of the GM seeds will increase the risk of contamination of crops and grains for human use.
GM foods are foodstuffs produced from genetically modified organisms that have had their genome altered through genetic engineering. The most common GM foods are derived from plants, including soybean and canola, which are used in the production of biodiesel, and corn, which is used to make ethanol.
All the GM seeds commercially sown in the world are controlled by Monsanto, Syngenta, Dupont, Bayer, Dow and BASF. The top three--Monsanto, Syngenta and Dupont--together own 44 percent of the sales of patented seeds worldwide. If they can consolidate new sales niches for their patented seeds, they will increase their profits and their control of the human and animal food chain.
The new products will also tempt small farmers in developing nations who currently use little or no commercial seeds to switch in order to get in on the green gold rush.
e-mail:
Homepage:
