23 February 2012Plenary Talk Prof em Klaus Ammann University of Bern Switzerland
sbquoGENOMIC MISCONCEPTIONlsquo and why we need a new regulation of GM crops
Arber W (2010)Genetic engineering compared to natural genetic variations New Biotechnology 27 5 pp 517-521 httpwwwask-forceorgwebVatican-PAS-Studyweek-Elsevier-publ-20101130Arber-Werner-PAS-Genetic-Engineering-Compared-20101130-publpdf
Natural Mutation and Genetic Engineering (transfer of genes over natural barriers)Have the same molecular processes
Interestingly naturally occurring molecular evolutionie the spontaneous generation of genetic variants hasbeen seen to follow exactly the same three strategies as those used in genetic engineering14 These three strategies are (after W Arber Nobel Laureate 1978)
(a) small local changes in the nucleotide sequences
(b) internal reshuffling of genomic DNA segments and
(c) acquisition of usually rather small segments of DNAfrom another type of organism by horizontal gene transfer
Arber W (2002) Roots strategies and prospects of functional genomics Current Science 83 7 pp 826-828 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsArber-Comparison-2002pdfArber W (2011)Genetic Variation and Molecular Darwinism In Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH amp Co KGaA httpdxdoiorg1010023527600906mcb200300093pub2 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsArber-Genetic-Variation-Molecular-Evolution-2011pdf
Arber W (2002) Roots strategies and prospects of functional genomics Current Science 83 7 pp 826-828 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsArber-Comparison-2002pdfArber W (2011)Genetic Variation and Molecular Darwinism In Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH amp Co KGaA httpdxdoiorg1010023527600906mcb200300093pub2 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsArber-Genetic-Variation-Molecular-Evolution-2011pdf
Fig 1 Synoptical presentation of majorelements of the theory of molecular evolutionA number of specific mechanisms contributeeach with its own characteristics tothe four groups of mechanisms of geneticvariation listed Each of the specific mechanismsfollows one (and sometimes more thanone) of the three principal qualitatively differentstrategies of genetic variation
However there is a principal difference between the procedures of genetic engineering and those serving in nature for biological evolution
While the genetic engineer pre-reflects his alteration and verifies its results nature places its genetic variations more randomly and largely independent of an identified goal
After ca 10 years of testing the GM crops are brought to the field by millions in a few yearsArber W (2002) Roots strategies and prospects of functional genomics Current Science 83 7 pp 826-828 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsArber-Comparison-2002pdfArber W (2011)Genetic Variation and Molecular Darwinism In Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH amp Co KGaA httpdxdoiorg1010023527600906mcb200300093pub2 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsArber-Genetic-Variation-Molecular-Evolution-2011pdf
Changes in gene expression in MON810 vs near-isogenic maize lines Aristis Bt vs Aristis and PR33P67 vs PR33P66 Each point represents one gene in the maize Affymetrix microarray The log odds for differential expression of all genes estimated from the RMA analysis of the data were plotted against the estimated log2 fold changes Thus a twofold increase or decrease in the level of a given transcript corresponds to 1 or -1 respectively Bold sequences further analyzed by real-time RT-PCR From (Coll et al 2008)
The Graph in fig 2 demonstrates clearly that genomic variability can be more substantial among the non-transgenic traits (right) in the analyzed traits than in a comparison between GM- and non-GM maize traits (left)Coll A Nadal A Palaudelmagraves M Messeguer J Meleacute E Puigdomegravenech P amp Pla M (2008)Lack of repeatable differential expression patterns between MON810 and comparable commercial varieties of maize Plant Molecular Biology 68 1 pp 105-117 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsColl-Lack-Repeatable-Differenciation-Maize-2008pdf
van Bueren ETL Struik PC Tiemens-Hulscher M amp Jacobsen E (2003) Concepts of intrinsic value and integrity of plants in organic plant breeding and propagation Crop Science 43 6 pp 1922-1929 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicvan-Bueren-Organicbreedingpdf
Intrinsic Value in organic plant breeding questionable
Scientifically incorrect molecular concepts in Organic Farming
Barros E Lezar S Anttonen MJ Dijk JPv Roumlhlig RM Kok EJ amp Engel K-H 2010Comparison of two GM maize varieties with a near-isogenic non-GM variety using transcriptomics proteomics and metabolomics Plant Biotechnology Journal 8 4 pp 436-451 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBarros-Comparison-GM-crops-2010pdf
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidespdf A ND HttpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidesppt
Baudo MM Lyons R Powers S Pastori GM Edwards KJ Holdsworth MJ amp Shewry PR (2006)Transgenesis has less impact on the transcriptome of wheat grain than conventional breeding Plant Biotechnology Journal 4 4 pp 369-380 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBaudo-Impact-2006pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidespdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidesppt
Shewry PR Baudo M Lovegrove A amp Powers S (2007)Are GM and conventionally bred cereals really different Trends in Food Science amp Technology 18 4 pp 201-209 httpwwwbotanischergartenchWheatShewry-Are-GM-Convent-Cereals-different-2007pdf
Comparative microarray analysis demonstrates that transcriptomic disturbances are more important in conventional crops when compared to isolines of transgenic crops
Baud
o M
M
Lyon
s R
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wer
s S
Pa
stor
i G
M
Edw
ards
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dsw
orth
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amp S
hew
ry P
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2006
)Tr
ansg
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is Ha
s Les
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pact
on
the
Tran
scrip
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e of
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at G
rain
Tha
n Co
nven
tiona
l Bre
edin
g P
lant
Bi
otec
hnol
ogy
Jour
nal
4 4
pp
369
-380
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w
ww
bot
anisc
herg
arte
nch
Org
anic
Bau
do-Im
pact
-200
6pd
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ry P
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s H
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ansg
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at W
here
Do
We
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d aft
er th
e Fi
rst 1
2 Ye
ars
Ann
als o
f App
lied
Biol
ogy
147
1 p
p 1
-14
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otan
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006
Baudo comparison in genomic disturbance GM crops are less disturbed (black dots) than classic breeds
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons Baudo et al 2006
transgenic vs controlendosperm 14 dpa
28 dpa 8 dpg
2 conventionallinesEndosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
transgenic vs conventional Endosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisonsDots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described
Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG)at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 Explanation of the graphs in Baudo
The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression
The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold
Coloured dotsrelative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expressiongreens under-expression
Example b) middle in slide 62 conventional lines compared inEndosperm at 28 dpa
Full caption of slide 6Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons of
(a) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs control L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(b) conventionally bred L88-18 vs L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(c) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs conventionally bred L88-18 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
Dots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG) at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold In the adjacent coloured bar (rectangle on the far right of the figure) the vertical axis represents relative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expression and greens under-expression Values are expressed as n-fold changes The horizontal axis of this bar represents the degree to which data can be trusted dark or unsaturated colour represents low trust and bright or saturated colour represents high trust
Full caption of slide 6
Differences observed in gene expression in the endosperm between conventionally bred material were much larger in comparison to differences between transgenic and untransformed lines exhibiting the same complements of gluten subunits These results suggest that the presence of the transgenes did not significantly alter gene expression and that at this level of investigation transgenic plants could be considered substantially equivalent to untransformed parental lines
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf
Batista Microarray analysis Mutagenesis versus Transgenesis transcriptome changes
Leis
ter
D (
2005
)O
rigin
evo
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n an
d ge
netic
effe
cts
of n
ucle
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of o
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s in
Gen
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s 2
1 1
2 p
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55-6
63
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w
ww
ask
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gw
ebG
enom
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Leis
ter-
Orig
in-E
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tion-
Gen
etic
-Effe
cts-
2005
ldquoThe close similarity of the up- and downstream regions with the corresponding regions in P palustris excludes all suggestions that PgiC2 is not a HGT but the result of a duplication within the F ovina lineage The small size of the genetic material transferred the complex nature of the PgiC2 locus and the associated fragment with transposition associated properties suggest that the horizontal transfer occurred via a vector and not via illegitimate pollinationrdquo
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Development time and frequency of transposition differ in mutations caused by the insertion of different defective Spm elements If transposition takes place late in the development the clones of revertent cells are small and therefore so are the pigmented spots (a) If transposition takes place at about the same time but at a lower frequency there are fewer such clones and fewer spots (b) If the transposition that resores gene function takes place earlier the revertant clones and the spots of the pigmented tissue are larger (c) From (Fedoroff 1984)
Fedoroff NV (1984)Transposable genetic elements in maize [Corn Zea mays] Scientific American 250 pp 64-74 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsFedoroff-transposable-Elements-Maize-1984pdf
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
Kog
el K
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l L
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aefe
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nsen
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Lang
en G
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r S
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iedl
A
Son
new
ald
S
von
Wet
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ook
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amp
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onne
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Tran
scrip
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f the
N
atio
nal A
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of S
cien
ces
107
14
pp
619
8-62
03
http
w
ww
ask
-forc
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ebG
enom
ics
Kog
el-T
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10p
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ND
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ww
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-forc
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-201
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
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gy H
ow n
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chno
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es c
an
impr
ove
the
envi
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ng th
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ed to
plo
w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
ssed
200
3w
ww
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pur
due
edu
CTI
CC
TIC
htm
l or h
ttp
ww
wb
otan
isch
erga
rten
chH
erbi
zide
TolF
awce
tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
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CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
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35
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NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
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enta
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isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Arber W (2010)Genetic engineering compared to natural genetic variations New Biotechnology 27 5 pp 517-521 httpwwwask-forceorgwebVatican-PAS-Studyweek-Elsevier-publ-20101130Arber-Werner-PAS-Genetic-Engineering-Compared-20101130-publpdf
Natural Mutation and Genetic Engineering (transfer of genes over natural barriers)Have the same molecular processes
Interestingly naturally occurring molecular evolutionie the spontaneous generation of genetic variants hasbeen seen to follow exactly the same three strategies as those used in genetic engineering14 These three strategies are (after W Arber Nobel Laureate 1978)
(a) small local changes in the nucleotide sequences
(b) internal reshuffling of genomic DNA segments and
(c) acquisition of usually rather small segments of DNAfrom another type of organism by horizontal gene transfer
Arber W (2002) Roots strategies and prospects of functional genomics Current Science 83 7 pp 826-828 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsArber-Comparison-2002pdfArber W (2011)Genetic Variation and Molecular Darwinism In Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH amp Co KGaA httpdxdoiorg1010023527600906mcb200300093pub2 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsArber-Genetic-Variation-Molecular-Evolution-2011pdf
Arber W (2002) Roots strategies and prospects of functional genomics Current Science 83 7 pp 826-828 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsArber-Comparison-2002pdfArber W (2011)Genetic Variation and Molecular Darwinism In Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH amp Co KGaA httpdxdoiorg1010023527600906mcb200300093pub2 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsArber-Genetic-Variation-Molecular-Evolution-2011pdf
Fig 1 Synoptical presentation of majorelements of the theory of molecular evolutionA number of specific mechanisms contributeeach with its own characteristics tothe four groups of mechanisms of geneticvariation listed Each of the specific mechanismsfollows one (and sometimes more thanone) of the three principal qualitatively differentstrategies of genetic variation
However there is a principal difference between the procedures of genetic engineering and those serving in nature for biological evolution
While the genetic engineer pre-reflects his alteration and verifies its results nature places its genetic variations more randomly and largely independent of an identified goal
After ca 10 years of testing the GM crops are brought to the field by millions in a few yearsArber W (2002) Roots strategies and prospects of functional genomics Current Science 83 7 pp 826-828 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsArber-Comparison-2002pdfArber W (2011)Genetic Variation and Molecular Darwinism In Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH amp Co KGaA httpdxdoiorg1010023527600906mcb200300093pub2 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsArber-Genetic-Variation-Molecular-Evolution-2011pdf
Changes in gene expression in MON810 vs near-isogenic maize lines Aristis Bt vs Aristis and PR33P67 vs PR33P66 Each point represents one gene in the maize Affymetrix microarray The log odds for differential expression of all genes estimated from the RMA analysis of the data were plotted against the estimated log2 fold changes Thus a twofold increase or decrease in the level of a given transcript corresponds to 1 or -1 respectively Bold sequences further analyzed by real-time RT-PCR From (Coll et al 2008)
The Graph in fig 2 demonstrates clearly that genomic variability can be more substantial among the non-transgenic traits (right) in the analyzed traits than in a comparison between GM- and non-GM maize traits (left)Coll A Nadal A Palaudelmagraves M Messeguer J Meleacute E Puigdomegravenech P amp Pla M (2008)Lack of repeatable differential expression patterns between MON810 and comparable commercial varieties of maize Plant Molecular Biology 68 1 pp 105-117 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsColl-Lack-Repeatable-Differenciation-Maize-2008pdf
van Bueren ETL Struik PC Tiemens-Hulscher M amp Jacobsen E (2003) Concepts of intrinsic value and integrity of plants in organic plant breeding and propagation Crop Science 43 6 pp 1922-1929 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicvan-Bueren-Organicbreedingpdf
Intrinsic Value in organic plant breeding questionable
Scientifically incorrect molecular concepts in Organic Farming
Barros E Lezar S Anttonen MJ Dijk JPv Roumlhlig RM Kok EJ amp Engel K-H 2010Comparison of two GM maize varieties with a near-isogenic non-GM variety using transcriptomics proteomics and metabolomics Plant Biotechnology Journal 8 4 pp 436-451 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBarros-Comparison-GM-crops-2010pdf
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidespdf A ND HttpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidesppt
Baudo MM Lyons R Powers S Pastori GM Edwards KJ Holdsworth MJ amp Shewry PR (2006)Transgenesis has less impact on the transcriptome of wheat grain than conventional breeding Plant Biotechnology Journal 4 4 pp 369-380 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBaudo-Impact-2006pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidespdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidesppt
Shewry PR Baudo M Lovegrove A amp Powers S (2007)Are GM and conventionally bred cereals really different Trends in Food Science amp Technology 18 4 pp 201-209 httpwwwbotanischergartenchWheatShewry-Are-GM-Convent-Cereals-different-2007pdf
Comparative microarray analysis demonstrates that transcriptomic disturbances are more important in conventional crops when compared to isolines of transgenic crops
Baud
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anisc
herg
arte
nch
Org
anic
Bau
do-Im
pact
-200
6pd
f
Shew
ry P
R amp
Jone
s H
D (
2005
) Tr
ansg
enic
Whe
at W
here
Do
We
Stan
d aft
er th
e Fi
rst 1
2 Ye
ars
Ann
als o
f App
lied
Biol
ogy
147
1 p
p 1
-14
htt
p
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ische
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ten
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006
Baudo comparison in genomic disturbance GM crops are less disturbed (black dots) than classic breeds
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons Baudo et al 2006
transgenic vs controlendosperm 14 dpa
28 dpa 8 dpg
2 conventionallinesEndosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
transgenic vs conventional Endosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisonsDots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described
Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG)at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 Explanation of the graphs in Baudo
The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression
The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold
Coloured dotsrelative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expressiongreens under-expression
Example b) middle in slide 62 conventional lines compared inEndosperm at 28 dpa
Full caption of slide 6Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons of
(a) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs control L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(b) conventionally bred L88-18 vs L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(c) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs conventionally bred L88-18 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
Dots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG) at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold In the adjacent coloured bar (rectangle on the far right of the figure) the vertical axis represents relative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expression and greens under-expression Values are expressed as n-fold changes The horizontal axis of this bar represents the degree to which data can be trusted dark or unsaturated colour represents low trust and bright or saturated colour represents high trust
Full caption of slide 6
Differences observed in gene expression in the endosperm between conventionally bred material were much larger in comparison to differences between transgenic and untransformed lines exhibiting the same complements of gluten subunits These results suggest that the presence of the transgenes did not significantly alter gene expression and that at this level of investigation transgenic plants could be considered substantially equivalent to untransformed parental lines
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf
Batista Microarray analysis Mutagenesis versus Transgenesis transcriptome changes
Leis
ter
D (
2005
)O
rigin
evo
lutio
n an
d ge
netic
effe
cts
of n
ucle
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of o
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elle
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s in
Gen
etic
s 2
1 1
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w
ww
ask
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enom
ics
Leis
ter-
Orig
in-E
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tion-
Gen
etic
-Effe
cts-
2005
ldquoThe close similarity of the up- and downstream regions with the corresponding regions in P palustris excludes all suggestions that PgiC2 is not a HGT but the result of a duplication within the F ovina lineage The small size of the genetic material transferred the complex nature of the PgiC2 locus and the associated fragment with transposition associated properties suggest that the horizontal transfer occurred via a vector and not via illegitimate pollinationrdquo
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Development time and frequency of transposition differ in mutations caused by the insertion of different defective Spm elements If transposition takes place late in the development the clones of revertent cells are small and therefore so are the pigmented spots (a) If transposition takes place at about the same time but at a lower frequency there are fewer such clones and fewer spots (b) If the transposition that resores gene function takes place earlier the revertant clones and the spots of the pigmented tissue are larger (c) From (Fedoroff 1984)
Fedoroff NV (1984)Transposable genetic elements in maize [Corn Zea mays] Scientific American 250 pp 64-74 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsFedoroff-transposable-Elements-Maize-1984pdf
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
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el K
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l L
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aefe
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en G
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r S
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Son
new
ald
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von
Wet
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C
ook
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onne
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N
atio
nal A
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107
14
pp
619
8-62
03
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w
ww
ask
-forc
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enom
ics
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el-T
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
impr
ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
plo
w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
ssed
200
3w
ww
ctic
pur
due
edu
CTI
CC
TIC
htm
l or h
ttp
ww
wb
otan
isch
erga
rten
chH
erbi
zide
TolF
awce
tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
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Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
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Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Interestingly naturally occurring molecular evolutionie the spontaneous generation of genetic variants hasbeen seen to follow exactly the same three strategies as those used in genetic engineering14 These three strategies are (after W Arber Nobel Laureate 1978)
(a) small local changes in the nucleotide sequences
(b) internal reshuffling of genomic DNA segments and
(c) acquisition of usually rather small segments of DNAfrom another type of organism by horizontal gene transfer
Arber W (2002) Roots strategies and prospects of functional genomics Current Science 83 7 pp 826-828 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsArber-Comparison-2002pdfArber W (2011)Genetic Variation and Molecular Darwinism In Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH amp Co KGaA httpdxdoiorg1010023527600906mcb200300093pub2 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsArber-Genetic-Variation-Molecular-Evolution-2011pdf
Arber W (2002) Roots strategies and prospects of functional genomics Current Science 83 7 pp 826-828 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsArber-Comparison-2002pdfArber W (2011)Genetic Variation and Molecular Darwinism In Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH amp Co KGaA httpdxdoiorg1010023527600906mcb200300093pub2 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsArber-Genetic-Variation-Molecular-Evolution-2011pdf
Fig 1 Synoptical presentation of majorelements of the theory of molecular evolutionA number of specific mechanisms contributeeach with its own characteristics tothe four groups of mechanisms of geneticvariation listed Each of the specific mechanismsfollows one (and sometimes more thanone) of the three principal qualitatively differentstrategies of genetic variation
However there is a principal difference between the procedures of genetic engineering and those serving in nature for biological evolution
While the genetic engineer pre-reflects his alteration and verifies its results nature places its genetic variations more randomly and largely independent of an identified goal
After ca 10 years of testing the GM crops are brought to the field by millions in a few yearsArber W (2002) Roots strategies and prospects of functional genomics Current Science 83 7 pp 826-828 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsArber-Comparison-2002pdfArber W (2011)Genetic Variation and Molecular Darwinism In Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH amp Co KGaA httpdxdoiorg1010023527600906mcb200300093pub2 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsArber-Genetic-Variation-Molecular-Evolution-2011pdf
Changes in gene expression in MON810 vs near-isogenic maize lines Aristis Bt vs Aristis and PR33P67 vs PR33P66 Each point represents one gene in the maize Affymetrix microarray The log odds for differential expression of all genes estimated from the RMA analysis of the data were plotted against the estimated log2 fold changes Thus a twofold increase or decrease in the level of a given transcript corresponds to 1 or -1 respectively Bold sequences further analyzed by real-time RT-PCR From (Coll et al 2008)
The Graph in fig 2 demonstrates clearly that genomic variability can be more substantial among the non-transgenic traits (right) in the analyzed traits than in a comparison between GM- and non-GM maize traits (left)Coll A Nadal A Palaudelmagraves M Messeguer J Meleacute E Puigdomegravenech P amp Pla M (2008)Lack of repeatable differential expression patterns between MON810 and comparable commercial varieties of maize Plant Molecular Biology 68 1 pp 105-117 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsColl-Lack-Repeatable-Differenciation-Maize-2008pdf
van Bueren ETL Struik PC Tiemens-Hulscher M amp Jacobsen E (2003) Concepts of intrinsic value and integrity of plants in organic plant breeding and propagation Crop Science 43 6 pp 1922-1929 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicvan-Bueren-Organicbreedingpdf
Intrinsic Value in organic plant breeding questionable
Scientifically incorrect molecular concepts in Organic Farming
Barros E Lezar S Anttonen MJ Dijk JPv Roumlhlig RM Kok EJ amp Engel K-H 2010Comparison of two GM maize varieties with a near-isogenic non-GM variety using transcriptomics proteomics and metabolomics Plant Biotechnology Journal 8 4 pp 436-451 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBarros-Comparison-GM-crops-2010pdf
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidespdf A ND HttpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidesppt
Baudo MM Lyons R Powers S Pastori GM Edwards KJ Holdsworth MJ amp Shewry PR (2006)Transgenesis has less impact on the transcriptome of wheat grain than conventional breeding Plant Biotechnology Journal 4 4 pp 369-380 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBaudo-Impact-2006pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidespdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidesppt
Shewry PR Baudo M Lovegrove A amp Powers S (2007)Are GM and conventionally bred cereals really different Trends in Food Science amp Technology 18 4 pp 201-209 httpwwwbotanischergartenchWheatShewry-Are-GM-Convent-Cereals-different-2007pdf
Comparative microarray analysis demonstrates that transcriptomic disturbances are more important in conventional crops when compared to isolines of transgenic crops
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Baudo comparison in genomic disturbance GM crops are less disturbed (black dots) than classic breeds
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons Baudo et al 2006
transgenic vs controlendosperm 14 dpa
28 dpa 8 dpg
2 conventionallinesEndosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
transgenic vs conventional Endosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisonsDots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described
Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG)at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 Explanation of the graphs in Baudo
The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression
The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold
Coloured dotsrelative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expressiongreens under-expression
Example b) middle in slide 62 conventional lines compared inEndosperm at 28 dpa
Full caption of slide 6Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons of
(a) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs control L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(b) conventionally bred L88-18 vs L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(c) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs conventionally bred L88-18 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
Dots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG) at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold In the adjacent coloured bar (rectangle on the far right of the figure) the vertical axis represents relative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expression and greens under-expression Values are expressed as n-fold changes The horizontal axis of this bar represents the degree to which data can be trusted dark or unsaturated colour represents low trust and bright or saturated colour represents high trust
Full caption of slide 6
Differences observed in gene expression in the endosperm between conventionally bred material were much larger in comparison to differences between transgenic and untransformed lines exhibiting the same complements of gluten subunits These results suggest that the presence of the transgenes did not significantly alter gene expression and that at this level of investigation transgenic plants could be considered substantially equivalent to untransformed parental lines
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf
Batista Microarray analysis Mutagenesis versus Transgenesis transcriptome changes
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ldquoThe close similarity of the up- and downstream regions with the corresponding regions in P palustris excludes all suggestions that PgiC2 is not a HGT but the result of a duplication within the F ovina lineage The small size of the genetic material transferred the complex nature of the PgiC2 locus and the associated fragment with transposition associated properties suggest that the horizontal transfer occurred via a vector and not via illegitimate pollinationrdquo
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Development time and frequency of transposition differ in mutations caused by the insertion of different defective Spm elements If transposition takes place late in the development the clones of revertent cells are small and therefore so are the pigmented spots (a) If transposition takes place at about the same time but at a lower frequency there are fewer such clones and fewer spots (b) If the transposition that resores gene function takes place earlier the revertant clones and the spots of the pigmented tissue are larger (c) From (Fedoroff 1984)
Fedoroff NV (1984)Transposable genetic elements in maize [Corn Zea mays] Scientific American 250 pp 64-74 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsFedoroff-transposable-Elements-Maize-1984pdf
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
Kog
el K
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Vol
l L
M
Sch
aefe
r P
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nsen
C
Wu
Y
Lang
en G
Im
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r S
chm
iedl
A
Son
new
ald
S
von
Wet
tste
in D
C
ook
RJ
amp
S
onne
wal
d U
(20
10)
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scrip
tom
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e pr
ofili
ng o
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n tra
nsge
nic
barle
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ck
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renc
es b
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ianc
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f the
N
atio
nal A
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cien
ces
107
14
pp
619
8-62
03
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w
ww
ask
-forc
eor
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enom
ics
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
impr
ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
plo
w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
ssed
200
3w
ww
ctic
pur
due
edu
CTI
CC
TIC
htm
l or h
ttp
ww
wb
otan
isch
erga
rten
chH
erbi
zide
TolF
awce
tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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A ri
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Nat
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M
attil
a H
R
Sea
rs M
K
Ros
e R
Je
sse
LC
H
Lose
y
JE
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bryc
ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
f Cry
1Ab-
expr
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ng c
orn
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terfl
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Nat
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Sci
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Arber W (2002) Roots strategies and prospects of functional genomics Current Science 83 7 pp 826-828 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsArber-Comparison-2002pdfArber W (2011)Genetic Variation and Molecular Darwinism In Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH amp Co KGaA httpdxdoiorg1010023527600906mcb200300093pub2 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsArber-Genetic-Variation-Molecular-Evolution-2011pdf
Fig 1 Synoptical presentation of majorelements of the theory of molecular evolutionA number of specific mechanisms contributeeach with its own characteristics tothe four groups of mechanisms of geneticvariation listed Each of the specific mechanismsfollows one (and sometimes more thanone) of the three principal qualitatively differentstrategies of genetic variation
However there is a principal difference between the procedures of genetic engineering and those serving in nature for biological evolution
While the genetic engineer pre-reflects his alteration and verifies its results nature places its genetic variations more randomly and largely independent of an identified goal
After ca 10 years of testing the GM crops are brought to the field by millions in a few yearsArber W (2002) Roots strategies and prospects of functional genomics Current Science 83 7 pp 826-828 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsArber-Comparison-2002pdfArber W (2011)Genetic Variation and Molecular Darwinism In Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH amp Co KGaA httpdxdoiorg1010023527600906mcb200300093pub2 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsArber-Genetic-Variation-Molecular-Evolution-2011pdf
Changes in gene expression in MON810 vs near-isogenic maize lines Aristis Bt vs Aristis and PR33P67 vs PR33P66 Each point represents one gene in the maize Affymetrix microarray The log odds for differential expression of all genes estimated from the RMA analysis of the data were plotted against the estimated log2 fold changes Thus a twofold increase or decrease in the level of a given transcript corresponds to 1 or -1 respectively Bold sequences further analyzed by real-time RT-PCR From (Coll et al 2008)
The Graph in fig 2 demonstrates clearly that genomic variability can be more substantial among the non-transgenic traits (right) in the analyzed traits than in a comparison between GM- and non-GM maize traits (left)Coll A Nadal A Palaudelmagraves M Messeguer J Meleacute E Puigdomegravenech P amp Pla M (2008)Lack of repeatable differential expression patterns between MON810 and comparable commercial varieties of maize Plant Molecular Biology 68 1 pp 105-117 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsColl-Lack-Repeatable-Differenciation-Maize-2008pdf
van Bueren ETL Struik PC Tiemens-Hulscher M amp Jacobsen E (2003) Concepts of intrinsic value and integrity of plants in organic plant breeding and propagation Crop Science 43 6 pp 1922-1929 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicvan-Bueren-Organicbreedingpdf
Intrinsic Value in organic plant breeding questionable
Scientifically incorrect molecular concepts in Organic Farming
Barros E Lezar S Anttonen MJ Dijk JPv Roumlhlig RM Kok EJ amp Engel K-H 2010Comparison of two GM maize varieties with a near-isogenic non-GM variety using transcriptomics proteomics and metabolomics Plant Biotechnology Journal 8 4 pp 436-451 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBarros-Comparison-GM-crops-2010pdf
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidespdf A ND HttpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidesppt
Baudo MM Lyons R Powers S Pastori GM Edwards KJ Holdsworth MJ amp Shewry PR (2006)Transgenesis has less impact on the transcriptome of wheat grain than conventional breeding Plant Biotechnology Journal 4 4 pp 369-380 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBaudo-Impact-2006pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidespdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidesppt
Shewry PR Baudo M Lovegrove A amp Powers S (2007)Are GM and conventionally bred cereals really different Trends in Food Science amp Technology 18 4 pp 201-209 httpwwwbotanischergartenchWheatShewry-Are-GM-Convent-Cereals-different-2007pdf
Comparative microarray analysis demonstrates that transcriptomic disturbances are more important in conventional crops when compared to isolines of transgenic crops
Baud
o M
M
Lyon
s R
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s S
Pa
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i G
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Edw
ards
KJ
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ry P
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on
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at G
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Tha
n Co
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tiona
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edin
g P
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Bi
otec
hnol
ogy
Jour
nal
4 4
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Org
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Bau
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ry P
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ars
Ann
als o
f App
lied
Biol
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Baudo comparison in genomic disturbance GM crops are less disturbed (black dots) than classic breeds
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons Baudo et al 2006
transgenic vs controlendosperm 14 dpa
28 dpa 8 dpg
2 conventionallinesEndosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
transgenic vs conventional Endosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisonsDots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described
Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG)at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 Explanation of the graphs in Baudo
The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression
The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold
Coloured dotsrelative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expressiongreens under-expression
Example b) middle in slide 62 conventional lines compared inEndosperm at 28 dpa
Full caption of slide 6Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons of
(a) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs control L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(b) conventionally bred L88-18 vs L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(c) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs conventionally bred L88-18 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
Dots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG) at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold In the adjacent coloured bar (rectangle on the far right of the figure) the vertical axis represents relative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expression and greens under-expression Values are expressed as n-fold changes The horizontal axis of this bar represents the degree to which data can be trusted dark or unsaturated colour represents low trust and bright or saturated colour represents high trust
Full caption of slide 6
Differences observed in gene expression in the endosperm between conventionally bred material were much larger in comparison to differences between transgenic and untransformed lines exhibiting the same complements of gluten subunits These results suggest that the presence of the transgenes did not significantly alter gene expression and that at this level of investigation transgenic plants could be considered substantially equivalent to untransformed parental lines
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf
Batista Microarray analysis Mutagenesis versus Transgenesis transcriptome changes
Leis
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ldquoThe close similarity of the up- and downstream regions with the corresponding regions in P palustris excludes all suggestions that PgiC2 is not a HGT but the result of a duplication within the F ovina lineage The small size of the genetic material transferred the complex nature of the PgiC2 locus and the associated fragment with transposition associated properties suggest that the horizontal transfer occurred via a vector and not via illegitimate pollinationrdquo
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Development time and frequency of transposition differ in mutations caused by the insertion of different defective Spm elements If transposition takes place late in the development the clones of revertent cells are small and therefore so are the pigmented spots (a) If transposition takes place at about the same time but at a lower frequency there are fewer such clones and fewer spots (b) If the transposition that resores gene function takes place earlier the revertant clones and the spots of the pigmented tissue are larger (c) From (Fedoroff 1984)
Fedoroff NV (1984)Transposable genetic elements in maize [Corn Zea mays] Scientific American 250 pp 64-74 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsFedoroff-transposable-Elements-Maize-1984pdf
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
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ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
plo
w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
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200
3w
ww
ctic
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due
edu
CTI
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TIC
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ttp
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wb
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rten
chH
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TolF
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tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
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rs M
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Lose
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bryc
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J
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ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
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1Ab-
expr
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orn
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
However there is a principal difference between the procedures of genetic engineering and those serving in nature for biological evolution
While the genetic engineer pre-reflects his alteration and verifies its results nature places its genetic variations more randomly and largely independent of an identified goal
After ca 10 years of testing the GM crops are brought to the field by millions in a few yearsArber W (2002) Roots strategies and prospects of functional genomics Current Science 83 7 pp 826-828 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsArber-Comparison-2002pdfArber W (2011)Genetic Variation and Molecular Darwinism In Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH amp Co KGaA httpdxdoiorg1010023527600906mcb200300093pub2 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsArber-Genetic-Variation-Molecular-Evolution-2011pdf
Changes in gene expression in MON810 vs near-isogenic maize lines Aristis Bt vs Aristis and PR33P67 vs PR33P66 Each point represents one gene in the maize Affymetrix microarray The log odds for differential expression of all genes estimated from the RMA analysis of the data were plotted against the estimated log2 fold changes Thus a twofold increase or decrease in the level of a given transcript corresponds to 1 or -1 respectively Bold sequences further analyzed by real-time RT-PCR From (Coll et al 2008)
The Graph in fig 2 demonstrates clearly that genomic variability can be more substantial among the non-transgenic traits (right) in the analyzed traits than in a comparison between GM- and non-GM maize traits (left)Coll A Nadal A Palaudelmagraves M Messeguer J Meleacute E Puigdomegravenech P amp Pla M (2008)Lack of repeatable differential expression patterns between MON810 and comparable commercial varieties of maize Plant Molecular Biology 68 1 pp 105-117 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsColl-Lack-Repeatable-Differenciation-Maize-2008pdf
van Bueren ETL Struik PC Tiemens-Hulscher M amp Jacobsen E (2003) Concepts of intrinsic value and integrity of plants in organic plant breeding and propagation Crop Science 43 6 pp 1922-1929 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicvan-Bueren-Organicbreedingpdf
Intrinsic Value in organic plant breeding questionable
Scientifically incorrect molecular concepts in Organic Farming
Barros E Lezar S Anttonen MJ Dijk JPv Roumlhlig RM Kok EJ amp Engel K-H 2010Comparison of two GM maize varieties with a near-isogenic non-GM variety using transcriptomics proteomics and metabolomics Plant Biotechnology Journal 8 4 pp 436-451 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBarros-Comparison-GM-crops-2010pdf
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidespdf A ND HttpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidesppt
Baudo MM Lyons R Powers S Pastori GM Edwards KJ Holdsworth MJ amp Shewry PR (2006)Transgenesis has less impact on the transcriptome of wheat grain than conventional breeding Plant Biotechnology Journal 4 4 pp 369-380 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBaudo-Impact-2006pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidespdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidesppt
Shewry PR Baudo M Lovegrove A amp Powers S (2007)Are GM and conventionally bred cereals really different Trends in Food Science amp Technology 18 4 pp 201-209 httpwwwbotanischergartenchWheatShewry-Are-GM-Convent-Cereals-different-2007pdf
Comparative microarray analysis demonstrates that transcriptomic disturbances are more important in conventional crops when compared to isolines of transgenic crops
Baud
o M
M
Lyon
s R
Po
wer
s S
Pa
stor
i G
M
Edw
ards
KJ
Hol
dsw
orth
MJ
amp S
hew
ry P
R (
2006
)Tr
ansg
enes
is Ha
s Les
s Im
pact
on
the
Tran
scrip
tom
e of
Whe
at G
rain
Tha
n Co
nven
tiona
l Bre
edin
g P
lant
Bi
otec
hnol
ogy
Jour
nal
4 4
pp
369
-380
http
w
ww
bot
anisc
herg
arte
nch
Org
anic
Bau
do-Im
pact
-200
6pd
f
Shew
ry P
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Jone
s H
D (
2005
) Tr
ansg
enic
Whe
at W
here
Do
We
Stan
d aft
er th
e Fi
rst 1
2 Ye
ars
Ann
als o
f App
lied
Biol
ogy
147
1 p
p 1
-14
htt
p
ww
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otan
ische
rgar
ten
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006
Baudo comparison in genomic disturbance GM crops are less disturbed (black dots) than classic breeds
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons Baudo et al 2006
transgenic vs controlendosperm 14 dpa
28 dpa 8 dpg
2 conventionallinesEndosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
transgenic vs conventional Endosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisonsDots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described
Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG)at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 Explanation of the graphs in Baudo
The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression
The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold
Coloured dotsrelative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expressiongreens under-expression
Example b) middle in slide 62 conventional lines compared inEndosperm at 28 dpa
Full caption of slide 6Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons of
(a) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs control L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(b) conventionally bred L88-18 vs L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(c) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs conventionally bred L88-18 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
Dots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG) at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold In the adjacent coloured bar (rectangle on the far right of the figure) the vertical axis represents relative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expression and greens under-expression Values are expressed as n-fold changes The horizontal axis of this bar represents the degree to which data can be trusted dark or unsaturated colour represents low trust and bright or saturated colour represents high trust
Full caption of slide 6
Differences observed in gene expression in the endosperm between conventionally bred material were much larger in comparison to differences between transgenic and untransformed lines exhibiting the same complements of gluten subunits These results suggest that the presence of the transgenes did not significantly alter gene expression and that at this level of investigation transgenic plants could be considered substantially equivalent to untransformed parental lines
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf
Batista Microarray analysis Mutagenesis versus Transgenesis transcriptome changes
Leis
ter
D (
2005
)O
rigin
evo
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d ge
netic
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cts
of n
ucle
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s in
Gen
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s 2
1 1
2 p
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55-6
63
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w
ww
ask
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ebG
enom
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Leis
ter-
Orig
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Gen
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cts-
2005
ldquoThe close similarity of the up- and downstream regions with the corresponding regions in P palustris excludes all suggestions that PgiC2 is not a HGT but the result of a duplication within the F ovina lineage The small size of the genetic material transferred the complex nature of the PgiC2 locus and the associated fragment with transposition associated properties suggest that the horizontal transfer occurred via a vector and not via illegitimate pollinationrdquo
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Development time and frequency of transposition differ in mutations caused by the insertion of different defective Spm elements If transposition takes place late in the development the clones of revertent cells are small and therefore so are the pigmented spots (a) If transposition takes place at about the same time but at a lower frequency there are fewer such clones and fewer spots (b) If the transposition that resores gene function takes place earlier the revertant clones and the spots of the pigmented tissue are larger (c) From (Fedoroff 1984)
Fedoroff NV (1984)Transposable genetic elements in maize [Corn Zea mays] Scientific American 250 pp 64-74 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsFedoroff-transposable-Elements-Maize-1984pdf
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
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f the
N
atio
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107
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619
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
impr
ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
plo
w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
ssed
200
3w
ww
ctic
pur
due
edu
CTI
CC
TIC
htm
l or h
ttp
ww
wb
otan
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rten
chH
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zide
TolF
awce
tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
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90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
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5
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30
35
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NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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) A
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orn
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iona
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
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enta
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ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Changes in gene expression in MON810 vs near-isogenic maize lines Aristis Bt vs Aristis and PR33P67 vs PR33P66 Each point represents one gene in the maize Affymetrix microarray The log odds for differential expression of all genes estimated from the RMA analysis of the data were plotted against the estimated log2 fold changes Thus a twofold increase or decrease in the level of a given transcript corresponds to 1 or -1 respectively Bold sequences further analyzed by real-time RT-PCR From (Coll et al 2008)
The Graph in fig 2 demonstrates clearly that genomic variability can be more substantial among the non-transgenic traits (right) in the analyzed traits than in a comparison between GM- and non-GM maize traits (left)Coll A Nadal A Palaudelmagraves M Messeguer J Meleacute E Puigdomegravenech P amp Pla M (2008)Lack of repeatable differential expression patterns between MON810 and comparable commercial varieties of maize Plant Molecular Biology 68 1 pp 105-117 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsColl-Lack-Repeatable-Differenciation-Maize-2008pdf
van Bueren ETL Struik PC Tiemens-Hulscher M amp Jacobsen E (2003) Concepts of intrinsic value and integrity of plants in organic plant breeding and propagation Crop Science 43 6 pp 1922-1929 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicvan-Bueren-Organicbreedingpdf
Intrinsic Value in organic plant breeding questionable
Scientifically incorrect molecular concepts in Organic Farming
Barros E Lezar S Anttonen MJ Dijk JPv Roumlhlig RM Kok EJ amp Engel K-H 2010Comparison of two GM maize varieties with a near-isogenic non-GM variety using transcriptomics proteomics and metabolomics Plant Biotechnology Journal 8 4 pp 436-451 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBarros-Comparison-GM-crops-2010pdf
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidespdf A ND HttpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidesppt
Baudo MM Lyons R Powers S Pastori GM Edwards KJ Holdsworth MJ amp Shewry PR (2006)Transgenesis has less impact on the transcriptome of wheat grain than conventional breeding Plant Biotechnology Journal 4 4 pp 369-380 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBaudo-Impact-2006pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidespdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidesppt
Shewry PR Baudo M Lovegrove A amp Powers S (2007)Are GM and conventionally bred cereals really different Trends in Food Science amp Technology 18 4 pp 201-209 httpwwwbotanischergartenchWheatShewry-Are-GM-Convent-Cereals-different-2007pdf
Comparative microarray analysis demonstrates that transcriptomic disturbances are more important in conventional crops when compared to isolines of transgenic crops
Baud
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er th
e Fi
rst 1
2 Ye
ars
Ann
als o
f App
lied
Biol
ogy
147
1 p
p 1
-14
htt
p
ww
wb
otan
ische
rgar
ten
chO
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icS
hew
ry-P
erfo
rman
ce-2
006
Baudo comparison in genomic disturbance GM crops are less disturbed (black dots) than classic breeds
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons Baudo et al 2006
transgenic vs controlendosperm 14 dpa
28 dpa 8 dpg
2 conventionallinesEndosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
transgenic vs conventional Endosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisonsDots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described
Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG)at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 Explanation of the graphs in Baudo
The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression
The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold
Coloured dotsrelative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expressiongreens under-expression
Example b) middle in slide 62 conventional lines compared inEndosperm at 28 dpa
Full caption of slide 6Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons of
(a) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs control L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(b) conventionally bred L88-18 vs L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(c) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs conventionally bred L88-18 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
Dots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG) at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold In the adjacent coloured bar (rectangle on the far right of the figure) the vertical axis represents relative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expression and greens under-expression Values are expressed as n-fold changes The horizontal axis of this bar represents the degree to which data can be trusted dark or unsaturated colour represents low trust and bright or saturated colour represents high trust
Full caption of slide 6
Differences observed in gene expression in the endosperm between conventionally bred material were much larger in comparison to differences between transgenic and untransformed lines exhibiting the same complements of gluten subunits These results suggest that the presence of the transgenes did not significantly alter gene expression and that at this level of investigation transgenic plants could be considered substantially equivalent to untransformed parental lines
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf
Batista Microarray analysis Mutagenesis versus Transgenesis transcriptome changes
Leis
ter
D (
2005
)O
rigin
evo
lutio
n an
d ge
netic
effe
cts
of n
ucle
ar in
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ons
of o
rgan
elle
DN
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rend
s in
Gen
etic
s 2
1 1
2 p
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55-6
63
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w
ww
ask
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eor
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ebG
enom
ics
Leis
ter-
Orig
in-E
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tion-
Gen
etic
-Effe
cts-
2005
ldquoThe close similarity of the up- and downstream regions with the corresponding regions in P palustris excludes all suggestions that PgiC2 is not a HGT but the result of a duplication within the F ovina lineage The small size of the genetic material transferred the complex nature of the PgiC2 locus and the associated fragment with transposition associated properties suggest that the horizontal transfer occurred via a vector and not via illegitimate pollinationrdquo
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Development time and frequency of transposition differ in mutations caused by the insertion of different defective Spm elements If transposition takes place late in the development the clones of revertent cells are small and therefore so are the pigmented spots (a) If transposition takes place at about the same time but at a lower frequency there are fewer such clones and fewer spots (b) If the transposition that resores gene function takes place earlier the revertant clones and the spots of the pigmented tissue are larger (c) From (Fedoroff 1984)
Fedoroff NV (1984)Transposable genetic elements in maize [Corn Zea mays] Scientific American 250 pp 64-74 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsFedoroff-transposable-Elements-Maize-1984pdf
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
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el K
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aefe
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nsen
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en G
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r S
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Son
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ald
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von
Wet
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ook
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amp
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N
atio
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107
14
pp
619
8-62
03
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w
ww
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-forc
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ics
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
impr
ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
plo
w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
ssed
200
3w
ww
ctic
pur
due
edu
CTI
CC
TIC
htm
l or h
ttp
ww
wb
otan
isch
erga
rten
chH
erbi
zide
TolF
awce
tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
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Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
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Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
van Bueren ETL Struik PC Tiemens-Hulscher M amp Jacobsen E (2003) Concepts of intrinsic value and integrity of plants in organic plant breeding and propagation Crop Science 43 6 pp 1922-1929 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicvan-Bueren-Organicbreedingpdf
Intrinsic Value in organic plant breeding questionable
Scientifically incorrect molecular concepts in Organic Farming
Barros E Lezar S Anttonen MJ Dijk JPv Roumlhlig RM Kok EJ amp Engel K-H 2010Comparison of two GM maize varieties with a near-isogenic non-GM variety using transcriptomics proteomics and metabolomics Plant Biotechnology Journal 8 4 pp 436-451 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBarros-Comparison-GM-crops-2010pdf
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidespdf A ND HttpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidesppt
Baudo MM Lyons R Powers S Pastori GM Edwards KJ Holdsworth MJ amp Shewry PR (2006)Transgenesis has less impact on the transcriptome of wheat grain than conventional breeding Plant Biotechnology Journal 4 4 pp 369-380 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBaudo-Impact-2006pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidespdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidesppt
Shewry PR Baudo M Lovegrove A amp Powers S (2007)Are GM and conventionally bred cereals really different Trends in Food Science amp Technology 18 4 pp 201-209 httpwwwbotanischergartenchWheatShewry-Are-GM-Convent-Cereals-different-2007pdf
Comparative microarray analysis demonstrates that transcriptomic disturbances are more important in conventional crops when compared to isolines of transgenic crops
Baud
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Baudo comparison in genomic disturbance GM crops are less disturbed (black dots) than classic breeds
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons Baudo et al 2006
transgenic vs controlendosperm 14 dpa
28 dpa 8 dpg
2 conventionallinesEndosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
transgenic vs conventional Endosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisonsDots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described
Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG)at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 Explanation of the graphs in Baudo
The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression
The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold
Coloured dotsrelative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expressiongreens under-expression
Example b) middle in slide 62 conventional lines compared inEndosperm at 28 dpa
Full caption of slide 6Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons of
(a) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs control L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(b) conventionally bred L88-18 vs L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(c) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs conventionally bred L88-18 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
Dots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG) at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold In the adjacent coloured bar (rectangle on the far right of the figure) the vertical axis represents relative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expression and greens under-expression Values are expressed as n-fold changes The horizontal axis of this bar represents the degree to which data can be trusted dark or unsaturated colour represents low trust and bright or saturated colour represents high trust
Full caption of slide 6
Differences observed in gene expression in the endosperm between conventionally bred material were much larger in comparison to differences between transgenic and untransformed lines exhibiting the same complements of gluten subunits These results suggest that the presence of the transgenes did not significantly alter gene expression and that at this level of investigation transgenic plants could be considered substantially equivalent to untransformed parental lines
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf
Batista Microarray analysis Mutagenesis versus Transgenesis transcriptome changes
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ldquoThe close similarity of the up- and downstream regions with the corresponding regions in P palustris excludes all suggestions that PgiC2 is not a HGT but the result of a duplication within the F ovina lineage The small size of the genetic material transferred the complex nature of the PgiC2 locus and the associated fragment with transposition associated properties suggest that the horizontal transfer occurred via a vector and not via illegitimate pollinationrdquo
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Development time and frequency of transposition differ in mutations caused by the insertion of different defective Spm elements If transposition takes place late in the development the clones of revertent cells are small and therefore so are the pigmented spots (a) If transposition takes place at about the same time but at a lower frequency there are fewer such clones and fewer spots (b) If the transposition that resores gene function takes place earlier the revertant clones and the spots of the pigmented tissue are larger (c) From (Fedoroff 1984)
Fedoroff NV (1984)Transposable genetic elements in maize [Corn Zea mays] Scientific American 250 pp 64-74 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsFedoroff-transposable-Elements-Maize-1984pdf
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
impr
ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
plo
w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
ssed
200
3w
ww
ctic
pur
due
edu
CTI
CC
TIC
htm
l or h
ttp
ww
wb
otan
isch
erga
rten
chH
erbi
zide
TolF
awce
tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
lmic
h R
L
Sta
nley
-Hor
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E
Obe
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ser
KS
P
leas
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JM
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BD
amp
Div
ely
GP
(20
01)
Impa
ct o
f Bt c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
but
terfl
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pula
tions
A ri
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sses
smen
t P
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Nat
iona
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of S
cien
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of th
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Am
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Sta
nley
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Sea
rs M
K
Ros
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Je
sse
LC
H
Lose
y
JE
O
bryc
ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
f Cry
1Ab-
expr
essi
ng c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
but
terfl
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rvae
in fi
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stud
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P
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f the
Nat
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Sci
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s of
the
Uni
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Sta
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98
21
pp
1193
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936
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931
Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Barros E Lezar S Anttonen MJ Dijk JPv Roumlhlig RM Kok EJ amp Engel K-H 2010Comparison of two GM maize varieties with a near-isogenic non-GM variety using transcriptomics proteomics and metabolomics Plant Biotechnology Journal 8 4 pp 436-451 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBarros-Comparison-GM-crops-2010pdf
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidespdf A ND HttpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidesppt
Baudo MM Lyons R Powers S Pastori GM Edwards KJ Holdsworth MJ amp Shewry PR (2006)Transgenesis has less impact on the transcriptome of wheat grain than conventional breeding Plant Biotechnology Journal 4 4 pp 369-380 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBaudo-Impact-2006pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidespdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsTransgenesis-Comparison-Slidesppt
Shewry PR Baudo M Lovegrove A amp Powers S (2007)Are GM and conventionally bred cereals really different Trends in Food Science amp Technology 18 4 pp 201-209 httpwwwbotanischergartenchWheatShewry-Are-GM-Convent-Cereals-different-2007pdf
Comparative microarray analysis demonstrates that transcriptomic disturbances are more important in conventional crops when compared to isolines of transgenic crops
Baud
o M
M
Lyon
s R
Po
wer
s S
Pa
stor
i G
M
Edw
ards
KJ
Hol
dsw
orth
MJ
amp S
hew
ry P
R (
2006
)Tr
ansg
enes
is Ha
s Les
s Im
pact
on
the
Tran
scrip
tom
e of
Whe
at G
rain
Tha
n Co
nven
tiona
l Bre
edin
g P
lant
Bi
otec
hnol
ogy
Jour
nal
4 4
pp
369
-380
http
w
ww
bot
anisc
herg
arte
nch
Org
anic
Bau
do-Im
pact
-200
6pd
f
Shew
ry P
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Jone
s H
D (
2005
) Tr
ansg
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at W
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Do
We
Stan
d aft
er th
e Fi
rst 1
2 Ye
ars
Ann
als o
f App
lied
Biol
ogy
147
1 p
p 1
-14
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p
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otan
ische
rgar
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chO
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006
Baudo comparison in genomic disturbance GM crops are less disturbed (black dots) than classic breeds
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons Baudo et al 2006
transgenic vs controlendosperm 14 dpa
28 dpa 8 dpg
2 conventionallinesEndosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
transgenic vs conventional Endosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisonsDots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described
Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG)at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 Explanation of the graphs in Baudo
The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression
The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold
Coloured dotsrelative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expressiongreens under-expression
Example b) middle in slide 62 conventional lines compared inEndosperm at 28 dpa
Full caption of slide 6Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons of
(a) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs control L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(b) conventionally bred L88-18 vs L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(c) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs conventionally bred L88-18 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
Dots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG) at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold In the adjacent coloured bar (rectangle on the far right of the figure) the vertical axis represents relative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expression and greens under-expression Values are expressed as n-fold changes The horizontal axis of this bar represents the degree to which data can be trusted dark or unsaturated colour represents low trust and bright or saturated colour represents high trust
Full caption of slide 6
Differences observed in gene expression in the endosperm between conventionally bred material were much larger in comparison to differences between transgenic and untransformed lines exhibiting the same complements of gluten subunits These results suggest that the presence of the transgenes did not significantly alter gene expression and that at this level of investigation transgenic plants could be considered substantially equivalent to untransformed parental lines
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf
Batista Microarray analysis Mutagenesis versus Transgenesis transcriptome changes
Leis
ter
D (
2005
)O
rigin
evo
lutio
n an
d ge
netic
effe
cts
of n
ucle
ar in
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ons
of o
rgan
elle
DN
A T
rend
s in
Gen
etic
s 2
1 1
2 p
p 6
55-6
63
http
w
ww
ask
-forc
eor
gw
ebG
enom
ics
Leis
ter-
Orig
in-E
volu
tion-
Gen
etic
-Effe
cts-
2005
ldquoThe close similarity of the up- and downstream regions with the corresponding regions in P palustris excludes all suggestions that PgiC2 is not a HGT but the result of a duplication within the F ovina lineage The small size of the genetic material transferred the complex nature of the PgiC2 locus and the associated fragment with transposition associated properties suggest that the horizontal transfer occurred via a vector and not via illegitimate pollinationrdquo
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Development time and frequency of transposition differ in mutations caused by the insertion of different defective Spm elements If transposition takes place late in the development the clones of revertent cells are small and therefore so are the pigmented spots (a) If transposition takes place at about the same time but at a lower frequency there are fewer such clones and fewer spots (b) If the transposition that resores gene function takes place earlier the revertant clones and the spots of the pigmented tissue are larger (c) From (Fedoroff 1984)
Fedoroff NV (1984)Transposable genetic elements in maize [Corn Zea mays] Scientific American 250 pp 64-74 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsFedoroff-transposable-Elements-Maize-1984pdf
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
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Wet
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(20
10)
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f the
N
atio
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cien
ces
107
14
pp
619
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w
ww
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ND
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ww
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-forc
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
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ery
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2002
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
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Impa
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A ri
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Nat
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rs M
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Je
sse
LC
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Lose
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bryc
ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
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1Ab-
expr
essi
ng c
orn
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n on
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arch
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Nat
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Baud
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Baudo comparison in genomic disturbance GM crops are less disturbed (black dots) than classic breeds
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons Baudo et al 2006
transgenic vs controlendosperm 14 dpa
28 dpa 8 dpg
2 conventionallinesEndosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
transgenic vs conventional Endosperm14 dpa
28 dpa leaf at 8 dpg
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisonsDots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described
Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG)at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 Explanation of the graphs in Baudo
The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression
The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold
Coloured dotsrelative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expressiongreens under-expression
Example b) middle in slide 62 conventional lines compared inEndosperm at 28 dpa
Full caption of slide 6Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons of
(a) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs control L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(b) conventionally bred L88-18 vs L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(c) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs conventionally bred L88-18 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
Dots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG) at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold In the adjacent coloured bar (rectangle on the far right of the figure) the vertical axis represents relative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expression and greens under-expression Values are expressed as n-fold changes The horizontal axis of this bar represents the degree to which data can be trusted dark or unsaturated colour represents low trust and bright or saturated colour represents high trust
Full caption of slide 6
Differences observed in gene expression in the endosperm between conventionally bred material were much larger in comparison to differences between transgenic and untransformed lines exhibiting the same complements of gluten subunits These results suggest that the presence of the transgenes did not significantly alter gene expression and that at this level of investigation transgenic plants could be considered substantially equivalent to untransformed parental lines
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf
Batista Microarray analysis Mutagenesis versus Transgenesis transcriptome changes
Leis
ter
D (
2005
)O
rigin
evo
lutio
n an
d ge
netic
effe
cts
of n
ucle
ar in
serti
ons
of o
rgan
elle
DN
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rend
s in
Gen
etic
s 2
1 1
2 p
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55-6
63
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w
ww
ask
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eor
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ebG
enom
ics
Leis
ter-
Orig
in-E
volu
tion-
Gen
etic
-Effe
cts-
2005
ldquoThe close similarity of the up- and downstream regions with the corresponding regions in P palustris excludes all suggestions that PgiC2 is not a HGT but the result of a duplication within the F ovina lineage The small size of the genetic material transferred the complex nature of the PgiC2 locus and the associated fragment with transposition associated properties suggest that the horizontal transfer occurred via a vector and not via illegitimate pollinationrdquo
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Development time and frequency of transposition differ in mutations caused by the insertion of different defective Spm elements If transposition takes place late in the development the clones of revertent cells are small and therefore so are the pigmented spots (a) If transposition takes place at about the same time but at a lower frequency there are fewer such clones and fewer spots (b) If the transposition that resores gene function takes place earlier the revertant clones and the spots of the pigmented tissue are larger (c) From (Fedoroff 1984)
Fedoroff NV (1984)Transposable genetic elements in maize [Corn Zea mays] Scientific American 250 pp 64-74 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsFedoroff-transposable-Elements-Maize-1984pdf
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
Kog
el K
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Vol
l L
M
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aefe
r P
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nsen
C
Wu
Y
Lang
en G
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r S
chm
iedl
A
Son
new
ald
S
von
Wet
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C
ook
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amp
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onne
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scrip
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f the
N
atio
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107
14
pp
619
8-62
03
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w
ww
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enom
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el-T
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ww
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
impr
ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
plo
w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
ssed
200
3w
ww
ctic
pur
due
edu
CTI
CC
TIC
htm
l or h
ttp
ww
wb
otan
isch
erga
rten
chH
erbi
zide
TolF
awce
tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
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h R
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f Bt c
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A ri
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rs M
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bryc
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ewis
L (
2001
) A
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sing
the
impa
ct o
f Cry
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essi
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n on
mon
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y la
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
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IVinstar
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e (d
ays)
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisonsDots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described
Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG)at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 Explanation of the graphs in Baudo
The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression
The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold
Coloured dotsrelative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expressiongreens under-expression
Example b) middle in slide 62 conventional lines compared inEndosperm at 28 dpa
Full caption of slide 6Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons of
(a) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs control L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(b) conventionally bred L88-18 vs L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(c) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs conventionally bred L88-18 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
Dots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG) at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold In the adjacent coloured bar (rectangle on the far right of the figure) the vertical axis represents relative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expression and greens under-expression Values are expressed as n-fold changes The horizontal axis of this bar represents the degree to which data can be trusted dark or unsaturated colour represents low trust and bright or saturated colour represents high trust
Full caption of slide 6
Differences observed in gene expression in the endosperm between conventionally bred material were much larger in comparison to differences between transgenic and untransformed lines exhibiting the same complements of gluten subunits These results suggest that the presence of the transgenes did not significantly alter gene expression and that at this level of investigation transgenic plants could be considered substantially equivalent to untransformed parental lines
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf
Batista Microarray analysis Mutagenesis versus Transgenesis transcriptome changes
Leis
ter
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cts-
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ldquoThe close similarity of the up- and downstream regions with the corresponding regions in P palustris excludes all suggestions that PgiC2 is not a HGT but the result of a duplication within the F ovina lineage The small size of the genetic material transferred the complex nature of the PgiC2 locus and the associated fragment with transposition associated properties suggest that the horizontal transfer occurred via a vector and not via illegitimate pollinationrdquo
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Development time and frequency of transposition differ in mutations caused by the insertion of different defective Spm elements If transposition takes place late in the development the clones of revertent cells are small and therefore so are the pigmented spots (a) If transposition takes place at about the same time but at a lower frequency there are fewer such clones and fewer spots (b) If the transposition that resores gene function takes place earlier the revertant clones and the spots of the pigmented tissue are larger (c) From (Fedoroff 1984)
Fedoroff NV (1984)Transposable genetic elements in maize [Corn Zea mays] Scientific American 250 pp 64-74 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsFedoroff-transposable-Elements-Maize-1984pdf
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
Kog
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atio
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619
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
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ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
plo
w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
ssed
200
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ww
ctic
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due
edu
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wb
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rten
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TolF
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tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
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L
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Nat
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rs M
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Lose
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bryc
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J
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ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
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1Ab-
expr
essi
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orn
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P
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Sci
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Full caption of slide 6Scatter plot representation of transcriptome comparisons of
(a) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs control L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(b) conventionally bred L88-18 vs L88-31 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
(c) transgenic B102-1-1 line vs conventionally bred L88-18 line in endosperm at 14 dpa (left) 28 dpa (middle) or leaf at 8 dpg (right)
Dots represent the normalized relative expression level of each arrayed gene for the transcriptome comparisons described Dots in black represent statistically significant differentially expressed genes (DEG) at an arbitrary cut off gt 15 The inner line on each graph represents no change in expression The offset dashed lines are set at a relative expression cut-off of twofold In the adjacent coloured bar (rectangle on the far right of the figure) the vertical axis represents relative gene expression levels reds indicate overexpression yellows average expression and greens under-expression Values are expressed as n-fold changes The horizontal axis of this bar represents the degree to which data can be trusted dark or unsaturated colour represents low trust and bright or saturated colour represents high trust
Full caption of slide 6
Differences observed in gene expression in the endosperm between conventionally bred material were much larger in comparison to differences between transgenic and untransformed lines exhibiting the same complements of gluten subunits These results suggest that the presence of the transgenes did not significantly alter gene expression and that at this level of investigation transgenic plants could be considered substantially equivalent to untransformed parental lines
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf
Batista Microarray analysis Mutagenesis versus Transgenesis transcriptome changes
Leis
ter
D (
2005
)O
rigin
evo
lutio
n an
d ge
netic
effe
cts
of n
ucle
ar in
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ons
of o
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elle
DN
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rend
s in
Gen
etic
s 2
1 1
2 p
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55-6
63
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w
ww
ask
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ebG
enom
ics
Leis
ter-
Orig
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tion-
Gen
etic
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cts-
2005
ldquoThe close similarity of the up- and downstream regions with the corresponding regions in P palustris excludes all suggestions that PgiC2 is not a HGT but the result of a duplication within the F ovina lineage The small size of the genetic material transferred the complex nature of the PgiC2 locus and the associated fragment with transposition associated properties suggest that the horizontal transfer occurred via a vector and not via illegitimate pollinationrdquo
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Development time and frequency of transposition differ in mutations caused by the insertion of different defective Spm elements If transposition takes place late in the development the clones of revertent cells are small and therefore so are the pigmented spots (a) If transposition takes place at about the same time but at a lower frequency there are fewer such clones and fewer spots (b) If the transposition that resores gene function takes place earlier the revertant clones and the spots of the pigmented tissue are larger (c) From (Fedoroff 1984)
Fedoroff NV (1984)Transposable genetic elements in maize [Corn Zea mays] Scientific American 250 pp 64-74 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsFedoroff-transposable-Elements-Maize-1984pdf
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
Kog
el K
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aefe
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en G
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r S
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von
Wet
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ook
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atio
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107
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619
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03
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w
ww
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-forc
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
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es c
an
impr
ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
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ng th
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ed to
plo
w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
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200
3w
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due
edu
CTI
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TIC
htm
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ttp
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wb
otan
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rten
chH
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TolF
awce
tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
lmic
h R
L
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nley
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ser
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leas
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Div
ely
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(20
01)
Impa
ct o
f Bt c
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tions
A ri
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Nat
iona
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my
of S
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of th
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nite
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eric
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1194
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otan
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erga
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E
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ely
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ich
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attil
a H
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rs M
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e R
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sse
LC
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Lose
y
JE
O
bryc
ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
f Cry
1Ab-
expr
essi
ng c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
but
terfl
y la
rvae
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P
roce
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f the
Nat
iona
l Aca
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Sci
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ted
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tes
of A
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98
21
pp
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Differences observed in gene expression in the endosperm between conventionally bred material were much larger in comparison to differences between transgenic and untransformed lines exhibiting the same complements of gluten subunits These results suggest that the presence of the transgenes did not significantly alter gene expression and that at this level of investigation transgenic plants could be considered substantially equivalent to untransformed parental lines
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf
Batista Microarray analysis Mutagenesis versus Transgenesis transcriptome changes
Leis
ter
D (
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)O
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netic
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ldquoThe close similarity of the up- and downstream regions with the corresponding regions in P palustris excludes all suggestions that PgiC2 is not a HGT but the result of a duplication within the F ovina lineage The small size of the genetic material transferred the complex nature of the PgiC2 locus and the associated fragment with transposition associated properties suggest that the horizontal transfer occurred via a vector and not via illegitimate pollinationrdquo
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Development time and frequency of transposition differ in mutations caused by the insertion of different defective Spm elements If transposition takes place late in the development the clones of revertent cells are small and therefore so are the pigmented spots (a) If transposition takes place at about the same time but at a lower frequency there are fewer such clones and fewer spots (b) If the transposition that resores gene function takes place earlier the revertant clones and the spots of the pigmented tissue are larger (c) From (Fedoroff 1984)
Fedoroff NV (1984)Transposable genetic elements in maize [Corn Zea mays] Scientific American 250 pp 64-74 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsFedoroff-transposable-Elements-Maize-1984pdf
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
Kog
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Wet
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
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tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
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es c
an
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ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
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w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
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200
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ww
ctic
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due
edu
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rten
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TolF
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tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
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) A
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
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lopm
enta
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e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Batista R Saibo N Lourenco T amp Oliveira MM (2008)Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic changes than transgene insertion Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 9 pp 3640-3645 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsBatista-Microarray-Analysis-2008pdf
Batista Microarray analysis Mutagenesis versus Transgenesis transcriptome changes
Leis
ter
D (
2005
)O
rigin
evo
lutio
n an
d ge
netic
effe
cts
of n
ucle
ar in
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ons
of o
rgan
elle
DN
A T
rend
s in
Gen
etic
s 2
1 1
2 p
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55-6
63
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w
ww
ask
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ebG
enom
ics
Leis
ter-
Orig
in-E
volu
tion-
Gen
etic
-Effe
cts-
2005
ldquoThe close similarity of the up- and downstream regions with the corresponding regions in P palustris excludes all suggestions that PgiC2 is not a HGT but the result of a duplication within the F ovina lineage The small size of the genetic material transferred the complex nature of the PgiC2 locus and the associated fragment with transposition associated properties suggest that the horizontal transfer occurred via a vector and not via illegitimate pollinationrdquo
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Development time and frequency of transposition differ in mutations caused by the insertion of different defective Spm elements If transposition takes place late in the development the clones of revertent cells are small and therefore so are the pigmented spots (a) If transposition takes place at about the same time but at a lower frequency there are fewer such clones and fewer spots (b) If the transposition that resores gene function takes place earlier the revertant clones and the spots of the pigmented tissue are larger (c) From (Fedoroff 1984)
Fedoroff NV (1984)Transposable genetic elements in maize [Corn Zea mays] Scientific American 250 pp 64-74 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsFedoroff-transposable-Elements-Maize-1984pdf
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
Kog
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aefe
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en G
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r S
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ook
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f the
N
atio
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107
14
pp
619
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w
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-forc
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
impr
ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
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ng th
e ne
ed to
plo
w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
ssed
200
3w
ww
ctic
pur
due
edu
CTI
CC
TIC
htm
l or h
ttp
ww
wb
otan
isch
erga
rten
chH
erbi
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TolF
awce
tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
lmic
h R
L
Sta
nley
-Hor
n D
E
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ser
KS
P
leas
ants
JM
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attil
a H
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gfrie
d
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amp
Div
ely
GP
(20
01)
Impa
ct o
f Bt c
orn
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n on
mon
arch
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y po
pula
tions
A ri
sk a
sses
smen
t P
roce
edin
gs o
f the
Nat
iona
l A
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my
of S
cien
ces
of th
e U
nite
d S
tate
s of
Am
eric
a 9
8 2
1 p
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1194
2 h
ttp
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otan
isch
erga
rten
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rsre
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000
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nley
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n D
E
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ely
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ellm
ich
RL
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attil
a H
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Sea
rs M
K
Ros
e R
Je
sse
LC
H
Lose
y
JE
O
bryc
ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
f Cry
1Ab-
expr
essi
ng c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
but
terfl
y la
rvae
in fi
eld
stud
ies
P
roce
edin
gs o
f the
Nat
iona
l Aca
dem
y of
Sci
ence
s of
the
Uni
ted
Sta
tes
of A
mer
ica
98
21
pp
1193
1-11
936
http
w
ww
pna
sor
gcg
icon
tent
full
982
111
931
Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Leis
ter
D (
2005
)O
rigin
evo
lutio
n an
d ge
netic
effe
cts
of n
ucle
ar in
serti
ons
of o
rgan
elle
DN
A T
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s in
Gen
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55-6
63
http
w
ww
ask
-forc
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gw
ebG
enom
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Leis
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Orig
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cts-
2005
ldquoThe close similarity of the up- and downstream regions with the corresponding regions in P palustris excludes all suggestions that PgiC2 is not a HGT but the result of a duplication within the F ovina lineage The small size of the genetic material transferred the complex nature of the PgiC2 locus and the associated fragment with transposition associated properties suggest that the horizontal transfer occurred via a vector and not via illegitimate pollinationrdquo
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Development time and frequency of transposition differ in mutations caused by the insertion of different defective Spm elements If transposition takes place late in the development the clones of revertent cells are small and therefore so are the pigmented spots (a) If transposition takes place at about the same time but at a lower frequency there are fewer such clones and fewer spots (b) If the transposition that resores gene function takes place earlier the revertant clones and the spots of the pigmented tissue are larger (c) From (Fedoroff 1984)
Fedoroff NV (1984)Transposable genetic elements in maize [Corn Zea mays] Scientific American 250 pp 64-74 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsFedoroff-transposable-Elements-Maize-1984pdf
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
Kog
el K
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l L
M
Sch
aefe
r P
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C
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Lang
en G
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n J
r S
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A
Son
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ald
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von
Wet
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in D
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amp
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onne
wal
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10)
Tran
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ng o
f fie
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n tra
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ck
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es b
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cul
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var
ianc
es P
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edin
gs o
f the
N
atio
nal A
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my
of S
cien
ces
107
14
pp
619
8-62
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http
w
ww
ask
-forc
eor
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ebG
enom
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Kog
el-T
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http
w
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ask
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
impr
ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
plo
w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
ssed
200
3w
ww
ctic
pur
due
edu
CTI
CC
TIC
htm
l or h
ttp
ww
wb
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rten
chH
erbi
zide
TolF
awce
tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
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A ri
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Sea
rs M
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LC
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Lose
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bryc
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J
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ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
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1Ab-
expr
essi
ng c
orn
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terfl
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P
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Sci
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
ldquoThe close similarity of the up- and downstream regions with the corresponding regions in P palustris excludes all suggestions that PgiC2 is not a HGT but the result of a duplication within the F ovina lineage The small size of the genetic material transferred the complex nature of the PgiC2 locus and the associated fragment with transposition associated properties suggest that the horizontal transfer occurred via a vector and not via illegitimate pollinationrdquo
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Development time and frequency of transposition differ in mutations caused by the insertion of different defective Spm elements If transposition takes place late in the development the clones of revertent cells are small and therefore so are the pigmented spots (a) If transposition takes place at about the same time but at a lower frequency there are fewer such clones and fewer spots (b) If the transposition that resores gene function takes place earlier the revertant clones and the spots of the pigmented tissue are larger (c) From (Fedoroff 1984)
Fedoroff NV (1984)Transposable genetic elements in maize [Corn Zea mays] Scientific American 250 pp 64-74 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsFedoroff-transposable-Elements-Maize-1984pdf
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
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aefe
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en G
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r S
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ald
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von
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atio
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eor
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ics
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
impr
ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
plo
w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
ssed
200
3w
ww
ctic
pur
due
edu
CTI
CC
TIC
htm
l or h
ttp
ww
wb
otan
isch
erga
rten
chH
erbi
zide
TolF
awce
tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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h R
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f Bt c
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otan
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ely
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ellm
ich
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rs M
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sse
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y
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bryc
ki J
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ewis
L (
2001
) A
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sing
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impa
ct o
f Cry
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essi
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orn
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ies
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roce
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f the
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iona
l Aca
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ence
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ted
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tes
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Development time and frequency of transposition differ in mutations caused by the insertion of different defective Spm elements If transposition takes place late in the development the clones of revertent cells are small and therefore so are the pigmented spots (a) If transposition takes place at about the same time but at a lower frequency there are fewer such clones and fewer spots (b) If the transposition that resores gene function takes place earlier the revertant clones and the spots of the pigmented tissue are larger (c) From (Fedoroff 1984)
Fedoroff NV (1984)Transposable genetic elements in maize [Corn Zea mays] Scientific American 250 pp 64-74 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsFedoroff-transposable-Elements-Maize-1984pdf
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
Kog
el K
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Vol
l L
M
Sch
aefe
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en G
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r S
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Wet
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onne
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f the
N
atio
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my
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cien
ces
107
14
pp
619
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03
http
w
ww
ask
-forc
eor
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ebG
enom
ics
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rans
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-forc
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f
What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
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isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Landrace preserved as a cultivar from Thusis Eastern Switzerland visualizing the colorful dynamics of transposition Photo Klaus Ammann
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
Kog
el K
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Vol
l L
M
Sch
aefe
r P
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nsen
C
Wu
Y
Lang
en G
Im
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r S
chm
iedl
A
Son
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ald
S
von
Wet
tste
in D
C
ook
RJ
amp
S
onne
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d U
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10)
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scrip
tom
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e pr
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f the
N
atio
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ces
107
14
pp
619
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03
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-forc
eor
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enom
ics
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
impr
ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
plo
w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
ssed
200
3w
ww
ctic
pur
due
edu
CTI
CC
TIC
htm
l or h
ttp
ww
wb
otan
isch
erga
rten
chH
erbi
zide
TolF
awce
tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
lmic
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y
JE
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bryc
ki J
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ewis
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2001
) A
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impa
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
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enta
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ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Ghatnekar L Jaarola M amp Bengtsson BO (2006) The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina Proceedings Biological Sciences 273 1585 pp 395 - 399 httpwwwbotanischergartenchMutationsGathnekar-Transgen-Festucapdf
A natural transgenic grass widespread in Europe
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
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ery
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lect
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ourc
e C
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aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
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lmic
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nley
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ser
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leas
ants
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ct o
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arch
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iona
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otan
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erga
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rs M
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bryc
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ewis
L (
2001
) A
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sing
the
impa
ct o
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expr
essi
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orn
polle
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iona
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
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enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
The upstream sequence of PgiC2 drawn to scale with boundaries identified by sequence comparisons with other PgiC genesTAF Transgene Associated Transgene
Vallenback P Ghatnekar L amp Bengtsson BO (2010)Structure of the Natural Transgene PgiC2 in the Common Grass Festuca ovina PLoS One 5 10 pp e13529 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGenomicsVallenback-Structure-Natural-Transgene-2010pdf
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
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f
What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
impr
ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
plo
w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
ssed
200
3w
ww
ctic
pur
due
edu
CTI
CC
TIC
htm
l or h
ttp
ww
wb
otan
isch
erga
rten
chH
erbi
zide
TolF
awce
tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
lmic
h R
L
Sta
nley
-Hor
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E
Obe
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ser
KS
P
leas
ants
JM
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Sie
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BD
amp
Div
ely
GP
(20
01)
Impa
ct o
f Bt c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
but
terfl
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pula
tions
A ri
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sses
smen
t P
roce
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Nat
iona
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my
of S
cien
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of th
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Am
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Sta
nley
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ely
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R
Sea
rs M
K
Ros
e R
Je
sse
LC
H
Lose
y
JE
O
bryc
ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
f Cry
1Ab-
expr
essi
ng c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
but
terfl
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rvae
in fi
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stud
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P
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f the
Nat
iona
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Sci
ence
s of
the
Uni
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Sta
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of A
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98
21
pp
1193
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936
http
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931
Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Kogel et al 2010 In summary our results substantially extend observations that cultivar-specific differences in transcriptome and metabolome greatly exceed effects caused by transgene expression Furthermore we provide evidence that (i) the impact of a low number of alleles on the global transcript and metabolite profile is stronger than transgene expression
Kogel K-H Voll LM Schaefer P Jansen C Wu Y Langen G Imani J Hofmann Jr Schmiedl A Sonnewald S von Wettstein D Cook RJ amp Sonnewald U (2010)Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of field-grown transgenic barley lack induced differences but show cultivar-specific variances Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107 14 pp 6198-6203 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000276374400016 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-2010pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsKogel-Transcriptome-Metabolome-Supporting-2010pdf
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
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el K
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l L
M
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aefe
r P
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C
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en G
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r S
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von
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ook
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-forc
eor
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
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2002
) E
lect
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c S
ourc
e C
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gy H
ow n
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es c
an
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ove
the
envi
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ed to
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w
publ
ishe
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Pur
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Uni
vers
ity
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200
3w
ww
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TIC
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iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
lmic
h R
L
Sta
nley
-Hor
n D
E
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rhau
ser
KS
P
leas
ants
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attil
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gfrie
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amp
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ely
GP
(20
01)
Impa
ct o
f Bt c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
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terfl
y po
pula
tions
A ri
sk a
sses
smen
t P
roce
edin
gs o
f the
Nat
iona
l A
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my
of S
cien
ces
of th
e U
nite
d S
tate
s of
Am
eric
a 9
8 2
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p 11
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1194
2 h
ttp
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wb
otan
isch
erga
rten
chB
tSea
rsre
port-
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im-2
000
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nley
-Hor
n D
E
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ely
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ellm
ich
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attil
a H
R
Sea
rs M
K
Ros
e R
Je
sse
LC
H
Lose
y
JE
O
bryc
ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
f Cry
1Ab-
expr
essi
ng c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
but
terfl
y la
rvae
in fi
eld
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ies
P
roce
edin
gs o
f the
Nat
iona
l Aca
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y of
Sci
ence
s of
the
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ted
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tes
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ica
98
21
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982
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Old untargeted methods in former decades
- Colchicin application it is a toxin enhancing the number of mutations doubling chromosome numbers and produce haploid (one chromosome set) for breeding UNCONTROLLABLE EFFECT
- Radiation mutation breeding hundreds of cases including Durum Wheat for pasta All those methods produce uncontrolled changes in genomes more transcriptomic disturbance than genetic engineering
Primarily uncontrollable effects later eliminated through repair mechanisms and breeders selection
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
Kog
el K
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Vol
l L
M
Sch
aefe
r P
Ja
nsen
C
Wu
Y
Lang
en G
Im
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n J
r S
chm
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Son
new
ald
S
von
Wet
tste
in D
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ook
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amp
S
onne
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10)
Tran
scrip
tom
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e pr
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ng o
f fie
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n tra
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ck
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es b
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cific
var
ianc
es P
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edin
gs o
f the
N
atio
nal A
cade
my
of S
cien
ces
107
14
pp
619
8-62
03
http
w
ww
ask
-forc
eor
gw
ebG
enom
ics
Kog
el-T
rans
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ND
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-forc
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f
What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
PCA of transcriptome data PCA was performed based on data from two replicate hybridizations per genotype and treatment RNA was extracted from aliquots of pooled sample material also used for metabolome analysis From the 1660 genes differentially expressed between cultivars B and GP (Table S3) five of the most significant ones were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of independent sample aliquots (Fig S2B) GP Golden Promise B Baronesse ChGP Chitinase GP GluB Glucanase B M Amykor treatment From (Kogel et al 2010)
Kog
el K
-H
Vol
l L
M
Sch
aefe
r P
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nsen
C
Wu
Y
Lang
en G
Im
ani
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n J
r S
chm
iedl
A
Son
new
ald
S
von
Wet
tste
in D
C
ook
RJ
amp
S
onne
wal
d U
(20
10)
Tran
scrip
tom
e an
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etab
olom
e pr
ofili
ng o
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ld-g
row
n tra
nsge
nic
barle
y la
ck
indu
ced
diffe
renc
es b
ut s
how
cul
tivar
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cific
var
ianc
es P
roce
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gs o
f the
N
atio
nal A
cade
my
of S
cien
ces
107
14
pp
619
8-62
03
http
w
ww
ask
-forc
eor
gw
ebG
enom
ics
Kog
el-T
rans
crip
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http
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-forc
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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
impr
ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
plo
w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
ssed
200
3w
ww
ctic
pur
due
edu
CTI
CC
TIC
htm
l or h
ttp
ww
wb
otan
isch
erga
rten
chH
erbi
zide
TolF
awce
tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
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(20
01)
Impa
ct o
f Bt c
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but
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A ri
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Nat
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of th
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Am
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Sea
rs M
K
Ros
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Je
sse
LC
H
Lose
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JE
O
bryc
ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
f Cry
1Ab-
expr
essi
ng c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
but
terfl
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rvae
in fi
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P
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Nat
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Sci
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the
Uni
ted
Sta
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of A
mer
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98
21
pp
1193
1-11
936
http
w
ww
pna
sor
gcg
icon
tent
full
982
111
931
Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
What Conclusions Can Be Drawn Regarding the Substantial Equivalence ConceptIt is important to keep in mind that the standard proposed by the OECDFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWorld Health Organization was substantial equivalence rather than total equivalence and that there is no specific statistical or biological basis to define ldquosubstantialrdquo (Hoekenga 2008) In other words no ldquolimits of concernrdquo have been defined regarding differences In addition plant composition is usually variable even within a single variety Pairwise differences between a GE line and its comparator are usually less than natural variability Furthermore near isogenic lines differ by a number of alleles which could explain a number of differences attributed to transgenesis Thus the substantial equivalence concept cannot provide more than a guiding framework for evaluation
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
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nd p
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gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
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es c
an
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ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
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duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
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w
publ
ishe
d by
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due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
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200
3w
ww
ctic
pur
due
edu
CTI
CC
TIC
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ttp
ww
wb
otan
isch
erga
rten
chH
erbi
zide
TolF
awce
tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
lmic
h R
L
Sta
nley
-Hor
n D
E
Obe
rhau
ser
KS
P
leas
ants
JM
M
attil
a H
R
Sie
gfrie
d
BD
amp
Div
ely
GP
(20
01)
Impa
ct o
f Bt c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
but
terfl
y po
pula
tions
A ri
sk a
sses
smen
t P
roce
edin
gs o
f the
Nat
iona
l A
cade
my
of S
cien
ces
of th
e U
nite
d S
tate
s of
Am
eric
a 9
8 2
1 p
p 11
937-
1194
2 h
ttp
ww
wb
otan
isch
erga
rten
chB
tSea
rsre
port-
prel
im-2
000
Sta
nley
-Hor
n D
E
Div
ely
GP
H
ellm
ich
RL
M
attil
a H
R
Sea
rs M
K
Ros
e R
Je
sse
LC
H
Lose
y
JE
O
bryc
ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
f Cry
1Ab-
expr
essi
ng c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
but
terfl
y la
rvae
in fi
eld
stud
ies
P
roce
edin
gs o
f the
Nat
iona
l Aca
dem
y of
Sci
ence
s of
the
Uni
ted
Sta
tes
of A
mer
ica
98
21
pp
1193
1-11
936
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w
ww
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sor
gcg
icon
tent
full
982
111
931
Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Nevertheless the experience acquired after 15 yearsof GE crop commercialization has comforted the validityof this framework [Substantial Equivalence]
However considering the highly polarized views on GE crops it is important to notice that the opinions expressed previously by food safety agencies (ie general ldquoequivalencerdquo of authorized GE crops with non-GE comparators) have now been independently corroborated at the transcriptomicproteomic and metabolomic levels by recently published omic comparisons (Table I)
None of the published omic assessments has raised new safety concerns about marketed GE cultivars
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
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tech
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gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
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ove
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ronm
ent b
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ng th
e ne
ed to
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w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
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200
3w
ww
ctic
pur
due
edu
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CC
TIC
htm
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wb
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rten
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TolF
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tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
lmic
h R
L
Sta
nley
-Hor
n D
E
Obe
rhau
ser
KS
P
leas
ants
JM
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attil
a H
R
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gfrie
d
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amp
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ely
GP
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01)
Impa
ct o
f Bt c
orn
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n on
mon
arch
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terfl
y po
pula
tions
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sk a
sses
smen
t P
roce
edin
gs o
f the
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iona
l A
cade
my
of S
cien
ces
of th
e U
nite
d S
tate
s of
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eric
a 9
8 2
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ttp
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wb
otan
isch
erga
rten
chB
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rsre
port-
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im-2
000
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nley
-Hor
n D
E
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ely
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ellm
ich
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attil
a H
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Sea
rs M
K
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e R
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sse
LC
H
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y
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bryc
ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
f Cry
1Ab-
expr
essi
ng c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
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terfl
y la
rvae
in fi
eld
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ies
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edin
gs o
f the
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iona
l Aca
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y of
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ence
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tes
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Ricroch AE Berge JB amp Kuntz M (2011)Evaluation of genetically engineered crops using transcriptomic proteomic and metabolomic profiling techniques Plant Physiology preview February 24 2011 pp 26 httpwwwplantphysiolorgcgicontentabstractpp111173609v1 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebGenomicsRicroch-Evaluation-GE-Crops-Omics-def-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-T-II-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-TI-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S2-2011pdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebFoodRicroch-Evaluation-GE-crops-omics-Suppl-References-S4-2011pdf
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
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isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Institute of Radiation Breeding Ibaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
100m radius
89 TBqCo-60
source at the centerShielding dike 8m
high
Gamma Field for radiation
breeding
BetterBetterspaghettis whiskyspaghettis whisky1800 new plants1800 new plants
Radiation breeding as field experiments
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
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ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
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w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
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200
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ww
ctic
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due
edu
CTI
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ttp
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rten
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TolF
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tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
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Lose
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bryc
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ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
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expr
essi
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orn
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Reuters May 10 2010 UNs International Atomic Energy Agency since 1963 2252 new plant varieties including Italian durum wheat have been created using radioactive substances such as cobalt and X-rays
70 of the crops under cultivation worldwide are radiation mutation varieties
Charles Margulis of Greenpeace USA But now they tell us that scientists have been artificially hybridizing plants since the 1960sThats like really uncool
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
ge a
nd p
lant
bio
tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
logi
es c
an
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ove
the
envi
ronm
ent b
y re
duci
ng th
e ne
ed to
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w
publ
ishe
d by
Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
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200
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ww
ctic
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due
edu
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rten
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TolF
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iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
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Lose
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bryc
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J
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L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
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expr
essi
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orn
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P
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Sci
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Radiation Mutation old to plant breeders new to Activists caused unjustified panics ca 1960
Activists supported by Jane Rissler called for a ban since those irradiated varieties have never been tested for food safety which would have wiped out 70 of the food products on shelfs
Jane RisslerldquoCompared to these plants genetically modified food is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contestrdquo
But excellent repair mechanisms working like zippers are reducing radiation damage considerablyAnd worldwide there has been no correlation established between radiation mutation and negagtive food safety facts
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
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gy H
ow n
ew te
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es c
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ove
the
envi
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ent b
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ng th
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ed to
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w
publ
ishe
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due
Uni
vers
ity
acce
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200
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ww
ctic
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due
edu
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ttp
ww
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isch
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TolF
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tt-B
iote
chP
aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
lmic
h R
L
Sta
nley
-Hor
n D
E
Obe
rhau
ser
KS
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
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7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
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isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Fig 2 Mitotic chromosomes in root tip cells of plants irradiated by N ion beam or X-ray (A) Normal chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (2n = 42) (B) Chromosomes irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam (C) Chromosomes irradiated with 200Gy of X-ray (D) A pair of chromosome lsquoJrsquo of L racemosus in addition lines distinguished by in situ hybridization with the probe of genomic DNA (red) and subtelomeric repetitive sequence TaiI (green) (E) Chromosomes of L racemosus visualized by GISH in the cell irradiated with 50 Gy of N ion beam Arrows indicate chromosome fragments of L racemosus (F) L racemosus chromosomes detected by GISH in the cell irradiated with 175Gy of X-ray One L racemosus chromosome was normal and another was involved in reciprocal translocation (indicated by arrows) (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend the reader is referred to the web version of the article)
Kikuchi S Saito Y Ryuto H Fukunishi N Abe T Tanaka H amp Tsujimoto H (2009)Effects of heavy-ion beams on chromosomes of common wheat Triticum aestivum Mutation Research-Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 669 1-2 pp 63-66 httpwwwask-forceorgwebWheatkikuchi-effects-heavy-ion-wheat-2009pdf
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
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nd p
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tech
nolo
gy H
ow n
ew te
chno
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es c
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ove
the
envi
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ent b
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ng th
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ed to
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w
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Pur
due
Uni
vers
ity
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200
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aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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rs M
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
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ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Bread Wheat is a hexaploid (cross ofthree separate species) artificiallymaintained
ldquoNaturalrdquo dissemination method disabledPieces of chromosomes from several
other species have been addedUsed as a basis to make an entirely new
crop called Triticale
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
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nd p
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gy H
ow n
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ng th
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aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
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7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Manipulation of WheatGenetics
Pieces of chromosomes from severalother species have been added
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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iona
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rs M
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ewis
L (
2001
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sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
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expr
essi
ng c
orn
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n on
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arch
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y la
rvae
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P
roce
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gs o
f the
Nat
iona
l Aca
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Sci
ence
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tes
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
National Research Council NAP (2004) Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects NAP pp 255 Washington (Report)httpwwwnapeducatalog10977html AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchFoodNAP-Safety-GMO-Food-2004pdf
Breeding methods in relation to the disturbance of genomic structures
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
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gy H
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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rs M
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rs M
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essi
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
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enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Durum Wheat Triticum durum all major breedshave gone thoughmassive and inprecise radiation breeding but withImportant successunnecessary fearmongering
FRANKENSTEIN ()
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
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ery
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2002
) E
lect
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e C
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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ely
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ich
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rs M
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sse
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ewis
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2001
) A
sses
sing
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impa
ct o
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expr
essi
ng c
orn
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iona
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
ldquoGold Nijusseikirdquo resistant to black
spot disease
Asian pear improved by radiation breeding
ldquoNijus-seikirdquo
suscep-tible to black spot
disease
Institute of Radiation BreedingIbaraki-ken JAPAN httpwwwirbaffrcgojp
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
c S
ourc
e C
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ion
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gy H
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Pur
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aper
Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
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enta
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isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
New Celery (Apium graveolens)Dermatitis because of high psoralen-content
Diawara MM Chavez KJ Simpleman D Williams DE Franklin MR amp Hoyer PB (2001)The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats Reproductive Toxicology 15 2 pp 137-144 httpwwwbotanischergartenchAllergyDiawara-Psoralens-Rats-2001pdf
Potatoes new LenapeHad to be withdrawn from market dueto high content of solanin
Anonymous (1970)Name of potato variety Lenape withdrawn American Journal of Potato Research 47 3 pp 103-103 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02864812
Akeley R Mills W Cunningham C amp Watts J (1968)Lenape A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality American Journal of Potato Research 45 4 pp 142-145 httpdxdoiorg101007BF02863068
Old RisksUnwelcome Toxins related to traditional Breeding
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
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CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
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5
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30
35
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NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Good news for radiation mutants
Repair mechanisms of DNA mismatch
They are always at work There is no real worry that radiation could permanently damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
Faw
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
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90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
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10
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25
30
35
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NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Repair mechanismof DNA mismatchAre always at workThere is no realWorry that radiation Could permanently Damage the genomes
Bray CM amp West CE (2005)DNA repair mechanisms in plants crucial sensors and effectors for the maintenance of genome integrity New Phytologist 168 3 pp 511-528 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRadiation-Mutantsbray-dna-repair-mechanisms-2005pdf
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
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3w
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ctic
pur
due
edu
CTI
CC
TIC
htm
l or h
ttp
ww
wb
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TolF
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
CONCLUSIONS Abolish the Genomic Misconception
We need to reconcile contrasting agriculturalmanagement systems
It is better to make peace between industrial agriculture and integrated and organic methods since all those systems have advantages and disadvantages and we need to learn from each other instead of waging war ORGANOTRANSGENICS
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
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50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Farmer de Jonghe in the Netherlands produces vegetables strictly according to organi standards Foto Claus Lange Text Michael Miersch Weltwoche 06 2003
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
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20
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40
50
60
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80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
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25
30
35
40
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NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Old Order Amish farmers in Lancaster County North of Washington have partially adopted transgenic vegetables (Pennsylvania Enquirer Artikel 2000)Ammann K amp Truth about Science (1999)Electronic Source Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco Potatoes (ed TaTa Technology) published by Truth about Trade and Technologyhttpwwwask-forceorgwebAmishAmish-Farmers-Grow-Biotech-1999PDF
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
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40
50
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70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
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25
30
35
40
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NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
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40
50
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80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
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25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Ammann K (2008)Feature Integrated
farming Why organic farmers should use transgenic crops open source citations New Biotechnology 25 2 pp 101 - 107
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechAmmann-Opinion-Integrated-Farming-20080825-names-links-editedpdf
Ammann K (2009)Feature Why farming with high tech methods should integrate elements of organic agriculture accepted corrected proof open links New Biotechnology 4 pp
httpwwwbotanischergartenchNewBiotechIntegrated-Farming-Biotech-Org-20090803-openlinkpdf
Why high tech farmers should adopt Organic management
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
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90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
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25
30
35
40
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50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
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7
8
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Ronald PC amp Adamchak RW (2008) Tomorrows Table Organic Farming Genetics and the Future of Food Oxford University Press USA (April 18 2008) IS ISBN-10 0195301757 ISBN-13 978-0195301755 pp 232 Book review by J Gressel 2009 httpwwwbotanischergartenchGressel-Book-Ronald-2009pdf
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
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CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
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5
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35
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NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
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8
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Mixed message if you compare the impact of modern agriculture with organic farming there are sometimes coming good results from organic farming but alsomodern agriculture has its positive impact
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
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CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
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50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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rs M
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
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ays)
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Faw
cett
R amp
Tow
ery
D (
2002
) E
lect
roni
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ourc
e C
onse
rvat
ion
tilla
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nd p
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Conservation Tillage has been easilyadopted with herbicide tolerant crops
Time needed for Bobwhite Quail chicksTo satisfy daily insect requirements
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Figure 1 Principal component analysis of microbial community structure observed in two depths of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) Dundee silt loam soil based on total fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) technique
Zablotowicz RM Accinelli C Krutz LJ amp Reddy KN (2009)Soil Depth and Tillage Effects on Glyphosate Degradation Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 11 pp 4867-4871 httpwwwask-forceorgwebHerbizideTolZablotowicz-Soil-Depth-Tillage-2009pdf
No Tillage -----------------------------------------------------Tillage
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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rs M
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e R
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sse
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bryc
ki J
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amp L
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L (
2001
) A
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the
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ct o
f Cry
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expr
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ng c
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
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e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Scale and landscapestructure more importantthan differences in organic and conventionalfarming
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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) A
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but
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rvae
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P
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f the
Nat
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Sci
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s of
the
Uni
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Sta
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of A
mer
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98
21
pp
1193
1-11
936
http
w
ww
pna
sor
gcg
icon
tent
full
982
111
931
Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Scheme to visualize the hierarchical sampling design of (a) 16 paired landscapes (coldspots in black and hotspots in grey) in tworegions in England Each landscape pair within a region forms a cluster which is shown by the shading pattern (b) Schematic view of acoldspot and hotspot landscape with low or high amount of organic land (grey shading) Each landscape contains one organic (grey circle)and one conventional farm (white circle) with three arable and grass fields (dark and light grey rectangles) (c) Farmland biodiversitycomponents were surveyed on each field at nine sampling stations (grey rectangles) three in the margin (M) three in the edge (E) and three inthe centre (C) Sampling design within a sampling station (magnified) using the hot mustard method for earthworms (grey circle) three 1-m2quadrats for plants nine Vortis suctions for epigeal arthropods (white circles) and a triplicate pantrap for pollinatorsNote Earthworms were sampled only in the centre and edge location and in 2008 the sampling effort for earthworms was increased fromthree sampling stations to five Pantraps were exposed only in field centres and margins Transect walks for butterflies and birds are notshown
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
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7
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isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Distribution of different measures describing farmland birds across organic and conventional farms in coldspot (black) and hotspot (grey) landscapes (g) Ordination of farmland bird species (black dots) and corvids (grey triangles) Means + SEMper farm and survey n = 190 number of(a) farmland bird species(b) farmland bird specialist species (c) farmland bird generalist species (d) Shannon Index (e) number of farmland birds excluding jackdaw and rook and (f) number of corvids (jackdaw rook jay and magpie) per farm and survey Geometric means are shown for abundance data
The effect of farm management does not depend on which measure is used See Appendix S1c for additional details
Gabriel D Sait SM Hodgson JA Schmutz U Kunin WE amp Benton TG (2010)Scale matters the impact of organic farming on biodiversity at different spatial scales Ecology Letters 9999 9999 pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGabriel-Scale-Matters-Organic2010pdf
although management effects onbiodiversity were quite consistent for some species groups such as plants and butterflies for others such as birds andsolitary bees the effects (and effect sizes) varied considerably between regions
birds and solitary bees are often bettertaken care of by conventional agriculture
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
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isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
httpdingocare2compicturesgreenliving10781077877largejpg
Organic TomatoesNo better quality
There is scientific proof of the following
1 Tomato quality differs heavily on environmental conditionsChassy AW Bui L Renaud ENC Van Horn M amp Mitchell AE (2006)Three-year comparison of the content of antioxidant microconstituents and several quality characteristics in organic and conventionally managed tomatoes and bell peppers Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54 21 pp 8244-8252 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicChassy-AW-Three-Year-Comparison-Tomatoes-2006pdf
2 The claim that organic tomatoes have higher content of antioxidants is falseMitchell AE Hong YJ Koh E Barrett DM Bryant DE Denison RF amp Kaffka S (2007)Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes J Agric Food Chem pp httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-tenyears-tomato-2007pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMitchell-2007-Fig-4ppt AND rebuttal Hudson Institute httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicTomato-Flavonoids-Hudson-2007pdf 3 The claim that organic food has higher quality has been falsified by several studiesDangour AD Dodhia SK Hayter A Allen E Lock K amp Uauy R (2009)Nutritional quality of organic foods a systematic review including controversy Am J Clin Nutr 90 pp ajcn200928041 and 680-685 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Nutritional-Quality-Organic-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBenbrook-Methodological-Flaws-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicGibbons-Reply-Dangour-2009pdf AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicDangour-Reply-to-Gibbon-Benbrook2009pdf
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Coli outbreak facts linked to organic farmingIn Europe this message is largely ignored by thepress and the public
- gt 60 deaths thousands of patiens with destroyed kidneys- New Coli strain of human origin- Clear correlation to fertilizing with liquid manure- Persistence of new Coli in soil for months - Persistence not only on surfaces but also inside the cultivars- Remedy Only cooking and irradiation are safe- Organic lobby still denies officially the connection- The press is not reporting truthful about the risks
This analysis is based on a manuscript draft by K AmmannAmmann K (2011)Sproutbreak Outbreak of Escherichia Coli O104-H4 in Northern Germany pp (Manuscript)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaAmmann-Manuscript-EHEC-20110707pdf AND slides httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaEHEC-Sproutbreak-Ammann-20110629pdf
Imagine if there would be 1 dead person with a lead to GM crops this would be the End of genetic engineering in crops worldwide
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
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rs M
K
Ros
e R
Je
sse
LC
H
Lose
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JE
O
bryc
ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
f Cry
1Ab-
expr
essi
ng c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
but
terfl
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rvae
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stud
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P
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f the
Nat
iona
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Sci
ence
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Mukherjee A Speh D Jones AT Buesing KM amp Diez-Gonzalez F (2006)Longitudinal microbiological survey of fresh produce grown by farmers in the upper midwest Journal of Food Protection 69 8 pp 1928-1936 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicMukherjee-Longitudinal-MicrobiolSurvey-2006pdf
Prevalence of Ecoli on Semiorganic organic andConventional farms from Which at least one contaminated sample wascollected in A 2003B 2004
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
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h R
L
Sta
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ser
KS
P
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Sie
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Div
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Impa
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A ri
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Ros
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Je
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H
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JE
O
bryc
ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
f Cry
1Ab-
expr
essi
ng c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
but
terfl
y la
rvae
in fi
eld
stud
ies
P
roce
edin
gs o
f the
Nat
iona
l Aca
dem
y of
Sci
ence
s of
the
Uni
ted
Sta
tes
of A
mer
ica
98
21
pp
1193
1-11
936
http
w
ww
pna
sor
gcg
icon
tent
full
982
111
931
Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Islam M Doyle MP Phatak SC Millner P amp Jiang XP (2005)Survival of Escherichia coli O157 H7 in soil and on carrots and onions grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water Food Microbiology 22 1 pp 63-70 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicIslam-Survival-ColiO157H7-2005pdf
Survival of E coli O157-H7 in inoculated compost-Amended or inoculated water-irrigated soil samples
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
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ces
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rs M
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Mastio D (20110608)Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium - A less-than-serious look at how old technology could kill us Washington Times pp (Washington Times Article)httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaMASTIO-WASH-Times-removed-Story-201106pdf AND Selected comments http((wwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaBushway-Ammann-Washington-Times-Repies-Mastio-20110615-20pdf
Story removedon June 4
reinstalledon June 8
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
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rs M
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Ros
e R
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sse
LC
H
Lose
y
JE
O
bryc
ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
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impa
ct o
f Cry
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expr
essi
ng c
orn
polle
n on
mon
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but
terfl
y la
rvae
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P
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gs o
f the
Nat
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Sci
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ted
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mer
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98
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931
Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
The organic international organization IFOAM is wrongly claiming that there is no correlation to any farming methods to the E coli outbreak
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
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h R
L
Sta
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E
Obe
rhau
ser
KS
P
leas
ants
JM
M
attil
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R
Sie
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d
BD
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Div
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GP
(20
01)
Impa
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f Bt c
orn
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n on
mon
arch
but
terfl
y po
pula
tions
A ri
sk a
sses
smen
t P
roce
edin
gs o
f the
Nat
iona
l A
cade
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of S
cien
ces
of th
e U
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Am
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8 2
1 p
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937-
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Sea
rs M
K
Ros
e R
Je
sse
LC
H
Lose
y
JE
O
bryc
ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
f Cry
1Ab-
expr
essi
ng c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
but
terfl
y la
rvae
in fi
eld
stud
ies
P
roce
edin
gs o
f the
Nat
iona
l Aca
dem
y of
Sci
ence
s of
the
Uni
ted
Sta
tes
of A
mer
ica
98
21
pp
1193
1-11
936
http
w
ww
pna
sor
gcg
icon
tent
full
982
111
931
Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Pro-organic propaganda not factual in Niggli et al 2011
ldquoThere has been much speculation about the pathogenic EHEC bacterial strain that has tragically claimed the lives of more than 30 people so far in Germany Meanwhile the transmission pathways have for the most part been identified The origin of the pathogen however is largely unclearrdquo
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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rs M
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Comment by K Ammann about Niggli et a 2011
From Niggli et al
ldquoThis document does not address the current epidemiological situation of the outbreak in northern Germany Its purpose is rather to provide background information on the question of how sustainable agricultural methods based on nutrient cycling deal with pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses)rdquo
This makes the title of the report plainly misleading
The citation in the report is not factual
ldquoFrom the findings to date it can be concluded that while EHEC is a residual risk of the entire food production chain (see section 2) organic farming does not carry a greater risk of transmission than non-organic farmingrdquo
Numerous scientific papers have demonstrated that there is a clear connection between organic farming and Coli outbreaks
Niggli U Gattinger A Kretzschmar U Landau B Koller M Klocke P Notz Chr and amp Forster J (2011) Enterohaemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) ndash A problem not specific to sustainable agriculture Background informationEnglish German Spanish Italian Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) pp 12 Frick Switzerland (Report)Available at httpwwworgprintsorg18904 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebEscherichiaNiggli-EHEC-Problem-not-specific-2011pdf
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
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enta
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e (d
ays)
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
(08062011) another non-factual propaganda declaration of IFOAM
On the occasion of the extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture Council the IFOAM EU Group (wwwifoam-euorg) expresses its concern that weeks after the first outbreak of a new strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) a definite source has still not been identified On the other hand the Group welcomes the fact that EU ministers have agreed in principle to compensate vegetable producers that have suffered serious losses as a consequence of the outbreak It urges for a better EU wide coordination of the issue Further the IFOAM EU Group underlines that it is neither appropriate nor responsible to use the present outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to blame any farming method EHEC is not a problem of a specific production system and any farming methods can potentially be affected The IFOAM EU Group appreciates that policy makers have been communicating carefully in this regard so far
The IFOAM EU Group calls on the authorities to follow all possible leads to identify the source of the EHEC outbreak and urges for a comprehensive clarification of the facts httpwwworganic-worldnet35htmlamptx_ttnews5Btt_news5D=526ampcHash=d6ac61edd80878c8f7994ff2c6381189
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
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K
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P
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A ri
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LC
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ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
f Cry
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expr
essi
ng c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
but
terfl
y la
rvae
in fi
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P
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gs o
f the
Nat
iona
l Aca
dem
y of
Sci
ence
s of
the
Uni
ted
Sta
tes
of A
mer
ica
98
21
pp
1193
1-11
936
http
w
ww
pna
sor
gcg
icon
tent
full
982
111
931
Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
We need to restructure agriculture with a new focus on mankind
- Farmer-families cooperatives enhancement of infrastructure and markets industrial agriculture has to be integrated into human structures only with those premises we will reach sustainability and higher productivity
- at the same time traditional knowledge must be integrated into modern breeding
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
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4
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Iinstar
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enta
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
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h R
L
Sta
nley
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E
Obe
rhau
ser
KS
P
leas
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JM
M
attil
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Div
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Impa
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A ri
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O
bryc
ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
f Cry
1Ab-
expr
essi
ng c
orn
polle
n on
mon
arch
but
terfl
y la
rvae
in fi
eld
stud
ies
P
roce
edin
gs o
f the
Nat
iona
l Aca
dem
y of
Sci
ence
s of
the
Uni
ted
Sta
tes
of A
mer
ica
98
21
pp
1193
1-11
936
http
w
ww
pna
sor
gcg
icon
tent
full
982
111
931
Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
A moment of change on the farm asks for a reconsideration of the entire new whole a new coherence and a a new identity in order to avoid becoming victim of dispersion with a farm consisting of loose activities and ad hoc adjustments to the prevailing subsity policies
A farm should fit in the environment the landscape the society and sould suit the springs of the actions of the entrepreneurs involved The currend crisis on agriculture has in our view a lot to do with the loss of traditional coherence and the lack of a new type of coherence
Bloksma JR amp Struik PC (2007)Coaching the process of designing a farm using the healthy human as a metaphor for farm health Njas-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54 4 pp 413-429 httpwwwbotanischergartenchOrganicBloksma-Coaching-Process-Designing-2007pdf
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
lmic
h R
L
Sta
nley
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E
Obe
rhau
ser
KS
P
leas
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JM
M
attil
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R
Sie
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Div
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(20
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Impa
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A ri
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bryc
ki J
J
amp L
ewis
L (
2001
) A
sses
sing
the
impa
ct o
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expr
essi
ng c
orn
polle
n on
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arch
but
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in fi
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stud
ies
P
roce
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gs o
f the
Nat
iona
l Aca
dem
y of
Sci
ence
s of
the
Uni
ted
Sta
tes
of A
mer
ica
98
21
pp
1193
1-11
936
http
w
ww
pna
sor
gcg
icon
tent
full
982
111
931
Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Winter Wheat
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
CA ID MI OH WI IL NY SD MO IA NE UT ND MT OK CO NM TX WY
Bush
els
acre
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Winter Wheat represented 08 of 2008 acres but only 05 of total production 100 conversion to Organic would have required 104MM additional acres a 49 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
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4
56
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Iinstar
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enta
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Soybeans
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
NE NY IN PA MO KS OH KY SD NC GA MD ND
Bus
hels
acr
e
Organic YieldUS Yield
Organic Soybeans represented 013 of 2008 acres in the US 009 of total production but 017 of total soybean payments Organic soybeans sold at 2 times the price for conventional so with 66 of the yield that represented a net advantage of 13 times the gross per acre income To have produced all the 2008 soybeans Organically would have required 382MM additional acres ndash a 51 increase
Savage SD (2008)A Detailed Analysis of US Organic Crops (publ Steve Savage) (Audio-Visual Material)httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008ppt AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicSavage-Detailed-Analysis-US-Organic-2008pdf see also Applied Mythology httpappliedmythologyblogspotcom
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
Sea
rs M
K
Hel
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L
Sta
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E
Obe
rhau
ser
KS
P
leas
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JM
M
attil
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R
Sie
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BD
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Div
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(20
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Impa
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A ri
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2001
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expr
essi
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Sci
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Uni
ted
Sta
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of A
mer
ica
98
21
pp
1193
1-11
936
http
w
ww
pna
sor
gcg
icon
tent
full
982
111
931
Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process and a comprehensive history of farming warfare and Western civilization from 1645 to the present
httpwwwlulucomproduct12468177cid=092110_en_email_FALLREAD305
Popov M (2010) Is it Organic The inside story of who destroyed the organic industry turned it into a socialist movement and made million$ in the process Polyphase Communication USA wwwisitorganicca Osoyoos British Columbia IS 978-0-557-54033-4 978-0-557-54886-6 pp 593 httpwwwask-forceorgwebOrganicPopoff-isit-Organic-Full-MS-2010pdf
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Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
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Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Sea
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K
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the
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expr
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but
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Uni
ted
Sta
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mer
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98
21
pp
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936
http
w
ww
pna
sor
gcg
icon
tent
full
982
111
931
Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Early but largely ignored research Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
0
12
3
4
56
7
8
Iinstar
IIinstar
IIIinstar
IVinstar
New-born
deve
lopm
enta
l tim
e (d
ays)
isogenicBt
Averages of two years (1997-1998) of development times (days) of a specific stage for Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on transgenic and isogenic corn leaves
Lozzia G Furlanis C Manachini B amp Rigamonti I (1999)Effects of Bt Corn on Rhodopalosiphum Padi (Rhynchota Aphidiae) and on Its Predator Chrysoperla Carnea Stephen (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 30 2 pp 153-164 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Effects-Bt-1998pdf
Lozzia GC (1999)Biodiversity and Structure of Ground Beetle Assemblages (Coleopterae Carabidae) in Bt Corn and Its Effects on Non Target Insects Boll Zool Agr Bachic Ser II 31 pp 37-58 httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLozzia-Biodiversity-1999pdf
Rhopalosiphum padi
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
Wolfenbarger Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
ConclusionsSignificance Overall we find no uniform effects of Bt cotton maize and potato on the functional guilds ofnon-target arthropods Use of and type of insecticides influenced the magnitude and direction of effects insecticde effectswere much larger than those of Bt crops
These meta-analyses underscore the importance of using controls not only toisolate the effects of a Bt crop per se but also to reflect the replacement of existing agricultural practices Results will provideresearchers with information to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diverse stakeholdersregarding the safety of transgenic insecticidal crops
Wolfenbarger LL Naranjo SE Lundgren JG Bitzer RJ amp Watrud LS (2008)
Bt Crop Effects on Functional Guilds of Non-Target Arthropods A Meta-Analysis PLoS ONE 3 5 pp e2118 httpdxdoiorg1013712Fjournalpone0002118 AND httpwwwbotanischergartenchBtLaReesa-Bt-crop-Meta-Analysis-2008pdf
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
There are publications which blame negative effects to GM crops and Specifically to some transgenes and their hypothetical toxicity althoughRisk assessment experiments do not show negative effectsThese downsides are caused by agricultural management mistakes
Two contrasting papers are given here the first one enumerating lots of Negative effects seemingly due to GM cropsTaube F Krawinkel M Susenbeth A amp Theobald W (2011)The booklet Genetically modified crops published from the German Research Foundation does not meet the given claim Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 1 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationTaube-DFG-Genuegt-Nicht-2011pdf
A clear rebuttal of these accusations whith negative effects which can all beseen as causes of management mistakes in agriculture
Broer I Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U amp von Tiedemann A (2011)Response to the criticism by Taube et al in ESE 231 2011 on the booklet Green Genetic Engineering published by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Environmental Sciences Europe 23 1 pp 16 httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationBroer-Stellungsname-DFG-2011pdf
The controversy above is based on an academic report
Broer I Busch RJ Jung C Ordon F Qaim M Reinhold-Hurek B Sonnewald U von Tiedemann A Moehring C Schmitz-Moeller P amp Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2009) Gruene Gentechnik Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft pp 56 (Report)httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationDFG-Broschuer-Gruene-Gentechnik-2009pdf
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
httpearthtrendswriorgimagesGlyphosate_resistant_weeds_numberjpg
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
httpwwwmonsantoca_imagesmanage_chart_newgif
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
httpwwwweedscrcorgauglyphosateimagesglyphosate_graphjpg
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
httpwwwdowagrocomusagsurestartimagesglyphosateresistantweeds_v2jpg
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Some elements of the GM crop debate to be aware of
1Moral Self Licensing2Framing on both sides3Science of Fear4Semiotic views of Nature5New Corporate Ethics6Mechanisms of emotional consciousness7Religion Orthodox world religions closer to biotechnology than liberal ones8Environmentalism as a replacement religion9Reconciliation of Religion and Science possibleFrancisco Varela and Susantha Goonatilake and more
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
The Cartagena Protocol (CP) has to be changed in several fundamental aspects1The unilateral focus on safety aspects is not based on legal roots The Rio Convention Article 19 the root article for the CP is clearly demanding a balanced view between risks and benefits
2The unilateral focus on transgenesis has been choosen under the influence of green activists right from the beginning although there were several expert voices waring about this avenue we must abolish the Genomic Misconception and introduce a PROCESS-AGNOSTIC APROACH
3The CP community is dominated by GM crop opponents who are afraid of conducting open minded scientific discussions there is still no influencial science board established despite official calls since years
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
4 The CP community has ignored up to now the positive outcome of millions of hectares of GM crop cultivation there is not a single incident reported in peer reviewed journals with negative outcome and clear connection to transgenesis a DE MINIMUS APPROACH IS CALLED FOR Art 74 would allow it but is ignored
5 There is undue influence of a research community trying to blow up risk assesment schemes and worse an influencial minority of researchers publishing flawed papers in their own vested interest and participate in the MOP negociations
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Ammann K (20120105)The GM crop risk-benefit debate science and socio-economics In Springer Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology in print (ed Section Editor Paul Christou) pp 1-149 Springer New York httpwwwask-forceorgwebSustainabilityAmmann-Strategy-GMO-Debate-20120105-opensourcepdf
Fig 21 Same figure as 15 amended from No 13 and 14 but with the inclusion besides transgenic plants Cisgenics Intragenics Mutagenics (mutated with gamma radiation or chemicals) wide Hybrids and invasive or feral cultivars After (Durham Tim et al 2011) amended by K Ammann 2011 The scheme needs amendment also for the three general risk-levels to be assessed as helping scale
Durham Tim Doucet John amp Unruh Snyder Lory (2011)Risk of Regulation or Regulation of Risk A De Minimus Framework for Genetically Modified Crops AgBioForum 14 2 pp 61-70 httpwwwagbioforumorgv14n2v14n2a03-durhampdf AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationDurham-Risk-Regulation-Regulation-Risk-2011pdf
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Fig 22 Schematic diagram representing the main components of the risk analysis of genetically modified crops Dark shaded boxes depict policy activities that should be carried out by policy-makers or risk managers Light grey boxes depict science-based activities that are to be conducted by risk assessors (adapted from (EPA 1998) Nickson 2008 (Wolt et al 2010) amended by K Ammann avoiding the Genomic Misconception by introducing a process-agnostic vision together with the de minimus approach in mind
Wolt JD Keese P Raybould A Fitzpatrick JW Burachik M Gray A Olin SS Schiemann J Sears M amp Wu F (2010)Problem formulation in the environmental risk assessment for genetically modified plants Transgenic Research 19 3 pp 425-436 ltGo to ISIgtWOS000277419000007 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationWolt-Problem-Formulation-Environmental-Risk-2010pdf
EPA (1998)Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment Notice Part II Environmental Protection Agendy Federal Register Federal Register 63 93 pp p 26846-26846 1-176 i-v Appendices A B httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationEPA-Risk-Assessment-Environment-Part-II-1998pdf AND httpnepisepagovExeZyPURLcgiDockey=30004XFRtxt
Nickson TE (2008)Planning Environmental Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Crops Problem Formulation for Stress-Tolerant Crops Plant Physiology 147 pp 494-502 httpwwwbotanischergartenchRegulationNickson-Planning-Stress-2008pdf
Sanvido O Romeis Jr Gathmann A Gielkens M Raybould A amp Bigler F (2011)Evaluating environmental risks of genetically modified crops ecological harm criteria for regulatory decision-making Environmental Science ampamp Policy 0 pp httpwwwsciencedirectcomsciencearticlepiiS1462901111001390 AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationSanvido-Evaluating-Environmental-Risks-2011pdf
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
The Biosafety Protocol 2006
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
European Biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol
wwwstrangevehiclescom
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
European GMO regulation
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
European Safety Attitude
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
There are scientists who need to mop up their international reputation by producing alarming papers in biosafety of GM crops but a close look reveals that they do not stand up to internationalstandards of experimentation one example
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Example of a recent flawed paper from the Seacuteralini Group CRIIGEN which is financed by green business groups waging war againstGM crops (Pharma groups for Homeopatics Retailers selling GM-freeProduce etc
Mesnage R Clair E Gress S Then C Szeacutekaacutecs A amp Seacuteralini GE (2012)Cytotoxicity on human cells of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac Bt insecticidal toxins alone or with a glyphosate-based herbicide Journal of Applied Toxicology pp na-na httpwwwask-forceorgwebBt1Mesnage-Cytotoxicity-Human-Cells-Cry1Ab-Glyphosate-2012pdf
Rebuttal from February 22 2012
Chassy Bruce amp Miller Henry I (20120222)The Science of Things That Arent So In Forbes pp 3 FORBES httpwwwforbescomsiteshenrymiller20120222the-science-of-things-that-arent-so AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebSeraliniChassy-Miller-Seralini-Rebuttal-Forbes-20120222pdf
Arguments 1Testing in petry dishes human cell cultures is not feasible the results are MEANINGLESS2They test naked human and defenseless cells a scientific absurdity3Researchers ignore the old and still valid dosage ndash effect rules of Paracelsus4A multitude of animal feeding studies published are ignored and disprove the flawed conclusions5Dose and exposure frequence are extremely low not as in the unreal experiment setup and Bt toxins in any quantity will be digested in the acid mammal and human stomacs within seconds
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Bullshit award for Vandana Shiva
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
Potrykus I (2010)Regulation must be revolutionized Nature 466 7306 pp 561-561 httpdxdoiorg101038466561a AND httpwwwask-forceorgwebRegulationPotrykus-Regulation-Revolutionized-2010pdf
The Golden Rice waits for 12 years to feed the poor and help to save hundreds of thousands of lifes its a crime against humanity not to have it regulated immediatelyConventional and transgenic crops cause the same kind of risk
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