[Lapg] Fwd: [alachuagreens] Agro-fuels: The Trojan Horse for GM food

[Doug Butler]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Michael Canney <alachuagreen at gmail.com>
> Date: May 4, 2008 5:58:37 PM PDT
> To: Alachua Greens <alachuagreens at yahoogroups.com>,  GPF Energy  
> <gpgp-energy at googlegroups.com>
> Subject: [alachuagreens] Agro-fuels: The Trojan Horse for GM food
> Reply-To: alachuagreens at yahoogroups.com
>
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> May 2, 2008
> 4:57 PM
>
> CONTACT: Food First / Institute for Food and Development Policy
> Eric Holt Giménez Ph: 510-654-4400 ext 227 or cell: 202-288-8699
>
>
> Agro-fuels: The Trojan Horse for GM food
>
> CALIFORNIA - May 2 - New Report from Institute for Food and  
> Development Policy Warns of Widespread Genetic Contamination,  
> Corporate Domination of Agriculture through "Agro-fuels Trojan Horse"
>
> A new report from the Institute for Food and Development Policy  
> examines a little looked at side of the biofuels debate: Will  
> agriculturally-derived fuels (agro-fuels) be genetically  
> engineered? The report answers a resounding "Yes!" Entitled "The  
> Agro-fuels Trojan Horse: Biotechnology and the Corporate Domination  
> of Agriculture," the new report finds that by accepting an energy  
> future based on agro-fuels, the world is bringing genetic  
> engineering into our food system through the back door.
>
> The report describes our situation as a "precipice," citing an  
> impressive, if not frightening biotechnology pipeline for fuel  
> crops: from the genes of deep sea thermal vent bacteria in corn, to  
> traits that make food plants like sugarcane and sorghum produce  
> biomass instead of food. The author explains how special  
> genetically engineered fuel traits are poised to take over the ag  
> sector as the ethanol market continues to boom. "The biotechnology  
> industry is hoping that consumers will be more likely to buy  
> genetically modified products if they are destined for their gas  
> tanks, instead of the dinner table," says the report's author Annie  
> Shattuck of Food First.
>
> However, the trouble with this logic is that there is no guarantee  
> GM fuel traits will not contaminate their food-producing cousins.  
> In fact, widespread genetic contamination is almost certain. Many  
> of the new species being modified as fuel crops are wild. Some have  
> pollen that can travel up to 1200 miles. The report's author sees  
> the genetic modification of agro-fuels as a "Trojan Horse," a way  
> to circumvent public debate and sound science by basking in the  
> "sunny glow of alternative fuels."
>
> The report examines the history of the biotechnology industry,  
> concluding that until now, its lack of public credibility has kept  
> it from expanding beyond a few industrial commodity crops. Previous  
> biotechnology offerings spurred incredible consolidation in the  
> agricultural industry. Three major biotech companies now control  
> 40% of the global seed market. The report warns that agro-fuels  
> will give a few corporations monopoly power over both our food and  
> fuel systems.
>
> In the current climate of a dual food and fuel crisis, this new  
> report calls for a moratorium on agro-fuels and local solutions  
> that respect biodiversity, the autonomy of small farmers, and food  
> sovereignty.
>
> The full text of the report can be found at http://www.foodfirst.org/.
> ###
>
>
> http://www.commondreams.org/news2008/0502-12.htm
>
>
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