sanet-mg-digest Thursday, February 11 1999 Volume 01 : Number 821
In this issue:
London Independent: Modified crops 'out of control'
GOVERNMENTS TO FINALIZE AND ADOPT BIOSAFETY PROTOCOL
GE tomatoes
PANUPS: Resource Pointer #195
RE: formally educated farmers...
Re: GE tomatoes
Organic Farming Internship Opportunity
Re: GE tomatoes
best way to increase K levels?
ongoing debate about sustag vs. conven. ag costs
Round up Soybeans
re: Master gardener education
See the end of the digest for information about sanet-mg-digest.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 15:52:28 -0700
From: colibri@west.net (Beth von Gunten)
Subject: London Independent: Modified crops 'out of control'
INDEPENDENT
Sunday Feb 7
London
Modified crops 'out of control'
By Marie Woolf, Political Correspondent
THE MINISTRY of Agriculture has privately admitted that it has no idea how
many genetically modified (GM) crops are being used in animal feed,
despite warnings from its own advisers that this could lead to the
creation of "superbugs" resistant to antibiotics.
A confidential briefing note from civil servants to Food Safety Minister,
Jeff Rooker, seen by the Independent on Sunday, says: "It is not possible
to know the extent to which GM material is being used in animal feed in
the UK."
On top of this, the Government also intends to give its approval for US
company Monsanto to sell GM cotton to animal food producers throughout
Europe, in a crucial Brussels vote this week, despite further warnings
from advisers.
A letter written last week by Dr Paul Burrows, head of biotechnology
controls at the Department of the Environment, says: "[The UK] will be
content with these products [GM Cotton] in terms of safety to the UK
environment but will still have reservations about their use in animal
feed due to the antibiotic resistance marker genes." Some GM crops which
could be in the feed have been manipulated by scientists to be resistant
to antibiotics. Scientists and environmental campaigners fear that the
antibiotic resistance could be passed to animals, then the humans who eat
them. Civil servants have warned it could create bacteria immune to
antibiotics.
It was fears of just such a superbug which led Brussels, with UK
government backing, to recently ban five antibiotics used to treat
animals. Recent random tests in Worcester showed that GM crops have been
creeping into the animal foods from America, where they are not grown
separately from ordinary plants. Food campaigners want nationwide tests to
discover the extent of the problem.
The revelations will shock farmers who have been seeking reassurances from
ministers about GM crops in animal food, following the BSE crisis. At
present, there is no legal requirement for animal feed which contains
genetically altered material to be labelled, so there is no way of knowing
how much of it is being fed to cows, pigs and chickens. Following the
outcry from farmers over BSE, the Ministry of Agriculture set up a
committee of experts on animal foodstuffs. Its remit has now been widened
to cover use of GM crops in animal food.
"This is the first time something like this has been proposed," said Dr
Ricarda Steinbrecher, a geneticist conducting the research. "The
Government is making decisions in an almost improvisational manner."
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 15:52:32 -0700
From: colibri@west.net (Beth von Gunten)
Subject: GOVERNMENTS TO FINALIZE AND ADOPT BIOSAFETY PROTOCOL
UNEP News Release
For information only
Not an official record
GOVERNMENTS TO FINALIZE
AND ADOPT BIOSAFETY PROTOCOL
NAIROBI/MONTREAL, 10 February 1999 - Some 170 governments are meeting
in Cartagena, Colombia from 15 to 23 February to finalize and adopt a
legally-binding agreement on reducing any potential risks resulting
from the transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs).
Created through modern biotechnology techniques, LMOs promise
enormous benefits for agriculture, medicine, and other fields. At the
same time, many people are concerned about the possible risks to
biological diversity and human health of introducing LMOs into the
environment.
"We need a widely accepted protocol that protects the
environment, strengthens the capacity of developing countries to
ensure biosafety, complements existing national regulations, and
promotes public confidence in biotechnology and the benefits it can
offer," said Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of UNEP, the United
Nations Environment Programme. UNEP provides the Montreal-based
secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity, under which
the biosafety protocol talks are taking place.
The delegates face an ambitious agenda in Cartagena, as many
core issues remain unresolved. One key point is whether the protocol
will address only LMOs themselves or also processed products
containing dead modified organisms or non-living LMO components,
such as certain vaccines, drugs, processed foods, and food additives.
Also on the agenda is how to handle liability, a particularly
difficult issue in the international context.
"I am convinced that the world community - including the
industry and trade sector - will benefit greatly in the long term
from working together on biosafety within the framework of a legal
instrument," said Veit Koester of Denmark, chairman of the talks.
"Already the negotiating process itself has inspired many developing
countries for the first time to start establishing their own domestic
legal regimes on biosafety."
The biosafety talks reflect growing public concerns about the
potential risks posed by living modified organisms. Many countries
with modern biotechnology industries do have domestic legislation.
However, there are no binding international agreements covering LMOs
that cross national borders because of trade or accidental releases.
Another concern is that many developing countries lack the
technical, financial, and institutional means to address biosafety.
They need greater capacity for assessing and managing risks,
establishing adequate information systems, and developing expert
human resources in biotechnology.
Since the early 1970s, genetic engineering - the ability to
transfer genetic material in new ways and to radically alter the
intricate genetic structure of individual living cells - has enabled
scientists to genetically modify plants, animals, and
micro-organisms. Traditional methods such as breeding selection and
cross-fertilization are low-tech and slower paced.
Modern methods such as genetic engineering techniques and
recombinant DNA technology, on the other hand, can introduce a
greater diversity of genes into organisms almost instantly. They also
make it possible for the first time to transfer genes from one type
of organism to another - for example, to insert genes from a
bacterium into a tomato to create a transgenic plant.
Researchers are experimenting with micro-organisms, insects,
fish, and animals to find ways of altering their growth
characteristics or of making them produce new substances. This has
led to remarkable advances in agriculture, medicine, and other
fields. The products of biotechnology can be used to improve the
resistance of plants to pests and environmental pressures and to
increase their commercial value. Other results include new medical
treatments and vaccines and new industrial products.
Modern biotechnology has great potential for human well-being if
developed and used with adequate safety measures for the environment
and human health. This is a very new field, however, and much about
the interaction of LMOs with various ecosystems is not yet known. It
is therefore vital that the introduction of genetically modified
organisms does not proceed faster than advances in scientific
understanding.
Some of the concerns about the new technologies include
unintended changes in the competitiveness, virulence, or other
characteristics of the target species; the possibility of adverse
impacts on non-target species and ecosystems; the potential for
weediness in genetically modified crops (i.e. a plant becomes too
resistant and invasive, perhaps by transferring its genes to wild
relatives); and the stability of inserted genes (i.e. the
possibilities that a gene will lose its effectiveness or will be
re-transferred to another host).
The protocol is to be negotiated and finalized during the week
of 14 - 19 February by the sixth session of the Open-ended Ad hoc
Working Group on Biosafety (BSWG-6). The BSWG is a subsidiary body of
the Conference of the Parties (COP), which is the Convention's
ultimate authority. A Special Session of the COP is to adopt the
protocol on 22 - 23 February. The protocol will then be opened for
signature at United Nations headquarters in New York and will enter
into force after an agreed number of countries have completed the
next step of ratifying it.
The Convention on Biological Diversity was signed at the 1992
Rio Earth Summit and now has 174 Parties. Its objectives are "the
conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its
components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising
out of the utilization of genetic resources." The Convention is thus
the first global, comprehensive agreement to address all aspects of
biodiversity: genetic resources, species, and ecosystems.
Note to journalists: For more information about accreditation and
telephone interviews before and during the meeting, please contact
Michael Williams in Geneva at (41-22) 917 8242/244/111, fax (41-22)
797 3464, e-mail mwilliams@unep.ch. (Please note that Michael
Williams can be reached on this email address during the meeting).
Official documents are available via www.biodiv.org at
www.biodiv.org/biosafe/BIOSAFE6.HTML
UNEP News Release 1999/15
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 16:52:17 +0000
From: maroc@islandnet.com (Maroc)
Subject: GE tomatoes
Steve Groff,
I assume that, like a few of us, you would like to do a little research on
the claim of Jim Peters at some private presentation that his employer's
(Zeneca Ag Products) brand tomato paste, made with GE tomatoes and clearly
labeled, has taken over 62 percent of the tomato paste market in England.
Don Maroc
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 16:40:27 -0800 (PST)
From: panupdates@igc.apc.org
Subject: PANUPS: Resource Pointer #195
=====================================
P A N U P S
***
Pesticide Action Network
North America
Updates Service
http://www.panna.org/panna/
email panna@panna.org
=====================================
Resource Pointer # 195
February 10, 1999
For additional information about the following resources,
please contact the appropriate publishers or organizations
directly.
*Pediatric Environmental Health: Putting It Into Practice,
June 4-7, 1999, San Francisco, CA* Hosted by the Children's
Environmental Health Network. Highlights the latest data and
clinical case studies in pediatric environmental health,
including sessions on pesticides, water contamination, asthma
and environmental history-taking. Includes bonus session on
teaching pediatric environmental health, June 6-7, 1999.
Practicing Physicians: $350 before March 1/$395 after March
1. Other Health Care Professionals: $250 before March 1/$295
after March 1. Contact Children's Environmental Health
Network, 5900 Hollis Street, Suite R3, Emeryville, CA 94608;
phone (510) 597-1393; fax (510) 597-1399; email
sdonahue@cehn.org; web site www.cehn.org.
*Symposia Series: The Impacts of Toxic Chemicals and
Pollutants on Public Health, the Ecology and the Environment
of the Bengal Basin, India and Bangladesh, March 2-9, 1999*
Hosted by GRA International. Focuses on severe public health
and enviornmental problems in the Bengal Basin. Will focus on
identifying major chemicals of concern, industries generating
hazardous waste and existing regulations. Will examine
existing regional resources as well as hazardous waste
management in industrialized countries. Contact GRA
International, P.O. Box 11553, Berkeley, CA 94712; phone
(510) 841-3253; fax (541) 841-1201; email
ghosh_research@men.com.
*Dioxins: The View From Europe, February 4, 1999* Rachel's
Environment and Health Weekly #636. Focuses on recent
findings of European scientists regarding effects and
toxicity of dioxins as well as tolerable intake levels.
Discusses U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
estimates on sources of dioxin and daily exposure for adults
in the U.S. Looks at findings of World Health Organization's
experts. Available at www.rachel.org. For further information
contact Environmental Research Foundation, P.O. Box 5036,
Annapolis, MD 21403; fax (410) 263-8944; email
erf@rachel.org.
*Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality: Health Criteria and
Other Supporting Information, Addendum to Volume II, 1998*
World Health Organization (WHO). Interprets extensive
toxicological, epidemiological and clinical evidence that
shaped determination of drinking water safety guidelines.
Pesticides include bentazone, carbofuran, cyanazine, diquat,
glyphosate and pentachlorophenol. 280 pp. US$31.50. Other
recently released volumes include Volume I: Recommendations
Addendum (US$12.60) and Volume III: Surveillance and Control
of Community Water Supplies (US$64.80). Contact World Health
Organization, Distribution and Sales, CH-1211 Geneva 27,
Switzerland; fax (41 22) 791 4857; email publications@who.ch.
*Federal Efforts to Ensure the Safety of Imported Foods are
Inconsistent and Unreliable, April 1998* United States
General Accounting Office (GAO). Examines existing policy and
makes recommendations to Congress and Secretaries of
Agriculture and Human Health Services for improving
effectiveness of federal food screening programs. Outlines
status of Food and Drug Administration's import inspection on
pesticide and chemical contaminants, food borne biological
hazards, natural toxins, and food and color additives. 64 pp.
Free. Contact U.S. General Accounting Office, P.O. Box 37050,
Washington, DC 20013; phone (202) 512-6000; fax (202) 512-
6061; email info@www.gao.gov; web site www.gao.gov.
=====================================================
Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA)
49 Powell St., Suite 500, San Francisco, California
94102
Phone (415) 981-1771
Fax (415) 981-1991
Email: panna@panna.org
Web site www.panna.org/panna/
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 08:25:28 -0600
From: "Wiediger, Alison" <awiediger@Hart.k12.ky.us>
Subject: RE: formally educated farmers...
Here Here ! yes, we use a lot more hand labor. We view it as healthy
for ourselves. It also limits us - but perhaps learning to live within
those limits is also healthy. We are getting a tax refund this year. We
looked at the money and figured we could use it plus a trade-in to get a
used loader tractor OR we could buy another cow and do some more
fencing. We decided that the cow and fencing could generate income to
buy machinery, but the tractor would not generate income to buy
livestock - only be saving of our labor. We'll do the extra labor and
buy a cow. WE also live on a lot less income than most folks in this
country. We don't own a computer (use the one at work), VCR, LArge
screen TV, Cellphone, Etc,etc - and our total farm machinery investment
is under $15,000 - all bought with cash - mostly at farm auctions and
over several years. All expenditures are examined carefully using the
formula - will it make us money. It won't work for everybody - thank
goodness - if it would, there wouldn't be enough farmland to go around -
but we are very rich where it matters.
Alison Wiediger
AU Naturel Farm
South Central KY
> ----------
> From: Bob MacGregor[SMTP:rdmacgregor@gov.pe.ca]
> Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 1999 8:04 AM
> To: sgroff@epix.net; ACLARK@plant.uoguelph.ca
> Cc: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu
> Subject: Re: formally educated farmers...
>
> Steve,
> you said: "It takes more labor to run an
> average organic farm and that is a REAL issue to most farmers."
>
> I agree, but have been wondering why none of the farm-philosophers on
> the list have raised the issue of why we still view labour
> substitution so favourably. After all, a strong case can be made
> that substituting machinery and chemicals for labour has contributed
> to global warming, accelerated rural depopulation (and the
> concommitent disintegration of rural communities), increased
> unemployment, exacerbated soil erosion/deterioration, promoted farm
> consolidation and otherwise engendered many of the problems we discuss
> on this list.
>
> There have also been positive effects, at least in the near-term, of
> course, but I am intrigued that no one voiced the view that more farm
> labour might be a good thing. I wonder how high the price of gasoline
> or diesel would have to be to make labour competitive again...?
>
> BOB
>
>
>
>
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 10:57:57 -0400
From: Bob MacGregor <rdmacgregor@gov.pe.ca>
Subject: Re: GE tomatoes
I seem to recall having read last year that these tomatoes were the famous
"flavr-savr" tomatoes that, for a variety of reasons, didn't catch on in
the fresh market. I don't recall a market share percentage being quoted,
but only that they were gaining in popularity because they were favourably
priced (and, of course, had acceptable culinary characteristics, too).
BOB
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 08:52:50 -0600
From: Meagan Cocke <Meagan@AngelicOrganics.com>
Subject: Organic Farming Internship Opportunity
Organic Farm Internship Program
Learn Organic, Biodynamic Farming through this unique
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Please post or pass on this information.
Are you interested in being a key part in growing organic and Biodynamic
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have
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Angelic Organics Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, located about
90
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November)
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vegetarian
breakfasts and lunches for the farm team.
Five and a half days a week farm interns learn and perform all hands-on
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associated with growing 25 acres of vegetables and herbs as members of a
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the basics of the farm business through monthly departmental meetings
covering
everything from marketing and finances, to machinery and education.
In 1999, Angelic Organics, through the development of a non-profit
educational
organization, the CSA Learning Center, will be a key organizer of the
Midwest
Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) program.
Interns
attend a four day orientation program at the start of their internship at
the
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute and then continue this training
during the
season through monthly workshops at area farms. Numerous other scheduled
opportunities allow interns to visit a wide variety of over 15 farms in the
area, including dairy, grain, small livestock, and vegetable operations.
Angelic Organics was started in 1990 by farm owner John Peterson. Peterson
grew
up on the farm and has seen it move from dairy, to grains and now to
organic,
Biodynamic vegetables and herbs. The farm now supports 4 year-round staff
members. This creates a dynamic on-farm community, a manageable working
environment, space to experiment with new ideas and provides numerous years
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experience in a variety of areas. The farm is also supported by an amazing
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For more information, the Angelic Organics Intern Handbook is available on
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web at http://www.AngelicOrganics.com. For a hard copy of the handbook or
for
other questions, we can be contacted at mailto:CSA@AngelicOrganics.com; by
phone: 815/389-2746; or mail: 1547 Rockton Road, Caledonia, Illinois,
61011.
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 10:34:15 -0500
From: Steve Groff <sgroff@epix.net>
Subject: Re: GE tomatoes
Bob MacGregor wrote:
> I seem to recall having read last year that these tomatoes were the
famous "flavr-savr" tomatoes that, for a variety of reasons, didn't catch
on in the fresh market. I don't recall a market share percentage being
quoted, but only that they were gaining in popularity because they were
favourably priced (and, of course, had acceptable culinary characteristics,
too).
> BOB
The "flavr-savr" is not the GE trait in the paste tomatoes sold in England.
I'm trying to get more info on this England data. Give me a few days as I
will be offline till Sun. BTW, the GE "flavr-sarv" was a total flop as far
as I'm concerned.
Steve Groff
- --
"New Generation Cropping Systems": the cutting edge of sustainable
agriculture
http://www.cedarmeadowfarm.com
Steve Groff
Cedar Meadow Farm
679 Hilldale Rd
Holtwood PA 17532 USA
Ph. 717-284-5152
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 10:48:30 -0500
From: Steve Groff <sgroff@epix.net>
Subject: best way to increase K levels?
sanet,
What is the best source of K to increase potash? My P levels are very
high (average 400lbs./acre), but K is tending to be lower on 3
fields(150lbs./acre). Some have suggested to me that K should be lower
than most universities recommend. I base my fertility on "balance of
nutrients" and not total numbers. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Steve Groff
- --
"New Generation Cropping Systems": the cutting edge of sustainable
agriculture
http://www.cedarmeadowfarm.com
Steve Groff
Cedar Meadow Farm
679 Hilldale Rd
Holtwood PA 17532 USA
Ph. 717-284-5152
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Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 10:29:47 -0800
From: Betsy Ilima Levy <blevy@mail.utexas.edu>
Subject: ongoing debate about sustag vs. conven. ag costs
Hi everyone - I'm afraid I've been too busy to consistently read all my
e-mail lately (just been deleting), and just stumbled across your ongoing
debate about costs/profitability of sust ag vs. conventional ag. I would be
very interested to know how it originated and whether you're discussing an
actual study, or a proposed study. Could someone tell me more? I'd like to
share the info with my professor here in rural soc.
Thanks in advance,
Betsy
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Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 00:51:31 -0600
From: "Phil Batalden" <bataphil@rrcnet.org>
Subject: Round up Soybeans
Here in Minn. there is a yield loss from using rr soybeans.(3 to 5 bushel)
Was that yield loss figured into the cost of production, maybe that yield
loss does not occur in states futher south?
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Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 11:24:18 -0700
From: Edna M Weigel <eweigel@juno.com>
Subject: re: Master gardener education
From the various discussions I've recently seen, it seems that
the Master Gardener class I attended was neither the worst nor the best.
At least our Extension Service has SOME environmentally responsible
employees. But I wonder if anyone can enlighten me on one particular
thing that bothered me...
When one of my classmates offered a recipe for controling powdery
mildew which contained baking soda, our county agent immediately
announced it is "illegal" to use such substances because the EPA hasn't
registered baking soda as a pesticide and that ALL pesticides must be
registered by EPA to be legal.
With a naturally occuring soil pH of 8.2, I am reluctant to apply
ANY sodium salt in my garden, but it bothers me if there aren't limits to
what the EPA prohibits.
The county agent's often-expressed defination of a pesticide is
anything that kills a pest, whether it is organic or chemical or
mechanical or whatever. That includes the sneakers I buy at the second
hand store and use to squash the giant, brilliantly-colored grasshoppers
my chickens won't eat. It includes the chickens which eat the majority
of our grasshoppers. And it would even include the water I use to spray
aphids off my roses. Does the EPA register these things? I hardly think
so.
On the other hand, there are very good reasons for the EPA to
control what most people think of as pesticides. Can any of you define
what classes of things the EPA does register and, thus, would require EPA
approval before legal use as a pesticide?
I doubt if this information will change my way of doing things,
but maybe I'd be able to get this question off my mind.
Regards,
Edna
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End of sanet-mg-digest V1 #821
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Clara K. Cohen, AAAS Fellow
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RRB 2.11-102
Washington, D.C. 20523-2110
Phone: (202) 712-1116
Fax: (202) 216-3010
e-mail: ccohen@usaid.gov
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