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the EU in relation to GMOs that have not been GM CROPS IN LATIN AMERICA approved and are currently treated as illegal. Threats Posed by Glyphosate This attempt to repeal the EU's "zero-tolerance policy" Criticism of biotechnology is unwelcome. On 7 with respect to unauthorised GMOs started in 2007, August 2010, for example, Dr Andrés Carrasco's open after soy shipments from the US were discovered to __ lecture to the community of La Leonesa, in Chaco contain non-approved GM maize.” Province in northern Argentina, was violently Claims that this policy is causing a crisis by disrupting interrupted. A group of municipal officers and rice trade in animal feeds when contamination is discovered — workers in favour of pesticide sprayings, led by the are not evidence based. In June 2007, the European mayor, José Carbajal, threatened and beat up part of the Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and delegation that had joined the speaker. Local police Rural Development predicted a dramatic decline in pork — and military officers had to intervene.” and poultry meat production within the EU because This stems from Carrasco's research into GM soya would not be available to EU farmers, or only at technologies. In April 2009, Carrasco, a professor and exorbitant prices.“ But 2009 and 2010 turned out tobe researcher at the Univerity of Buenos Aires, became record-breaking years, with the internationally renowned when he highest-ever number of pigs and publicised research exposing the fact poultry sold on the market.“’ that glyphosate, the main element of Qo Monsanto's Roundup® herbicide, is European Food Safety Authority's In addition to linked to the malformation of Revolving Doors promoting GMOs amphibian embryos and could have The European Food Safety Authority's GMO Panel is responsible severe negative impacts on human domestically, the health ® for the risk assessment of GMOs, but US government Glyphosate has been qualified as close associations between some of t ° t t innocuous by agribusiness researchers its members and the biotech industry ries to pu and managers. However, in Augus are undermining iis creaibil y. head pressure on the 2 10, the tudies conducted by n November , the former hea arrasco and his team were published of EFSA's GMO Panel, Suzy Renckens, EU to accept in the scientific journal Chemical Regulatory Affairs for Europe, GMOs, including debate on this widely used Africa and Middle East (EAME) through the threat herbicide's impact on health and at Syngenta after leaving EFSA. of retaliatory ecosystems. Dr Carrasco has Renckens was previously been subjected to a campaign to responsible for GMO regulation, measures— discredit him.” but now lobbies for Syngen a to a trend exposed In September 2010, Pro essor influence EU decision-making on Carrasco and other internationa GMOs. This stark example of conflict of interest has never been investigated and casts doubts over the independence of EFSA.”! Unfortunately, this is not a scientists published further research—based on studies from across the Americas—that links glyphosate to premature births, miscarriages, cancer, and damage to DNA and reproductive organs.” by WikiLeaks. promoting GMOs domestically, the US government tries to put pressure on the EU to accept GMOs, including through the threat of retaliatory measures— a trend exposed by WikiLeaks. unique case. Harry Kuiper, a leading scientist who has chaired the EFSA GMO Panel since 2003, worked for a task force established by the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) before joining EFSA. ILSI is a strongly pro- biotech lobby group funded by food and chemical companies.” A Monsanto member of staff heads this task force, and all other members are representatives from large biotech corporations such as Monsanto, Dow and Syngenta.” In October 2010, Diana Banati, the chair of EFSA's Management Board, resigned from the European Board of Directors at ILS] after complaints of conflicts of interest from politicians and NGOs.” GM IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA The United States, which produces 64 per cent of GM crops globally,” is facing unprecedented lega opposition to them, with recent rulings which demand hat GM sugar beet seedlings be destroyed and Roundup Ready® alfalfa be banned. In addition to promoting GMOs domestically, the US government tries © put pressure on the EU to accept GMOs, including hrough the threat of retaliatory measures—a trend exposed by WikiLeaks. The biotech industry is also moving beyond GM crops, aiming to release fast- growing GM salmon and commercialise GM pigs tha excrete less phosphorus. These pose risks for human ealth and the environment in the US and Canada. 22 * NEXUS APRIL - MAY 2011 In addition to www.nexusmagazine.com