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thoughts? - 5/20/2013 8:43:17 AM

breagha

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http://www.realfarmacy.com/hungary-destroys-all-monsanto-gmo-corn-fields/

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RE: thoughts? - 5/20/2013 8:53:55 AM

MasterCaneman

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It was a dead link on my end, but I'm familiar enough with the issue to comment. I agree with the decision made to start reining in the GMO products, because that's what they are. Most of the fiddling around with the genetic material is largely to prevent the crops from being self-seeding, that is, by keeping the farmers from holding back seed stock, they ensure future sales of seed to them.

My computer sucks today, so I can't cite anything in particular, but from my understanding, the studies were largely a dog-and-pony show to get approval from the USDA, and a lot of countries rely on this seal for their own uses. The truth is, they don't know what the long term consequences of these products in the food system really are, and I'm afraid we won't like the answer when we do.

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RE: thoughts? - 5/20/2013 9:47:03 AM

breagha

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the link works for me. i am really good at not being able to figure out how to post links properly though. i'm sorry for any issues with the link on my part.

i'm all for not using genetically modified anything. the issues we have with wheat stem from the same thing. original, non modified wheat is very different than what we use now. the gluten issues people experience are a result of this i believe.

the link posted isn't about the US though. The farmers in Hungary are experiencing a huge loss and cannot replant crops in time to have a successful harvest this year. probably the one downside of the burning the fields.

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RE: thoughts? - 5/20/2013 9:56:41 AM

kalikshama

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Since the link does not work for you:

Hungary Destroys All Monsanto GMO Corn Fields

Hungary has taken a bold stand against biotech giant Monsanto and genetic modification by destroying 1000 acres of maize found to have been grown with genetically modified seeds, according to Hungary deputy state secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Lajos Bognar. Unlike many European Union countries, Hungary is a nation where genetically modified (GM) seeds are banned. In a similar stance against GM ingredients, Peru has also passed a 10 year ban on GM foods.

Almost 1000 acres of maize found to have been ground with genetically modified seeds have been destroyed throughout Hungary, deputy state secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Lajos Bognar said. The GMO maize has been ploughed under, said Lajos Bognar, but pollen has not spread from the maize, he added.

Unlike several EU members, GMO seeds are banned in Hungary. The checks will continue despite the fact that seek traders are obliged to make sure that their products are GMO free, Bognar said.

During the investigation, controllers have found Pioneer Monsanto products among the seeds planted.

The free movement of goods within the EU means that authorities will not investigate how the seeds arrived in Hungary, but they will check where the goods can be found, Bognar said. Regional public radio reported that the two biggest international seed producing companies are affected in the matter and GMO seeds could have been sown on up to the thousands of hectares in the country. Most of the local farmers have complained since they just discovered they were using GMO seeds.

With season already under way, it is too late to sow new seeds, so this years harvest has been lost.

And to make things even worse for the farmers, the company that distributed the seeds in Baranya county is under liquidation. Therefore, if any compensation is paid by the international seed producers, the money will be paid primarily to that company’s creditors, rather than the farmers.

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RE: thoughts? - 5/20/2013 10:17:03 AM

MasterCaneman

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Thank you. I based my reply on a thread on another board dealing with the same subject. Became quite heated too, but it was the nature of that crowd to get riled up over things like that. GMO may have some benefits, but the purpose of most of it is simply to ensure the company sells seed each season more than anything else. If there were ever a break in the supply chain/petroleum-based infrastructure that supports this business model, the results could be catastrophic. That's just one problem.

The second one is related to all the yummy hormones that are introduced into the food chain to fatten up feed animals (poultry and beef) faster and cheaper. They're only now starting to make links between rising autism rates and other defects appearing in our populations. That, along with the witches brew of additives and other chemicals in preservatives and packaging is starting to take a toll on us already.

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RE: thoughts? - 5/20/2013 10:18:53 AM

FelineRanger

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Taking a stand against GMO is good and necessary. But, rather than investigate the real culprits, the companies and individuals who distributed the seeds, the Hungarian government is essentially taking it out on the farmers who are scrounging for money much like their American counterparts. Ultimately, Monsanto and their distributor get off scott free.

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RE: thoughts? - 5/20/2013 2:51:45 PM

muhly22222

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This is not a post about the GMO aspect of the story. Instead, my thoughts went to the waste of a product that had already been planted anyway, and the waste of land that couldn't be replanted and have any sort of yield.

quote:

With season already under way, it is too late to sow new seeds, so this years harvest has been lost.

I understand the motivation for the government to enforce their laws. But was this the best way to do it? This is wasted acreage now...and I'm sure that food could have been used somewhere to feed somebody.

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RE: thoughts? - 5/20/2013 3:04:04 PM

Kaliko

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Okay, and I thought the same thing, but GMO's are banned there. If something is banned, then that means to me that it cannot be there, regardless of how it got there.

And I will question something else - but I am admittedly ignorant about this so if someone can correct me, please do. But I wonder if the farmers have a responsibility to be sure that their seeds are not GMO. If so, then next time they will be sure of it. Or, maybe the people who sell the seeds to the farmers have that responsibility. Then they've just lost their customers in the farmers who won't trust them enough to do business with them again. The short terms seems bothersome, yes...but it seems to make sense in the long run. (Again, unless I'm completely off base.)

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RE: thoughts? - 5/20/2013 7:51:29 PM

FrostedFlake

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quote:

ORIGINAL: muhly22222

This is not a post about the GMO aspect of the story. Instead, my thoughts went to the waste of a product that had already been planted anyway, and the waste of land that couldn't be replanted and have any sort of yield.

quote:

With season already under way, it is too late to sow new seeds, so this years harvest has been lost.

I understand the motivation for the government to enforce their laws. But was this the best way to do it? This is wasted acreage now...and I'm sure that food could have been used somewhere to feed somebody.

I'm 180 out.

Corn, Maize, is open pollinated. The wind does it. This field would have contaminated other crops. You can't avoid that with maize.

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RE: thoughts? - 5/20/2013 9:20:45 PM

DarkSteven

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I feel sorry for the Hungarians. I wish there were a way to have Monsanto bear the liability here. Just because they are the most evil company imaginable.

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RE: thoughts? - 5/21/2013 8:10:27 AM

MasterCaneman

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quote:

Corn, Maize, is open pollinated. The wind does it. This field would have contaminated other crops. You can't avoid that with maize.

Sadly, the problem will be self-correcting. Most of the GM done on those plants was largely to prevent reproduction without external assistance. At best, one growing cycle would be affected before the line self-extincted.

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RE: thoughts? - 5/21/2013 8:43:15 AM

kdsub

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Why would farmers buy these seeds if they did not provide them economic an advantage with pest control? I don't think they would pay a premium price just to buy seeds that they could not use the produced seeds unless it benefit them.

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RE: thoughts? - 5/21/2013 10:43:42 AM

MasterCaneman

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Oh yes, they were sold a product that offered all of those things I'm sure. Higher yield, faster growth, all those things. All with a built-in time bomb to ensure that the company continued to sell more seed the next growing cycle. Cross-pollination of course occurred, but the company didn't mind, because nothing would happen.

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