AquAdvantage salmon
Aquaculture[edit] Commercial aquaculture is the most rapidly growing segment of the agricultural industry, accounting for more than 60 million tons in 2012, versus 90 million tons of wild caught fish. That year, aquaculture output exceeded beef output for the first time. While land-based agriculture is increasing between 2% to 3% per year, aquaculture has been growing at an average rate of approximately 9% per year since 1970. As of 2011, Salmon aquaculture produced 1.9 million tons of fish. Genetic modification[edit] Genetic modification occurs when incorporated gene construct opAFP-GHc2 is transferred into the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and gene construct OnMTGH1 is transferred into the Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) These transferred genes allow the genetically modified fish to achieve accelerated growth rates, which confer longer survival and reproductive success.[6] Production[edit] Concerns[edit] Survival in new habitats[edit] Rate of growth[edit] Smoltification[edit] Notes[edit]
Subsidizing Starvation
In the wake of Haiti's devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake exactly three years ago, former U.S. President Bill Clinton issued an unusual and now infamous apology. Calling his subsidies to American rice farmers in the 1990s a mistake because it undercut rice production in Haiti, Clinton said he had struck a "devil's bargain" that ultimately resulted in greater poverty and food insecurity in Haiti. "It may have been good for some of my farmers in Arkansas, but it has not worked," he said. "I have to live every day with the consequences of the lost capacity to produce a rice crop in Haiti to feed those people, because of what I did." Despite Clinton's dramatic confession and his role as the United Nations' special envoy for Haiti, little has changed in the last three years for the Caribbean country's farmers. Meanwhile, for the last year a piece of U.S. legislation that could have arguably changed the playing field for Haiti's farmers has been stalled in Washington, D.C.
Against US Agricultural Subsidies
March, 2009 by Sam King I am not against all subsidies. It is a very efficient way to promote an industry that is necessary for the public good and to correct externalities. The requirement that children get shots, an indirect subsidy to vaccination companies, is in large part the reason that many diseases that are globally common are almost nonexistent in the United States. The goal of US agriculture policy is to create an export surplus. In the late 20th and early 21st century, ideals of free trade, as manifested through the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund, pushed developing countries to reduce their subsidies. These international discrepancies in subsidization disrupt third world agriculture. This means that third world nations will be trapped in a cycle of dependence on US exports. The farms that benefit from US subsidies are the ones that can afford large scale agriculture.
Long, hot summer sends food prices soaring
A summer of droughts and extreme temperatures across the world threaten the planet's most vulnerable people, as food prices rise. A new report from the World Bank has revealed global food prices soared by 10% in July, with staples such as maize and soybean increasing by 25% to an all-time high. The drought-hit United States -- the world's largest exporter of grains such as maize -- is facing the worst production shortfalls since the "Dust Bowl" of the 1930s, while a scorching summer in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan hit wheat supplies, according to Food Price Watch. Overall, the World Bank's Food Price Index, which tracks the price of internationally traded food commodities, was 6% higher than in July of last year, and 1% over the previous peak of February 2011. "Food prices rose again sharply threatening the health and well-being of millions of people," said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. And these rises can have consequences.
Monsanto Maize: EU Blocks France Ban
Days after France attempted to ban a genetically-modified strain of maize created by the controversial agricultural company Monsanto, based in St. Louis, Mo., the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) rejected France's grounds for banning the maize on Monday, even though France believes the corn is harmful to the environment. Based on the documentation submitted by France, there is no specific scientific evidence, in terms of risk to human and animal health or the environment, the EFSA said on its website. Monsanto's maize, known as MON 810 or its trade name YieldGard, was introduced in 1997 as corn with naturally-occurring soil bacteria inserted into its DNA structure that could better resist insects, as the pests simply can't digest the protein produced by the bacterium. But while the GM maize can keep stalk borers away, some experts believe the crop can be harmful to plants and other animals. The EFSA, however, rejected France's ban on the crop, citing a lack of evidence.
CODEX Alimentarius
CXS 193-1995General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed CXC 1-1969General Principles of Food Hygiene CXS 1-1985General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods CXG 2-1985Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling CXM 2Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) and Risk Management Recommendations (RMRs) for Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods CXS 192-1995General Standard for Food Additives CXC 80-2020Code of Practice on Food Allergen Management for Food Business Operators CXS 333-2019Standard for Quinoa CXC 79-2019Code of Practice for the Reduction of 3-Monochloropropane-1,2- Diol Esters (3-MCPDEs) and Glycidyl Esters (GEs) in Refined Oils and Food Products Made With Refined Oils CXG 92-2019Guidelines for Rapid Risk Analysis Following Instances of Detection of Contaminants in Food where there is No Regulatory Level CXS 330-2018Standard for Aubergines CXS 332R-2018Regional Standard for Doogh CXC 76R-2017Regional Code of Hygienic Practice for Street-Vended Foods in Asia
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, for a world without hunger
The Buzz on Beeologics
K. Humphrey 5/14/2012 What do Monsanto and honey bees have in common? Beeologics. Beeologics, acquired by Monsanto a year ago, researches and is developing biological tools to provide targeted control of pests and diseases, including those that are related to Honey Bee health. Monsanto will use the base technology from Beeologics as a part of its continuing discovery and development pipeline. The beekeeping industry, while small, is a vital part of agriculture but often doesn’t receive the attention it merits. “Monsanto knows that honey bees are a key component to successful sustainable agriculture globally,” said Jerry Hayes, Monsanto’s Beeologics Bee Health Lead. Monsanto is committed to sustainable agriculture. “Monsanto is the leader in the development of new technologies to safely, efficiently and cost-effectively control agriculture pests, predators and diseases,” said Hayes.
