Dow and Monsanto Join Forces to Poison America's Heartland Written by Richard Schiffman, Truthout In a match that some would say was made in hell, the nation’s two leading producers of agrochemicals have joined forces in a partnership to reintroduce the use of the herbicide 2,4-D, one half of the infamous defoliant Agent Orange, which was used by American forces to clear jungle during the Vietnam War. These two biotech giants have developed a weed management program that, if successful, would go a long way toward a predicted doubling of harmful herbicide use in America’s corn belt during the next decade. The problem for corn farmers is that “superweeds” have been developing resistance to America’s best-selling herbicide Roundup, which is being sprayed on millions of acres in the Midwest and elsewhere. Dow Agrosciences has developed a strain of corn that it says will solve the problem. But this plan has alarmed environmentalists and also many farmers, who are reluctant to reintroduce a chemical whose toxicity has been well established.
Agent Orange Still Used In the U.S. Agent Orange, or 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid), used as a defoliant during the Vietnam War, is nasty. It is linked to cancer, cell damage, severe hormonal disruption, reproductive problems and birth defects. Invented during World War Two, 2,4-D is one of the oldest legally available pesticides on the market. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed a lawsuit in federal court against the EPA on February 23 for failing to respond to a 2008 petition to cancel all registrations of 2,4-D. I am reminded of the lyrics to an Anti-Flag (a political punk band) song: “Radiation, Agent Orange tested on us souls, guinea pigs for western corporations.” I am sure by now that you want to do something. Avoid using any weed control products that contain 2,4-D, including ‘weed and feed’ products with this chemical. Here is what you can do to let your opinion about 2,4-D be known. Related stories Dow Chemical is Full of Greenwashing People’s Court Puts Agrichemical Giants On Trial
Rochefort : un éleveur attaque Monsanto et son désherbant Roundup - SudOuest.fr#xtor=EPR-260-[Newsletter]-20120303-[zone_info#xtor=EPR-260-[Newsletter]-20120303-[zone_info#xtor=EPR-260-[Newsletter]-20120303-[zone_info#xtor=EPR-260-[Newsletter]-20120303-[z oustache fournie, chapeau de poète et veste en cuir. A priori, Jacques Maret n'est pas à la tête d'une multinationale agricole. Il le confirme et se dit « paysan »… Oui mais paysan bio, bien sûr. Éleveur d'un troupeau de bovins depuis seize ans, à Saint-Laurent-de-la-Prée, près de Rochefort, il s'est spécialisé dans le veau sous la mère. Une profession accaparante, qui n'empêche pas notre homme de mener son combat « pour la santé publique ». Avec le soutien de Générations Futures (1), Jacques Maret s'est notamment lancé à l'assaut de Monsanto, le géant américain des produits phytosanitaires (voir le documentaire d'Arte, Le monde selon Monsanto). Une véritable enquête Pour Jacques Maret, c'est déjà une petite victoire : « En 2009, nous avions envoyé un courrier au ministre de l'Agriculture pour lui demander de retirer l'autorisation de mise sur le marché de ce produit. Deux autres Roundup visés Toutefois, Jacques Maret ne baisse pas les bras.
OGM : herbicides, mon amour Près de 80% des OGM cultivés dans le monde sont des cultures résistantes à l’herbicide Roundup. Développées par Monsanto, ces semences génétiquement modifiées doivent permettre de faciliter le désherbage en supportant des pulvérisations de l’herbicide également produit par la firme. Mais une étude de l’Inra (Institut national de la recherche agronomique) et du CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique) publiée en novembre 2011 montre que ce modèle biotech a atteint sa limite, à cause du développement dans les champs de mauvaises herbes également résistantes au Roundup. Aux Etats-Unis, l’apparition de « supers adventices » oblige ainsi les agriculteurs à multiplier les pulvérisations de Roundup, ainsi que d’autres herbicides complémentaires. Les données recensées par l’Inra affiche une augmentation de la consommation d’herbicides depuis l’introduction des OGM. Des OGM développés par les firmes productrices d’insecticides En ce sens, les semences RR® sont victimes de leur succès.
Monsanto buys bee-friendly pesticide researcher Monsanto Co. said Wednesday it bought a smaller biotech research company that is developing a technology to kill crop pests while protecting the health of bees. Monsanto, the world's biggest seed company, did not disclose terms of the deal to buy the company, called Beeologics. Bees are critical plant pollinators, and public concern has swelled over a recent bee pathology called colony collapse disorder. The disorder causes whole hives of bees to die off, cutting the numbers of insects that naturally pollinate important food crops. It's still unclear what causes colony collapse disorder, but pesticides have been linked to bee deaths. Monsanto develops genetically engineered strains of corn and soybeans that grow their own pesticides. "Both companies expect that their combined research could provide farmers with novel approaches to the challenges they face," Monsanto said in a statement.
Les OGM tolérants aux herbicides sont déjà obsolètes - OGM - Environnement Près de 80 % des OGM cultivés dans le monde sont des cultures résistantes à l'herbicide Roundup. Développées par Monsanto, ces semences génétiquement modifiées doivent permettre de faciliter le désherbage en supportant des pulvérisations de l'herbicide également produit par la firme. Mais une étude de l'Inra et du CNRS publiée en décembre 2011 montre que ce modèle biotech a atteint sa limite, à cause du développement dans les champs de mauvaises herbes également résistantes au Roundup.Aux États-Unis, l'apparition de « supers adventices » oblige ainsi les agriculteurs à multiplier les pulvérisations de Roundup, ainsi que d'autres herbicides complémentaires. Les données recensées par l'Inra affiche une augmentation de la consommation d'herbicides depuis l'introduction des OGM. Des témoignages rapportés par Inf'OGM en 2011 montrent des agriculteurs américains dans des situations dramatiques. Des OGM développés par les firmes productrices d'insecticides
Monsanto Introduces Newest Herbicide-Resistant Crop: Dicamba Soybeans Most who know about the genetically modified food debate are familiar with the words Roundup Ready, a brand name of crops resistant to certain herbicides licensed by Monsanto. Soon, a new word will be on the tongues of farmers, scientists, and food industry experts: dicamba. By 2014, Monsanto’s Dicamba Soybean should have approval by the USDA for widespread use, and following that, Monsanto plans to introduce a varieties of cotton and corn using the same technology. Dicamba is an herbicide used to control over 95 types of weeds. Dicamba-resistant crops represent the next generation of agriculture to grow in the breadbasket of the world. “Glyphosate is as important to world agriculture as penicillin is to human health,” said Dr. Dicamba has been on the market for decades, but Monsanto is just now obtaining the licenses to sell Dicamba-resistant seeds. One concern with dicamba is that it easily moves off-site from its intended crop, effectively killing any plant upon which it lands.
Monsanto Feels Pain in Europe over Roundup Herbicide Dangers Monsanto has been put under huge pressure in Europe after a new scientific study was released in Germany last week showing its glyphosate based herbicide Roundup damages beneficial bacteria. The study by scientists at Leipzig University found that the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide, known as glyphosate, negatively impacted the gastrointestinal bacteria of poultry in vitro. The researchers presented evidence that highly pathogenic bacteria resisted glyphosate, whereas beneficial bacteria were moderately to highly susceptible to it. (see below for full abstract from paper)* Elsewhere in Europe further pressure has been applied on Monsanto by another study being undertaken by Dr. Below you can see the important videos from a recent conference concentrating on the dangers of Roundup: *The Effect of Glyphosate on Potential Pathogens and Beneficial Members of Poultry Microbiota In Vitro. Abstract