The industrial agriculture lobby is on the offensive to avoid missing its opportunity with a second generation of GMOs, especially after Europe imposed strict rules on the first generation. Agribusiness’ main objective is to exempt so-called “new breeding techniques” (NBTs) from previous GMO regulations, and thus avoid testing, monitoring and labeling. In short, the best scenario for the industry would be deregulation, which is again relying on their old narratives of feeding the world and reduced pesticide use, to convince public opinion.
A true ecological transition is only achieved by supporting local farmers, seed sovereignty free of patenting, promoting agroecology, a circular economy, short supply chains and safeguarding food sovereignty. Not by giving in to the pressures of corporations, who wish to keep the industrial agriculture systems the same,through the imposition of new genetically modified varieties and distribution systems that have led to the current environmental crisis.
Resources
European Court of Justice: green light to the deregulation of new GMO
On the morning of February 7, 2023 the European Court of Justice issued a ruling setting the stage for full deregulation of new GMOs. Amidst a long attempt by multinational lobby groups to declare new genomic techniques (also known as new breeding techniques, and gene edited organisms), separate from already standing regulation on GMOs, the courts has ruled that GM organisms obtained by in vitro mutagenesis (gene editing) have a long safety record and are therefore excluded from current GMO regulation in the EU.
The Convention on Biological Diversity must resist the commodification of all life
From Dec 7- 19, the 15th COP meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will be taking place in Montreal, Canada. This CBD COP is set to debate the next global biodiversity framework and it will set the tone for biodiversity governance through 2030, and onto 2050. Key topics being discussed at the COP15 are the issues around financing for biodiversity conservation, digital sequence information (DSI) and new biotechnologies. So far, the CBD has been the only international body addressing the governance of these new issues. In a new article by Navdanya International, “The Convention on Biological Diversity must resist the commodification of all life”, the details are laid out on how the double angle attempts at commodifying life, both through the digitalization of genetic information, and the financialization of biodiversity and ecosystems, really just represent the latest attempts of corporate interest to commodify life.and rupture of many of the Earth’s cycles such as, the nitrogen cycle, water cycle, carbon cycle, air flow cycles and cycles of biodiverse life.
Petition to say #IChooseGMOfree (April – November 2022)
The Gmo Revival (April 2021)
Webinar ‘GMOs are a failed Technology. The future is GMO-Free’ – Highlights (March 2021)
Truths and lies about new and old GMOs – Testing the industry narrative (February 2021)
Additional resources
UNFSS – Where Multinationals Continue to Design our Food Systems and Control our Diets (July 2021)
Bill Gates & His Fake Solutions to Climate Change (April 2021)
Gates to a Global Empire – Campaign
OWNING SEEDS THROUGH PATENTS AND NEW GENE EDITING GMO TECHNOLOGIES – Vandana Shiva
GENE EDITING: UNEXPECTED OUTCOMES AND RISKS – GM Watch, Technical advisor: Dr Michael Antoniou
DRIVEN TO EXTERMINATE: HOW BILL GATES BROUGHT GENE DRIVE EXTINCTION TECHNOLOGY INTO THE WORLD – Zahra Moloo and Jim Thomas, ETC Group
GLOBAL RESISTANCE TO GENETIC EXTINCTION TECHNOLOGY – Navdanya
GATES FOUNDATION HIRED PR FIRM TO MANIPULATE UN OVER GENE DRIVES – Jonathan Latham
BIODIVERSITY, GMOS, & GENE DRIVES OF THE MILITARISED MIND – Vandana Shiva