Begin forwarded message:
From: Michael Canney <alachuagreen@gmail.com>
Date: May 4, 2008 5:58:37 PM PDT
To: Alachua Greens <alachuagreens@yahoogroups.com>,  GPF Energy <gpgp-energy@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [alachuagreens] Agro-fuels: The Trojan Horse for GM food
Reply-To: alachuagreens@yahoogroups.com


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2008
4:57 PM 

CONTACT: Food First / Institute for Food and Development Policy
Eric Holt Giménez Ph: 510-654-4400 ext 227 or cell: 202-288-8699

 
Agro-fuels: The Trojan Horse for GM food
 

CALIFORNIA - May 2 - New Report from Institute for Food and Development Policy Warns of Widespread Genetic Contamination, Corporate Domination of Agriculture through "Agro-fuels Trojan Horse"

A new report from the Institute for Food and Development Policy examines a little looked at side of the biofuels debate: Will agriculturally-derived fuels (agro-fuels) be genetically engineered? The report answers a resounding "Yes!" Entitled "The Agro-fuels Trojan Horse: Biotechnology and the Corporate Domination of Agriculture," the new report finds that by accepting an energy future based on agro-fuels, the world is bringing genetic engineering into our food system through the back door. 

The report describes our situation as a "precipice," citing an impressive, if not frightening biotechnology pipeline for fuel crops: from the genes of deep sea thermal vent bacteria in corn, to traits that make food plants like sugarcane and sorghum produce biomass instead of food. The author explains how special genetically engineered fuel traits are poised to take over the ag sector as the ethanol market continues to boom. "The biotechnology industry is hoping that consumers will be more likely to buy genetically modified products if they are destined for their gas tanks, instead of the dinner table," says the report's author Annie Shattuck of Food First. 

However, the trouble with this logic is that there is no guarantee GM fuel traits will not contaminate their food-producing cousins. In fact, widespread genetic contamination is almost certain. Many of the new species being modified as fuel crops are wild. Some have pollen that can travel up to 1200 miles. The report's author sees the genetic modification of agro-fuels as a "Trojan Horse," a way to circumvent public debate and sound science by basking in the "sunny glow of alternative fuels." 

The report examines the history of the biotechnology industry, concluding that until now, its lack of public credibility has kept it from expanding beyond a few industrial commodity crops. Previous biotechnology offerings spurred incredible consolidation in the agricultural industry. Three major biotech companies now control 40% of the global seed market. The report warns that agro-fuels will give a few corporations monopoly power over both our food and fuel systems.

In the current climate of a dual food and fuel crisis, this new report calls for a moratorium on agro-fuels and local solutions that respect biodiversity, the autonomy of small farmers, and food sovereignty. 

The full text of the report can be found at http://www.foodfirst.org/.

###


http://www.commondreams.org/news2008/0502-12.htm


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