Interesting Article on Monsato

[me&thegals]

Quote:
Are you sure that Certified Organic doesn't allow GMOs? I'm not sure about the standards, but I heard the GMOs are allowed (though they absolutely shouldn't be allowed). Anyone know?

Since I have read the following in multiple locations, I feel confident in saying that if labeled organic a food CANNOT be a GMO. Since food is not required to be labeled GMO-free (or containing) or rGBH-free or -containing, the only way to assure not consuming them is to buy organic.

 

[me&thegals]

Quote:
Maybe I'm too cynical, but I think organics are not subsidized since until recently nobody really big has been in that industry. The bigger it gets, the more money and power there will be behind it, the more support that system will demand from government, in my opinion.

On the other hand, there are lots of complaints that "organic" is getting really watered down and changed to a different way of growing than the original organic movement envisioned. So, bigger organics will probably bring some problems along with them...

Anyway, the whole crop subsidy arrangement seems to be a historical and complicated deal. I know plenty of farmers who would love to see it eradicated and let everything depend on the free market, but they also believe that many people would go hungry while food prices temporarily soared before settling into a more natural pattern.

 

[kstaven]

me&thegals :

Quote:
Maybe I'm too cynical, but I think organics are not subsidized since until recently nobody really big has been in that industry. The bigger it gets, the more money and power there will be behind it, the more support that system will demand from government, in my opinion.

On the other hand, there are lots of complaints that "organic" is getting really watered down and changed to a different way of growing than the original organic movement envisioned. So, bigger organics will probably bring some problems along with them...

Anyway, the whole crop subsidy arrangement seems to be a historical and complicated deal. I know plenty of farmers who would love to see it eradicated and let everything depend on the free market, but they also believe that many people would go hungry while food prices temporarily soared before settling into a more natural pattern.

Organics is getting bigger and going through a lot of growing pains. There has been a diluting of the word "organic" Unfortunately that is what happens when the government gets control of a standard and is lobbied by various concerns.

Our whole food system seems to be in transition. A free market is the last thing many corps and boards want to see. They survive by controlling produce. That is why companies like monsanto are trying to buy up seed selling companies.

As far as people starving. They already are starving all over this continent. In many areas a farmer can't even contribute to a food bank if they wanted to because what they produce has not been through a CERITIFED facility and deemed safe by an appropriate board. That is really sad. In far to many areas giving a starving neighbor a chicken you raised can get you busted now.​

 

[me&thegals]

I think it's quite frightening to have nonsensical control over food and seed. Keeping things safe is one thing (inspections), but putting so many controls on things that it's difficult to even feed one another is something a bit scary to me. Plus, so many things are allowed in the name of safety and high yields (irradiation and GMO) that are NOT required to be labeled. So, I guess even safety is a bit questionable.

Monopolies over anything seem unfair. Monopolies over food seed are terrifying! As far as I know, the dollar still speaks loudly. I'm going to focus more than ever on buying my seed and chicks (and learning how to save seeds and incubate chicks) from companies that support heritage breeds, heirloom varieties and no GMO. Are there other ways to speak out?

Kstaven, can you explain your comment in more detail?
"Our whole food system seems to be in transition. A free market is the last thing many corps and boards want to see. They survive by controlling produce. That is why companies like monsanto are trying to buy up seed selling companies."

One area of growth we are seeing here in Wisconsin is "buying local." We have many local organizations working hard to band together and promote locally grown produce to upscale restaurants, farmer's markets and co-ops. We have the nation's highest-rated farmer's market in Madison and almost every town has their own tiny or larger market. CSA shares are filling up before spring even arrives. I think there's really a huge groundswell of people sick of huge corporations controlling their food, a lack of trust over how that food was grown, a disgust with lack of freshness and nutrition, a desire to limit packaging and fuel used to get it to market, an acknowledgement of the superior quality, taste and nutrition of fresh food, etc. I seriously think there's something huge growing here, a massive movement towards locally produced food, a real pride in what a region can provide for its own citizens.

I'm really proud to be a tiny part of that in providing for 9 families in my own tiny CSA and use my newsletter as a way to educate people as best as I know how about the benefits of this type of food delivery system. It's crazy to me that this is a "new movement" since until relatively recently this would have been the only way possible to eat!

Sorry for such a long post! I tend to get a bit over enthusiastic about this topic

 

[chickenannie]

me&thegals :

Quote:
Are you sure that Certified Organic doesn't allow GMOs? I'm not sure about the standards, but I heard the GMOs are allowed (though they absolutely shouldn't be allowed). Anyone know?

Since I have read the following in multiple locations, I feel confident in saying that if labeled organic a food CANNOT be a GMO. Since food is not required to be labeled GMO-free (or containing) or rGBH-free or -containing, the only way to assure not consuming them is to buy organic.​

I wholeheartedly support organic and work with organic farms. I'm not trying to be argumentative, but I think GMO is generally unregulated and unlabelled as you mention, and that includes being allowed in Certified Organic products. Obviously this is a loophole that needs to be closed but the GMO producers are pretty slick. I'm going to check with an organic farmer I know who is usually up-to-date on the standards and see if he knows.

 

[me&thegals]

Chickenannie--You didn't seem argumentative at all to me. I really hope you're wrong, though

, but just because I'd like to think that I'm not getting GMO technology when I pay extra money for organic soy milk and cereal! Nuts! I will look forward to hearing what you find out about this.

 

[eggzettera]

Just thought you may want to check out these threads – the last one got locked down...I always feel like a rubber-necker reading shut down threads, it's something I never to in real life just the opposite...... but for your information....


https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=45953

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=50583