Heres another topic that I have not seen anyone in Kentucky who is talking about the 2,4 D tolerant corn (labeled Agent Orange Corn by opponents) GMO that is being developed by Dow. I was curious about it, so I googled it. This is what I found: This agreement between Dow and the Save our Crops Coalition does nothing to mitigate the threats that this 2,4-D tolerant crop poses on human health and the environment and only further illustrates ironclad control that Big Agribusiness holds over our food system. Many studies prove that 2,4 D exposure is associated with various forms of cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, nerve damage, hormone disruption and birth defects and evidence is mounting that 2,4-D is quickly following in the disgraced footsteps of Monsantos Roundup as giving rise to unkillable superweeds. The health of consumers, our soil and farm workers is once again left in the figurative and potentially literal dust, Hauter told Common Dreams. Baden-Mayer echoes the concerns over human health. If we continue to be exposed to ever increasing levels of 2,4-D in our food, we are going to suffer escalating rates of disease, especially cancer and birth defects, stated Baden-Mayer. 2,4-D tolerant GMO crops havent been safety tested for human consumption, added Baden-Mayer. The FDA doesnt require that. They only conduct voluntary consultations with the manufacturers of GMOs on human health impacts. Theres no independent review. So, we really have no idea what will happen when people start eating 2,4-D tolerant crops, and we probably never will. Theyll enter the food supply unlabeled, primarily as animal feed and ingredients in junk foods. Were seeing an uptick in diet-related diseases, but its impossible to identify the role of GMOs in that. The small amount of research we have on the bodys reaction to GMOs is that they are perceived as foreign or toxic, triggering allergic reactions and immune responses or damaging the kidneys and liver. Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety, previously warned of the dangers of the Dow’s Agent Orange corn, and noted how it sets up a chemical arms race. This novel corn will foster resistant weeds that require more toxic pesticides to kill, followed by more resistance and more pesticides—a chemical arms race in which the only winners are pesticide/biotechnology firms. But wait, this story is from 2012. So, I tried to find something more recent. This is from the most recent thing that Ive found (a link to the article will be in the comments) : Dows Enlist herbicide is also controversial because 2,4-D, or 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, was one of the ingredients in Agent Orange, the Vietnam War defoliant that was blamed for numerous health problems suffered during and after the war. Although the main health effects of Agent Orange were blamed on the other component of the mixture (2,4,5-T) and dioxin contamination, critics say 2,4-D has significant health risks of its own. Several medical and public health professionals have sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture warning of health threats that could accompany an increase in 2,4-D use. But Dow officials said Friday that its product is needed soon as market research shows that cropland acres infested with glyphosate-resistant weeds increased 80 percent over the past two years. As it awaits regulatory approval, Dow said it would showcase the Enlist system in five technology centers established in the U.S. Midwest and U.S. South to train farmers and seed sellers on Enlists application and management. It also said it will offer more than 100 small Enlist field plots at seed company and retail locations and it is hoping to also set up on-farm experience plots to demonstrate the product. Dow said it plans on receiving U.S. regulatory approval this year and will ramp up seed production and its supply of Enlist herbicide to support commercial sales starting in late 2013 for 2014 planting. Canada granted regulatory approval in October.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 17:38:07 +0000
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