Monsanto's GMO corn has no improvement on yields or reduced crop damage, report claims
Jennifer Lee Reynolds
(NaturalNews) No surprise here, but a recent report has found that MON810, a Monsanto-made GM corn, doesn't have the ability to thwart crop infection. What a shocker. The Franken-food company designed the corn in an effort to "help" crops by making them resistant to corn-boring pests, maintaining that the Bt insecticide in MON810 maize would be beneficial.(1)
Nope. Not even close.
In a report published by the Government of the Aragon region of Spain – a country that happens to be the EU leader in GM maize cultivation – it was found that "there are no significant differences" between GM corn varieties an non-GM, conventional varieties. The amount was minuscule and barely worth mentioning: the difference in per hectare yields of crops between the two varieties harvested was between 0.2 and 0.3 kilos. Not only was there hardly any difference in harvest production, but the report also found that MON810 didn't make a dent in warding off any pests.(1)
Still, the folks at Monsanto think it's time break out the MON810 party hats and do a victory dance. According to their website's "Did You Know?" section, "MON810 corn hybrids contain a protein from a naturally occurring bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). This protein provides protection against damaging corn borer pests that can significantly impact both the yield and quality of a farmer's corn crop."(2)
Oops, better read the Aragon report Monsanto, because it sure determined otherwise concerning that whole pest control and yield thing you latch on to.
But wait, says Monsanto; GM seed products really DO work
Furthermore, the Monsanto website also does what it's been doing for ages: It tries to convey that tampering with the foods people ingest is good. "We confidently stand behind the safety and healthfulness of each of our GM seed products," their site states. Of course, they take issue with any country that has the common sense to ban such foods, suggesting that places that "have taken decisions to illegally ban the planting MON810 corn hybrids despite a robust safety assessment and a long history of safe cultivation and consumption" are in the wrong. Then they go on to remind readers of the studies that have been done, and suggest that governments that don't align with their strategies are ill-informed, stubborn people engaging in "illegal" bans. Wah, wah.(2)
We bet they're going to have a field day with the most recent ruling in the Philippines, in which the Supreme Court there ordered a permanent ban on field trials of GM eggplant. Additionally, the judges have temporarily stopped the import of all GM crops and products. At the same time, they're refusing to accept applications for new GM items until new administrative orders go into effect. Without a doubt, as native farmers and residents rejoice, Monsanto and it's twisted view of human ethics will find fault with the ruling.(3)
Listen up, Monsanto: There's a reason so many people shun GM corn. From liver damage to actually inserting genes into human tissue that end up basically throwing the human genome way out of whack, GM corn is bad news. A bit of cellular damage and DNA disruption to go with your dinner? We think not.(4)
Isn't enough, enough?
Monsanto continues to maintain that everything it touches is golden. Always on the defensive, they're quick to turn a blind eye to the horrors they've inflicted on others, including their main ingredient in Roundup, glyphosate. By now most people are aware (except Monsanto, who has a tough time accepting the truth), that a division of the World Health Organization, IARC, found glyphosate to be "probably carcinogenic to humans." But keep spraying away, Monsanto says. Cover your lawn, crops, soccer fields, corporate parks and playgrounds with the stuff because, according to their website, the IARC statement puts glyphosate in a category "...that includes common professions such as barbers and fry cooks—a conclusion that conflicts with the overwhelming consensus by regulatory bodies and science organizations around the world."(5,6)
After a while, it just gets old.
Bad is bad, no matter how well you cleverly craft your words or rely on loopholes to paint a picture of health and product success. From MON810 to glyphosate and everything in between, it's clear that people deserve better than the backwards logic Monsanto attempts to force upon us.
Sources for this article include:
(1) GMWatch.org
(2) Monsanto.com
(3) NaturalNews.com
(4) NaturalNews.com
(5) NaturalNews.com
(6) Monsanto.com
http://www.naturalnews.com/z052360_Monsanto_crop_yields_MON810.html