NewsMine — nature-health — gm-foods — Viewing Item

Gm revolution { August 19 1999 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/423363.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/423363.stm Thursday, August 19, 1999 Published at 09:53 GMT 10:53 UK World: Americas US farmers in GM revolution Soon 90% of US food could contain GM ingredients By Gavin Hewitt in Illinois US agriculture is in the middle of a revolution. Last year, American farmers planted 50 million acres of genetically-modified (GM) crops - including corn, soybeans, cotton and potatoes. Four years ago, the figure was zero. 'Safe for me, safe for my family' Don Wilrett's family has farmed in Illinois for five generations. Two-thirds of his corn is genetically-modified. For him, as for other American farmers trying to make a living with the erosion of crop prices, the incentive is simple: With GM crops, costs are lower and yields higher. GM crops has cut pesticide use Mr Wilrett simply sees no reason to fear the food he is growing. "I'm growing it on my own land, within 300 feet of where I live. I feed it to my own animals, and I would be willing to go out, take an ear and roast it, and eat it myself or feed it to my family," he said. Harold Miller has been dusting crops for nearly 30 years in the state of Illinois, in the American Corn Belt. Over the decades, Mr Miller's planes and others like his have sprayed tons of pest-destroying chemicals on the state's flat lands. Now, Harold Miller has less work because so much of the newly-planted corn has been genetically-modified to contain its own pesticide. "Over the entire Corn Belt, I think there probably is somewhere between 25% to 50% of the products, one way or another, are genetically engineered," Mr Miller said. "That, of course, has reduced our business." 'Don't know, don't care' 60% of America's processed foods - ranging from bread to yoghurt - already contain GM ingredients. The products are not labelled, so Americans do not know exactly what they are eating. But - unlike consumers in Europe - most Americans do not care. "I don't think about it. It's not a concern. I think most of the food is pretty safe," said one woman shopping at a local grocery. Another shopper did not know what genetically modified food was: "You'll have to explain it to me," she said. Part of the laissez-faire attitude of American consumers towards GM foods may be because they have not had their faith shaken by such problems as BSE, the so-called "mad cow disease". US and Europe far apart If the current rapid increase in the planting of GM crops continues, 85 to 90% of US processed food will contain some element of genetic modification, according to Val Giddings, the Vice President for food and agriculture at the Biotechnology Industry Organisation. Analysts say that means anyone importing US food will almost certainly receive products containing GM elements. Most of Europe still highly suspicious of GM food, while Americans remain quick to embrace change in the name of progress. So when it comes to what we eat, America and Europe are travelling in different directions.

African poverty { September 17 2002 } Beer giant threatens to boycott genetically modified rice Doubt gm crops { September 18 2002 } Engineered for contraversy Europe tough rules { February 14 2001 } Genetically modified food eaten regularly Genetically modified foods harm unborn babies { January 8 2006 } GM crops harm environment study says { March 23 2005 } GM crops harm wildlife says UK government study { March 22 2005 } Gm crops have less productivity { April 20 2008 } Gm foods pushed during world food shortage { May 14 2008 } Gm foods study found kidney blood damage Gm revolution { August 19 1999 } Largest GM study concludes they harm wildlife { March 22 2005 } Monsanto sees seeds of food revolution in europe { March 19 2004 } Wto forces bioengineered crops on europe Wto ruling backs biotech crop { February 8 2006 } Files Listed: 17

Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security Archives

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.