Monsanto’s genetically modified soybeans to be used for cooking oil containing lower levels of saturated fats and higher levels monounsaturated fats were approved last year by U.S. regulators. Yet, while Monsanto prepares for product launch, important safety questions remain unanswered.
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Did you know that United States permits the planting of genetically engineered crops in the nation’s protected wildlife refuges? Environmental groups have challenged this practice one region at a time. 
With even more scientific studies linking systemic pesticides to bee deaths, beekeepers and environmental organizations petition EPA to suspend clothianidin, a pesticide that got a free pass from registration requirements. 
The FDA took long-overdue steps towards curbing the overuse of antibiotics in farm animals aimed to preserve effectiveness of antibiotics. Unfortunately, the measures remain voluntary and industry compliance remains to be seen. 
Nearly 35 years ago, the Food and Drug Administration initiated proceedings to withdraw the approval of the subtherapeutic use of certain antibiotics in agricultural animals but it took a Court Order to force the agency to follow through. 
Organic and conventional family farmers, small and family-owned seed companies, and agricultural organizations recently filed an appeal in the case of OSGATA et al v. Monsanto, which was dismissed by a Federal Court in New York on February 24, 2012. 
While the Doomsday Vault may have been founded on noble ideas, many critics fear that the lofty ideas may get lost in the complex agreements between the Vault and the depositors while permitting greater access to seeds by corporate breeders. 
The Federal District Court in New York dismissed the organic and conventional farmers’ complaint against Monsanto. But despite the legal loss, the lawsuit leaves a beneficial legacy. Think twice before believing GMO advocates who argue that genetically engineered foods are safe because they were approved by government agencies. New report from the Union of Concerned Scientists demonstrates the many ways in which corporations influence scientific and policy making processes. 
There is a growing demand from consumers to know what is in their food. In response to this demand, sprouting across the nation are bills seeking to label foods containing genetically modified ingredients. 
Despite a vocal opposition from residents, Colorado’s Boulder County recently decided to permit a second genetically modified crop, Monsanto’s Roundup Ready sugar beets, to be planted on public land. 
U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an order to restrict unapproved use of cephalosporin class of antibiotics in farm animals. Many, however, are critical of the agency’s decision to regulate a practice that is already in decline. 
This past November, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report cited “severe efficacy issues” with Monsanto’s Bt corn after multiple states reported “unexpected pest damage.” 
The chemical system of weed control is a gift that keeps on giving, spreading superweeds that withstand up to 64 times the recommended application of 2,4-D toxin and are resistant to multiple pesticides. 
All Natural chips made by Frito-Lay may not be so natural after all, says a new lawsuit alleging that the snack-maker is misleading consumers with its all natural claims when in fact the products are made from genetically modified ingredients. 
While evidence of the detrimental impact of systemic pesticides mounts, many beekeepers and independent scientists wonder why U.S. regulators have not suspended or banned their use. 
Internal investigators found significant weaknesses in FDA’s monitoring of State agencies’ food inspections. The finding raises further questions about FDA’s effectiveness in ensuring the safety of the nation’s food supply. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) has once again introduced a bill that would require require the labeling of all foods that contain or are produced with genetically engineered material. It is a counter-balance to another pending legislation that could strip USDA of some of its authority to approve to biotech crops. 
Is glyphosate a critical tool to control weeds or a cancer-causing health and an environmental menace? The U.S. and Canadian governments plan to re-evaluate the safety of glyphosate. Without mention of socioeconomic facts and reiterating biotech industry talking points about GMOs, last year’s workshop of Islamic scholars wholeheartedly approved of agricultural biotechnology. However, conclusions of the workshop are questionable. 
Is the massive honeybee die off a canary in the coal mine telling us that the pesticide treadmill, as our current state of agriculture has come to be known, is short sighted and dangerous? 
Lack of independent studies on the impact of transgenic crops on honeybees, independently, and in combination with other chemicals, further calls into doubt the industry’s safety claims. 
While massive bee die offs have been occurring for more than half a decade, the connection between colony collapse disorder and pesticides, particularly serious concern about systemic pesticides, has been downplayed by the EPA and the industry. 
It’s hard to imagine American agriculture without bees and, yet, we may be seeing the end of beekeeping following years of mysterious collapses of honey bee colonies in the United States and the world. |
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