The rise of the super weeds April 12, 2007
Posted by Andreas in Environment, News, genetic engineering.1 comment so far
One of the environmental threats that campaigners opposed to genetically engineered (GE) crops have long warned about is the possible emergence of herbicide-resistant super weeds. Pro-GE pundits and multinationals like Monsanto have always dismissed these suggestion as fear mongering nonsense.
There is, however, growing evidence that such super weeds are in fact flourishing in certain areas and causing havoc in farming communities.
The biotech industry has been heavily marketing agricultural crops that are resistant to specific herbicides such as for example genetically engineered cotton that is resistant to Monsanto’s glyphosphate-based product Roundup.
The idea is that farmers who plant these proprietary crops only need to apply relatively small amounts of proprietary herbicide which will kill all plants, including weeds, with the exception of the crop plants themselves.
This would lead to lower overall herbicide use (and hence be environmentally friendly), easier crop cultivation, decreased crop losses and enhanced yields.
That all sounds great in theory, but GE-opponents warned that such practices would ultimately spawn so-called super weeds resistant to the glyphosphate herbicides. And then, farmers would be in real trouble!
It turns out that the concerns over super weeds may have been very well founded.
The Delta Farm Press (not exactly the most radical of sources when it comes to environmental issues) reports that glyphosphate-resistant horseweed (which has been shown to reduce cotton yields by up to 70 percent), Palmer pigweed and waterhemp have been causing major problems for cotton farmers in Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Georgia and the Carolinas.
Glyphosphate-resistant horseweed has spread much more quickly than anticipated [...].
[...]
The staggering increase in glyphosate-resistant horseweed followed a spectacular rise in the amount of glyphosate products (Roundup, Touchdown and others) being applied in cotton and other glyphosate-tolerant crops.
[According to Larry Steckel, Extension weed scientist with the University of Tennessee,] “We saw a 752-percent increase in glyphosate applications between 1997 and 2003″[emphasis added] [...]
[...]
Weed scientists say glyphosate-resistant horseweed and pigweed can be managed with a combination of herbicides, but it will cost growers more.
These are sobering if not unexpected findings and, for me at least, they provide more concrete evidence that genetically-engineered agricultural crops will result in more damage than benefits in the long run.
A documentary about biotechnology April 11, 2007
Posted by Andreas in Cape Town, Environment, Film screening, genetic engineering.2 comments
Permacore, a Cape Town group of permaculturists, are screening a documentary called Seeds of Change this Thursday (12 April) at 7pm at The Door in the Floor, Trill Road, Observatory. I’ve stolen all of the info from urban sprout…
I know this is extremely short-notice, but I thought this looks very, very interesting and worth promoting here. Unfortunately I won’t be able to make it to the screening myself.
If you get there early food will be available to order in the courtyard. Texting 084 951 5535 if you plan to eat will assist with the catering. Or email info@permacore.org.za for more info.
Seeds of Change is a 70 minute fast-paced and moving documentary about the views of western Canadian farmers on both the benefits and risks associated with using genetically modified crops.
“Our film addresses the biotechnology industry and how it has changed the face of agriculture. As such it has great relevance for stakeholders around the world – activists, industry people, policymakers, and farmers not least among them,” states video researcher Stéphane McLachlan.
Al Gore – green messiah or flawed politico April 3, 2007
Posted by Andreas in Environment, Politics, Society, Sustainable Living.6 comments
Since the release of An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore has been the darling of liberal greenies the world over. The movie won an Oscar and some have Gore down as a firm favourite for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
Among US establishment progressives there has been considerable lobbying (so far unsuccessful) to get Gore to run for the presidency in 2008, but not everyone thinks that his prescriptions for an ailing planet are the bee’s knees. Here’s a libertarian take on why Al Gore won’t save the world.
