Ag Biotech: Critical to Global Sustainability

Ag biotech: critical to global sustainability

By Cary Blake

Farm Press Editorial Staff
Agricultural biotechnology is making substantial footholds in small and large countries worldwide and must remain a part of sustainable agriculture so farmers and consumers can reap the benefits.

Sharon Bomer-Lauritsen, executive vice president, food and agriculture section, Biotechnology Industry Organization, Washington, D.C., says U.S. farmers grow biotech crops on about 300 million acres — about 48 percent of the harvested crop acreage.

“Biotechnology has saved the fruit and vegetable industry from destruction,” said Bomer-Lauritsen. She spoke about ag biotech’s virtues and challenges during the California Association of Pest Control Advisers conference in Anaheim, Calif.

BIO represents over 1,100 biotech companies, academic institutions, and related organizations in the United States and 31 other nations in the research and development of health care, agricultural, industrial, and environmental biotechnology products.

In U.S. agriculture, biotechnology is utilized in 86 percent of cotton, 92 percent of soybeans, and 80 percent of corn, Bomer-Lauritsen says. Corn yields have increased by 30 percent and soybean yields have climbed 17 percent over the last decade due to biotech and practices incorporated by farmers. Similar trends are expected to continue.

Sustainability is becoming the buzzword among public opinion leaders worldwide. According to the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, sustainable agriculture includes three main goals: economic productivity, environmental health, and social and economic equity. Its success, Bomer-Lauritsen says, must include technologies including biotech.

While the 1990 farm bill legally defined sustainable agriculture, the “big players” including Wal-Mart are developing sustainability standards for suppliers. Other players include the Grocery Manufacturers Association, food processors, retailers, Food Marketing Institute, Western Growers Association, and the California horticultural industry.

“The challenge is to ensure that technology, including biotechnology, pesticides, and pest control, is not excluded from any definitions or standards in achieving sustainability,” the biotech advocate said. “These technologies help our farmers become sustainable.”

Yet the road to sustainability has included a few chuckholes. Bomer-Lauritsen told the pest control advisors about an invitation-only meeting held last year at the University of California, Berkeley, designed to discuss sustainable agriculture. The meeting included draft voluntary standards developed by the Leonardo Academy for possible inclusion by the standard-writing American National Standards Institute.

“The standards developed by the Leonardo Academy are what I would consider organic plus,” Bomer-Lauritsen said. “To be certified in sustainable agriculture you either need certification under the USDA’s National Organic Standards Program or you were converting to organic acreage.”

BIO saw the draft as failing to consider the contributions offered by technology. The draft also violated the 1990 farm law’s sustainability definition.

According to Bomer-Lauritsen, the 1990 farm law requires an integrated system to satisfy human food, fiber, and fuel requirements to meet the world’s growing population.

The law also mandates improved environmental quality and a natural resource base, plus the efficient use of non-renewable resources. Practices must provide for economic viability so farmers can stay in business, and enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.

Bomer-Lauritsen says biotechnology supports sustainable agriculture in five ways. The first is by increasing crop production and yields as stated earlier.

While biotech was embraced early by large countries, data collected by Clive James, international biotech researcher from 1996 to 2007, showed biotech is now gaining more acceptance in less developed countries. Of the estimated 11 million farmers in the world utilizing biotech, 9 million are from developing countries or farmers who lack key research information.

Last year 23 countries allowed ag biotech crop planting while more countries allowed imports of products derived from biotech including Japan and Korea, Bomer-Lauritsen says. Egypt approved biotechnology for cultivation this year.

Biotech also promotes resource conservation and energy efficiency, and reduces the environmental footprint of agriculture.

One study indicates biotech had a role in decreasing pesticide active ingredient use by 630 million pounds from 1996 to 2006 in fields with biotech seeds. Biotech seeds also allow farmers to expand no-till farming.

“We saw a 35 percent increase from 1995 to 2002 in the amount of carbon kept in the soil and less water runoff,” Bomer-Lauritsen said. “We also have a study that shows total carbon dioxide emissions are down 15 million tons due to biotech.”

The reduction is based on more carbon left in the soil from no-till, plus insect-resistant corn reducing the number of tractor passes across fields for pesticide application.

Technology has reduced the water needs to grow cotton by 93 million gallons over the last six years. Bomer-Lauritsen says the future focus on water is “more crop per drop.”

Regarding cash flow, biotech has helped improve farm income by $30 billion to $34 billion worldwide in a decade. U.S. production costs decreased $1.3 billion in 2005; in part due to reduced pesticide costs and related fuel savings.

Biotech improves the economic viability and quality of life for farmers on small and large operations. Bomer-Lauritsen shared how a small farmer with corn borer damage in the Philippines switched to Bt corn. As a result the farmer increased the corn acreage and began growing vegetables.

The BIO executive says biotech helps contribute to the sustainable production of biofuels.

“We’re not talking about food versus fuel; we’re talking about food and fuel. Crop yield increases will be critical to that,” Bomer-Lauritsen said. “Much work is under way on genetic and non-genetic engineered cellulosic biomass to increase the availability and yields of different grasses.”

Several energy crops for fuel under development include the perennial grass miscanthus and corn stover.

The future pipeline for biotech crops include those with improved drought and salinity tolerance plus reduced nitrogen requirements. Companies are working on allergen-free wheat and peanuts; even cattle incapable of developing bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease).

As to the Leonardo Academy’s proposal for organic-based sustainability standards for agriculture, USDA filed an appeal. The end result has seen the academy’s proposal off the table.

Bomer-Lauritsen said, “It’s important that developed standards are technology neutral to have the best hope to adopt truly sustainable agriculture that benefits farmers and consumers.”

Bomer-Lauritsen is a former deputy assistant U.S. trade representative for agricultural affairs.

e-mail: cblake@farmpress.com


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Canadian Courts Harass Farmer for 14years Over Sale of Raw Milk

Schmidt fined for contempt

Posted By Don Crosby
Posted 23 hours ago


Durham dairy farmer Michael Schmidt has been fined $5,000 and ordered to pay $50,000 in court costs after being found in contempt of court.

He was found in contempt Oct. 20 for disobeying a court order made May 17, 2007, by a Superior Court justice restraining him from selling or distributing unpasteurized milk products in York Region.

“The ruling is very interesting since it raises issues that I was not allowed to address in court,” said Schmidt, who received the sentence by fax Tuesday.

Superior Court Justice J. Boswell noted in his decision that the case was not about the merits of raw milk, nor about restrictions of personal choice, but was about the integrity of the administration of justice and the importance of respect for court orders. However, he cites as an aggravating circumstance that, “the contemptuous breach of the order accordingly involves an issue of public health and safety.”

Schmidt describes the contempt of court trial and the sentencing as an abuse of legal process by York Region and the Ministry of Natural Resources, knowing that the main issue surrounding the legality of what he’s doing has yet to be determined in a trial set for early next year.

“Do I accept this ruling? No, because the courts failed to ensure due process and did not wait until the other trial is finished,” said Schmidt.

“They are trying to undermine a proper legal process . . . why should I buy into that when I have been to Queen’s Park four or five times with proposals to resolve this situation as long ago as 14 years ago . . . then they throw in these contempt of court charges. As far as I’m concerned that stinks,” Schmidt said, adding, “the fine is a very good public demonstration of how they try to wear us down financially.”

The judge also cited Schmidt’s lack of remorse and his deliberate use of civil disobedience to challenge the law.

“In other words this was not simply an instance of rash error in judgment. It was planned and deliberate,” the judge wrote.

For the that’s just another troubling aspect of the judge’s decision.

Randy Hillier, Conservative MPP from Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington has taken an interest in the case and said he is troubled by the the idea that an act of civil disobedience is considered an aggravating factor.

If Michael had acted in a rash and with poor judgment, that would have been a mitigating factor. I prefer that people act with good judgment and be deliberate rather than patting them on the back for being rash and having poor judgment,” Hillier said Wednesday in an interview from his office in Queen’s Park.

Boswell credits Schmidt with being intelligent, well meaning and good intentioned, yet misguided, at least in this instance. “. . .he is otherwise a responsible, productive, member of society,” the judge wrote.

He said the fine is intended to discourage Schmidt from flouting the law as a means of changing to the law.

Hillier defended Schmidt’s use of civil disobedience in trying to get the provincial government to review the law that has banned the sale of unpasteurized milk in Ontario since the 1930s.

“It’s a complete and significant break with our long held traditions in the use of civil disobedience to amend unjust laws,” Hillier said.

Hillier said he knows of many cases involving First Nations residents in his area who were given small fines for acts of civil disobedience.

Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell asked Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky, during question period on Tuesday, whether the government planned a review of the law banning sale of unpasteurized milk.

Quoting Dr. Murray McQuigge, the former medical officer of health for the Grey Bruce Health Unit, Dombrowsky said there were no good old days when it came to the harm that raw milk inflicted on thousands of people.

“To bring in legislation to allow the sale and distribution of raw milk would be tantamount to manslaughter” in the province of Ontario, said Dombrowsky.

Schmidt has six months to pay the fine and court charges. He said he plans to appeal.

His trial on more than a dozen charges relating to the sale of raw milk and the legality of a cow share program is set for Jan. 24.

Article ID# 1328675

New Report Shows USDA Knew of Extreme Cruelty at Equine Slaughter Houses, but did nothing"

FOIA Request Uncovers Unprecedented Evidence Horse Slaughter is Inhumane
Documents never before made public reveal the USDA was aware of extreme cruelty during horse slaughter at facilities in the U.S. The documents dispute claims horse slaughter in the U.S. was in any sense humane and instead reveal a brutal, terrifying ordeal that should be permanently banned.
I've been an equine cruelty investigator for a number of years
and I've witnessed many incidents of animal cruelty but nothing could prepare me for these images.
a brutal and predatory business that promotes cruelty and neglect
rapid end to this wholly brutal and un-American trade
We now know [from these new documents that being on U.S. soil does not make horse slaughter humane or better. That this could go on even with the presence of USDA inspectors makes absolutely clear that horse slaughter is not euthanasia and definitely not a humane end.
In 2006 the House voted by a wide margin, 263-146, to ban horse slaughter. But the session ended before the Senate could vote
Now, this new evidence removes any doubt. We must act quickly. We cannot allow horse slaughter to continue any longer.


Ithaca, New York (PRWEB) December 4, 2008 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a 906-page document revealing for the first time the alarming cruelty that takes place during horse slaughter in the U.S. The documents included almost nine hundred photographs. Information was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request submitted 3 years ago by equine cruelty investigator Julie Caramante. Animals Angels assisted Caramante in obtaining the documents, and they are now working with Animal Law Coalition to assess and disseminate the information.

"I've been an equine cruelty investigator for a number of years," said Caramante, "and I've witnessed many incidents of animal cruelty but nothing could prepare me for these images."

The photographs document significant injuries to horses at the slaughter house. Injuries included conscious dismemberment, open fractures, blinding, and battered faces. It appears some horses were left to bleed out. Other injuries indicated long term abuse and neglect.

'The pain and terror these horses had endured is criminal," said Caramante.

In July, well before release of the documents, Dr. Nicholas Dodman of the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee describing horse slaughter as, " a brutal and predatory business that promotes cruelty and neglect," concluding that as a veterinarian a "rapid end to this wholly brutal and un-American trade" is warranted.

Horse slaughter in the U.S. ended in 2007 after the three remaining plants in Texas and Illinois were closed by state lawmakers and the courts. There is a federal bill pending in Congress that would prevent horse slaughter from resuming in states without laws prohibiting it.

Those in favor of horse slaughter have insisted horse slaughter should resume because they claim U.S. humane laws protect horses from cruelty, unlike Mexico and Canada where American horses are now sent to be slaughtered for human consumption in France, Belgium and some other countries.

Former Rep. Charlie Stenholm who is now a lobbyist for the horse slaughter plants, has called horse slaughter a safe, convenient way to dispose of horses. He has called it a "well-regulated industry" practicing "humane euthanasia". Stenholm has told the House Judiciary Committee horses are personal property and owners should be able to decide what to do with their property without government intervention.


Sonja Meadows, executive director of Animals' Angels, said, "We now know [from these new documents that being on U.S. soil does not make horse slaughter humane or better. That this could go on even with the presence of USDA inspectors makes absolutely clear that horse slaughter is not euthanasia and definitely not a humane end."

Meadows is hopeful that the shocking evidence of the cruelty of horse slaughter in the USDA document will compel the new Congress to act swiftly to pass a federal ban on the transport and slaughter of American horses. "In 2006 the House voted by a wide margin, 263-146, to ban horse slaughter. But the session ended before the Senate could vote," she said. "Now, this new evidence removes any doubt. We must act quickly. We cannot allow horse slaughter to continue any longer."

Documents and photographs released by the USDA can be found at http://www.kaufmanzoning.net

About Animal Law Coalition and Animals' Angels

Animal Law Coalition works to stop animal cruelty and suffering through legislation, administrative agency action, and litigation. ALC offers legal analysis of the difficult and controversial issues relating to animals. Join ALC at http://www.animallawcoalition.com and together we can take action for animals nationally and in your state and community.

Animals' Angels is a 501 (c)(3) non profit organization with fulltime investigators in the United States and Canada. We work to end animal cruelty and abuse and to improve conditions for farm animals. Our investigators are out in the field every week, trailing livestock trucks on highways, visiting markets, collecting stations and slaughter plants. For more information please go to http://www.animals-angels.com.

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Canada Has Beef with US / Trouble in Paradise?

Canada Hauls US to WTO over Beef, Pork Rules

By BRADLEY S. KLAPPER

Canada filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization on Tuesday over a new U.S. law that requires retailers to provide country-of-origin labeling for fresh beef and pork, officials said.

The Canadian government said it was concerned the U.S. rules were discriminating against Canadian agricultural exporters, who have lobbied hard for a legal challenge at the WTO.

"We believe that the country-of-origin legislation is creating undue trade restrictions to the detriment of Canadian exporters," Canadian Trade Minister Stockwell Day said in a statement.

The WTO confirmed receipt of Canada's complaint.

Canadian farm groups say a growing number of meat plants in the U.S. are refusing to accept Canadian cattle and hogs for processing since the Country Of Origin Labeling (COOL) law went into effect on Oct. 1.

Under country of origin labeling, Canadian cattle and pigs must be segregated in U.S. feedlots and packing plants, prompting some firms to only deal with American livestock. Canadian animals are also required to have more documentation about where they come from and, in the case of cattle, must have tags that indicate they are free of mad cow disease.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in Washington could not immediately comment.

Ottawa's filing at the Geneva-based trade referee initiates a two-month consultation period between the North American neighbors. If they fail to reach a settlement, Canada can ask the WTO for a formal investigation. Such trade disputes can result in punitive sanctions, but usually after years of litigation.

Canada and the U.S. are the world's biggest commercial partners, but have battled for years over trade issues involving beef, corn, dairy and wheat. In 2006 the two countries signed an accord on softwood lumber, a key component in home-building, ending a decades-long dispute that once fueled talk of an outright trade war.

"We are committed to a respectful working relationship with our American neighbors," Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said, "but have always made it clear that these new regulations must not discriminate against Canadian producers."


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Mad Cow Prions Found in Human, Sheep, Cow & Goats Milk!

Click on the title above to see vid

GAO Reports on Illegal Farm Bill Payments

USAgNet - 12/01/2008

A recent Government Accountability Office report on illegal farm payments got national attention last week when cited by President-elect Barack Obama as an example of inappropriate spending by the federal government.

The GAO report concluded that USDA had paid $49 million to 2,702 individuals who had adjust gross incomes that would likely make them ineligible for farm program payments under the 2002 Farm Bill, from a total of $16 billion in annual payments to about two million individuals and entities. The report said USDA "does not have management controls... to verify that payments are made only to individuals who do not exceed income eligibility caps"; for instance, USDA cannot obtain and use Internal Revenue Service data to confirm income.

Obama used this example of what he called 'waste' when talking at a Tuesday press conference about his desire for 'smarter government' and to review the 'federal budget - page by page, line by line - eliminating those programs we don't need, and insisting that those we do operate in a sensible cost-effective way."

Agricultural groups say the will work to maintain a strong federal safety net that allows farmers to continue to produce the safest, most affordable and most abundant food supply in the world for Americans and those who rely on our exports.


http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-national.php?Id=2778&yr=2008

New Mad Cow Test Heightens Fears

New Mad Cow Test Heightens Fears
Thursday, November 13, 2008 by: Laura Weldon, citizen journalist

Key concepts: Disease, VCJD and Mad cow

(NaturalNews) A new screening test for Variants of Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseases (vCJD), currently in final clinical trials, will reportedly identify those who harbor the disease in their blood. Early indications suggest that 1 of every 4,000 people tests positive. This is a substantially higher number than health experts had estimated.

The blood test should be available to physicians within 18 months. Specific information about the ongoing clinical trials has been closely guarded, although reports of this groundbreaking test have appeared in U.K. newspapers such as Daily Mail as well as science publications around the world. Preliminary reports indicate that 95% of those found with vCJD in their blood may not go on to suffer from the full-blown disease. If true, these findings will have significant public policy as well as research implications.

Learning more about this test and “Mad Cow Disease” may not necessarily assuage public fears, despite official reassurances.

What is it?

The illness commonly known as “Mad Cow Disease” is actually a family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Animal TSE diseases include scrapie in sheep and goats; chronic wasting disease in deer, elk and moose; bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle; and feline spongiform encephalopathy in cats. Human TSEs include vCJD as well as Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome, kuru and fatal familial insomnia.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was named after the researchers who identified the condition. In classic form it is a rare inherited disorder appearing in older people. The variants appear in much younger people.

What are the symptoms of vCJD?

The onset of symptoms can take anywhere from a few years to many decades. Studies of kuru show the incubation time for vCJD may be as long as 50 years.

The disease progresses due to the presence of abnormal and unusually long-lasting proteins called prions in the brain and spinal tissue. These prions form sponge-like holes in the brain. Early stages of the illness are characterized by psychiatric symptoms such as depression, memory loss or even psychosis. Nearly half of the patients in early stages have unusual sensory complaints such as perceived “stickiness” of the skin as well as neurological symptoms including balance problems, involuntary movements and lack of coordination. The disease progresses to gross lack of motor skills, muteness and dementia before death.

What causes it?

The highest incidence of vCJD transmission occurred in the U.K. due to the profit-oriented practice of feeding mammal by-products to herbivores such as cattle. Most scientists affirmed that these practices caused BSE which then spread, via meat products, to human consumers who went on to develop vCJD. These agricultural practices were banned. Similar policies were also largely banned in the U.S., although animal by-products in question such as brains, spinal cords and bone meal can still be used in feed destined for hogs, chickens and turkeys. These by-products are also permitted in pet food until a ban takes effect late April of 2009.

U.K. organic farmer and researcher Mark Purdy, author of the book Animal Pharm: One Man’s Struggle to Discover the Truth about Mad Cow Disease and Variant CJD took a more controversial stance, claiming that environmental contamination caused prions to form in the brains of susceptible animals. He specifically targeted organophosphate insecticides and depleted soils as causative agents. He also argued that human neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are related to contaminants from agriculture, manufacturing, munitions and nuclear tests. He collaborated with researchers from major universities and won several awards before his death in 2006.

How is it diagnosed?

The new blood test may prove an effective means of screening, but it isn’t clear if those who test positive will be active carriers of vCJD or if it is possible to determine who will go on to develop a full-blown case of the disease. It has also been reported that one percent may be false positives.

At the present time there are no diagnostic tests available to check for vCJD before symptoms appear. MRI and spinal fluid tests are some procedures used for detection if symptoms are present. The most reliable confirmation of vCJD comes from post mortem biopsy of the brain.

What about blood donations?

Due to concerns about the potential for vCJD transmission, the American Red Cross does not permit people to donate blood if they’ve received a blood transfusion in the U.K. since 1980, or if they visited certain nations during a time of heightened potential for vCJD transmission (1980 to 1996).

The new blood test will make it easier to screen blood donors for vCJD, assuring a safer blood supply. But it highlights new issues. Millions of donors each year make it possible for others to receive life-saving transfusions. Yet once this test is a requirement for all prospective blood donors, thousands of those who charitably offer their blood will instead be informed that they test positive for vCJD. Many donors may prefer to avoid being tested for an incurable and fatal disease. This disincentive could reduce the availablity of necessary blood for trauma, surgical and other patients.

What about other implications of the test?

Screening tests for diseases carry wider ethical implications. Positive results bring a significant, long-lasting emotional toll. Those who have positive results are likely to make different choices, for example deciding against having children. There may be fears of social stigma. And under current private healthcare plans, it’s possible that positive results on a vCJD test could increase insurance premiums or result in denied coverage. Added life insurance costs may be another consideration.

Is the food supply safe?

Any food containing prions is unsafe. In contaminated animals these prions are thought to be present in the brains and spinal cords. Prions are highly resilient. Unlike viruses or bacteria, prions can survive heat, disenfectants, UV light, even radiation.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a prion-related disease found in game animals such as deer and elk, has been found across a dozen states and into Canada. The Centers for Disease Control reports that CWD cannot be transmitted to humans. Considering the long incubation period to develop vCJD, from several years to many decades, that conclusion may be premature. Fact sheets available from many state wildlife departments caution hunters against shooting ill animals but assure them that with safe handling procedures the meat is safe.

It’s known that cattle suffering from BSE are weak and may be unable to stand. After a cow tested positive for BSE in Washington state in 2003 the USDA ruled that downer cows could not enter the food supply. That ruling prohibits meat producers from slaughtering any animal unable to walk. A loophole permits such animals to be slaughtered after passing an initial inspection if they are inspected again. However even this lax regulation is not always followed as the spring 2008 scandal at the Chino Westland/Hallmark Meat Company proved. The Humane Society of the United States had demonstrated through undercover video that desperately ill cows at the Chino facility were forced into the slaughter box by such means as chains, electric shock, high intensity water and forklifts. This company had been a major supplier of meat products to the National School Lunch Program. Subsequent videos by the Humane Society show downer cows at slaughterhouses in other areas of the country. These non-ambulatory cattle are 49 to 58 times more likely to have BSE, according to a Swiss study.

The USDA uses a rapid-screen test for BSE on about one percent of the beef supply to assure consumers that U.S. meat is safe, but this federal agency prohibits beef producers from using the same test. A progressive Kansas meat supplier, Creekstone Farms, has been fighting this ruling in the courts. Creekstone won the first round but the USDA appealed. The appeal court found that the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act permits the USDA to prevent the testing as a “worthless” method of “treatment,” ironic as the company would be testing carcasses and not treating live animals. The USDA stance may please large meat producers, but alienates foreign markets already wary of U.S. meat. Agricultural standards are higher in many other parts of the world. For example, every carcass is tested for BSE in Japan before it is released for sale.

What can I do?

Eatwild.com presents evidence that the safest beef products are from animals raised on a totally grass-fed diet. If you prefer, avoid eating meat entirely.

Insist on safe standards. Go to www.organicconsumers.org/madcow.cfm to sign a petition requesting of U.S. government:

*Mandatory testing for all cattle brought to slaughter, before they enter the food chain.
*Ban the feeding of blood, manure, and slaughterhouse waste to animals.
*Stop harassing farmers and food processors who are interested in independently testing their own
beef.

Learn more by investigating beyond official assurances of food safety:

Organic Consumers Association updates on Mad Cow
www.organicconsumers.org/madcow.cfm

Mark Purdey website with articles and research www.markpurdey.com

The Pathological Protein: Mad Cow, Chronic Wasting, and Other Deadly Prion
Diseases by Philip Yam

Brain Trust: The Hidden Connection Between Mad Cow and Misdiagnosed
Alzheimer's Disease by Colm A. Kelleher

Animal Pharm: One Man’s Struggle to Discover the Truth about Mad Cow Disease
and Variant CJD by Mark Purdy
About the author
Laura Weldon is a writer with a book called Free Range Learning coming out in 2008. She lives on an organic farm and believes in bliss.



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