the silent march of the gmo soy industry

bicyclemark : citizenreporter.org

NOT SOY FASTThe rapidly expanding world of genetically modified soy.

1Thursday, January 1, 2009

In order to explain GMO soy and how we got here, we must first give some explanation of soy in general.Then Ill move on to GMO soy, what purposes it serves, who developed it, who is growing it and for whom.

CONVENTIONAL SOY

3 most common forms: Soy Bean, Soy Meal, Soy OilA whole protein.. containing fiber, B vitamins, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids.Soy protein is used in a variety of foods such as salad dressings, soups, imitation meats, beverage powders, cheeses, non-dairy creamer, frozen desserts, whipped topping, infant formulas, breads, breakfast cereals, pastas, and pet foods.

CONVENTIONAL SOY

IMPORT/EXPORT

Top global exporters, US, Argentina, Brazil (this was in 2002)

PRODUCERS

As of 2004 predictions now show that Brazil will overtake the US as the world’s soy exporter.

GMO SOY

Why does it appeal to farmers?Less spraying + less pests = less labor and higher yields. You get more from less.Buy the special seed, buy the special fertiziler; repeat - year after year. €€$$Like most GMO crops, the promise of more food growing for more people in areas where it was perhaps once not possible

GMO SOY

THE CORPORATIONS

Monsanto

Archer Daniels Midland

Cargill

Maggi (Blairo Maggi)

MAGGI SOY EMPIRE

"To me, a 40 per cent increase in deforestation doesn't mean anything at all, and I don't feel the slightest guilt over what we are doing here. We're talking about an area larger than Europe that has barely been touched, so there is nothing at all to get worried about." - Blairo Maggi 2003

One of the largest chemical companies of the 20th century. Created Agent Orange, Bovine Growth Hormone, PCB’s - coolants for electrical equipment. Until they were banned in the 80’s.

BUY OUR SEEDS

Interestingly, they promise massive yields but at present - gmo soy has not increased yields.But their public relations campaign make it look like this is about feeding people, even though right now, without GMO soy or other crops, we could feed the world.

BUY OUR SEEDS

BUYING UP FOOD

SIDE EFFECTS

Super Insects/Weeds

Compromising Conventional Crops

Destroying Rainforest

Toxic chemicals

Longterm effects on humans

Displacing and sometimes terrorizing native farmers

1,100 miles/1,770 km of soy highway.

Every bit of soy expansion into the rain forest needs its highway. 1,770 km of soy road. thats like Lisbon to Paris! and growing faster every year.

RESPONSE

Civil Disobedience

RESPONSE

Civil Disobedience

RESPONSE

Civil Disobedience

REPRESSION

Indigenous Soy Growers

This was around october 2008, you may have heard PAraguay elected a new president, for the first time, not from the colorado party.. who promised..

REPRESSION

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

Roundtable Agreement for Responsible Soy

voluntary certification system developed by the industry and a number of NGO’s.

REJECTED

In MArch 2008, there was a meeting called the Roundtable Agreement for Responsible Soy held in Argentina. Big agribusinesses sponsored it, a few organizations were invited and even fewer representatives of civil society.

EU IMPORTS

As of 2006 (global meeting on Soy in PAris) almost 60% of EU’s soy comes from South America .

EU IMPORTS

Brazil USA ArgentinaParaguay Others

EU IMPORTS

EU AND THE NEW CAP

According to the text, will reduce payments to big farms - its less about production. Calls for more emphasis on environmental standards, biodiversity and small farming.Difficult to find any details about what happens with imports or GMO soy restrictins.

GMO IMPORTS?

Countries known for allowing, almost always, GMO tests: Britain, Netherlands and Finland.Countries known for NEVER allowing them: Austria, France, Luxembourg.Pioneer, a biotech company, has actually SUED the EU commission for delaying approval.German BASF is now also going to sue the commission for delaying approval of its GMO potatoe.

GMO EXPERIMENTS (NL)

ORGANIC SOY

Growing Demand:

In 2006, UK sales of organic groceries increased by 54% to €151 million

Italy, Spain and Germany contain the largest organic farming areas in the EU.

European average of between 2 and 6% of the food market as of 2007.

THE FUTURE OF SOY

Increased Share of Farming

More power in lobbying and purchasing

Relaxation of Policy

Finds its way into almost everyone’s diet.

THE END.

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the silent march of the gmo soy industry

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