FSANZ calls for submissions on GMO soybean application
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has invited submissions on an application to change the Food Standards Code to allow food derived from a genetically modified soybean.
The application, submitted by Bayer CropScience and Syngenta Seeds, sought permission to allow food derived from a soybean genetically modified to be tolerant to two herbicides, glufosinate-ammonium and mesotrione.
“The FSANZ safety assessment found no public health or safety concerns and food from this soybean line is as safe for human consumption as food derived from conventional soybean,” said Steve McCutcheon, FSANZ Chief Executive Officer. “FSANZ welcomes comments from government agencies, public health professionals, industry and the community,” he said.
The closing date for submissions is 23 August 2013. Full details of the application and how to make a submission can be found on the FSANZ website.
Why would we allow one of the four global companies that supplies the food chain to grow in Australia? It is evident that these companies are spending a lot of money in a universities and farming groups to “buy” favour. Our sustainable competitive advantage was once our clean green growing environment. Last year on Land Line a USA farmer regretted that he had used GM on his land as he the promised yields did not materialise, he had to buy seed from the same companies each year and now his land is contaminated for decades – “I should never had done it” – are we deaf to these messages or persuaded by how much money you have to put into certain hands.
Safe? Are you burying your head in the sand at the mountains of proof that all GM foods is unsafe. Soy has to be one of the worst simply because of the far reaching effect it has across human and animal foods. It is killing soy as a nutritious food: who wants GM ingredients in soy baby formula, in their main source protein content, animal feed or for inclusion in processed foods.
Why bother? First of all, this means even more, and different chemicals will get into the environment, so whether the end product is safe or not, is only one issue. The other point is pretty obvious, and that is that most of the developed world has rejected the import of GM soy, corn and just about anything else. I suppose these countries must be full of uninformed and superstitious savages. But why pay Syngenta more, as a farmer, to farm something which is an unknown quantity, and which really only promises to get farmers onto the drip feed. This is not so that we can feed the world, we can already do that. This is about feeding Syngenta’s profits. So why should we allow this? It’s our big chance to nip this in the bud, put our resources into known sustainable practices. Surely everyone knows by now that you can’t sell GM products on the international market? Farmers will make more money and have better long term prospects by cleaning up their act. Not just buying a magic bullet/ cargo-cult solution.