WEEKLY WATCH number 139 (1/9/2005)

from Claire Robinson, WEEKLY WATCH editor
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Dear all:

This week, we have a fascinating story about how the US government apparently covered up information to hide a deadly illness's links to genetic engineering (COVER UP).

There's new research purporting to show that GM corn and soy is no more likely to cause allergies than non-GM - but in fact, it shows nothing of the kind (RESEARCH).

There's also an extraordinary story of scientific skulduggery in Kenya, where GM research has been stopped after a scientist at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute allegedly tried to give some of Syngenta's GM maize a helping hand in a field trial (AFRICA). Kenyan Agriculture Secretary, Wilson Songa, has been quoted as saying that scientists have succumbed to pressure from international groups to rubber-stamp research on GM.

Finally, in a stunning example of telling it like it is, US soya-industry expert, Peter Golbitz, president of Soyatech, has pointed out that the US's share of the soya market is decreasing because US farmers aren't growing what the world's consumers want.

If any more GMO soybeans are grown, the US will be out of the food-grade market, Golbitz says, and may have to import even to meet US consumer demand. The US, he says, has made the mistake of putting the interests of multi-national agribusinesses above those of US farmers (THE AMERICAS).

Claire [email protected]
www.gmwatch.org / www.lobbywatch.org

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CONTENTS
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IMPORTANT NEW RESOURCE
THE AMERICAS
EUROPE
AFRICA
AUSTRALASIA
ASIA
COVER-UP
"CO-EXISTENCE"
MEDICAL BIOTECH
RESEARCH
NEW RESOURCE
TOXICS

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IMPORTANT NEW RESOURCE
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+ GENETIC ENGINEERING ACTION TOOLKIT
An excellent new resource for campaigners and concerned citizens - the Genetic Engineering Action Toolkit - has been compiled by Luke Anderson and is being distributed by the Genetic Engineering Action Network. www.geaction.org

It comes in CD-ROM format. It works on Macs as well as PCs. And it includes a truly amazing amount of useful information, including:
* introductions to the key issues
* articles and reports
* tools for grassroots activists.

To order copies email [email protected]
GET A COPY AND BURN LOADS MORE FOR ALL YOUR FRIENDS!

An excerpt exposing the myth that GM foods are safe is at
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=5647
More at http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=5650

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THE AMERICAS
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+ U.S. NEEDS TO PAY ATTENTION TO CUSTOMERS - SOY INDUSTRY EXPERT
The US needs to start listening to its customers if it wants to remain a player in the soybean export market, a soyfoods industry expert has said.

Peter Golbitz, president of Soyatech, said the demand for soybeans is increasing around the world, but the US's share of that market is decreasing because US farmers aren't growing what the world's consumers want.

If any more GMO soybeans are grown, the US will be out of the food-grade market, Golbitz said, and may have to import to meet US consumer demand.

The dropping US marketshare shows that the nation hasn't been paying attention to its customers' needs. The US must consider producers' futures above those of multi-national agribusinesses.

"I don't think the American farmers' interests are being looked out for," he said.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=5661

+ COSTS OF ROUNDUP READY WHEAT GREATER THAN BENEFITS - STUDY
Introduction of GM wheat would lower income for wheat growers and the wheat industry, according to a new report by the world-renowned agronomist, Dr Charles (Chuck) Benbrook.

"Harvest at Risk - Impacts of Roundup Ready Wheat in the Northern Great Plains" examines the likely consequences of Roundup Ready wheat adoption and projects economic impacts on wheat growers and the wheat industry.

If Roundup Ready wheat is introduced, says the study, increased seed and herbicide costs and reduced wheat prices would outweigh the operating cost savings from Roundup Ready wheat's weed management by as much as $37 per acre. Farmers who do not plant Roundup Ready wheat would also face increased costs and lower income, ranging from $5.60 to $18 per acre.

"Overall, the wheat industry could lose $94 million to $272 million," said Dr Benbrook.

The report finds mostly negative affects from nine factors affecting the costs and benefits of growing Roundup Ready wheat: emergence of resistance, gene flow, disease pressure and related problems, impacts on seed plus herbicide expenditures, market rejection, dockage, yields, grain quality, and wheat prices.

Harvest at Risk and related material is at http://www.worc.org/issues/benbrook.html
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=5662

+ MONSANTO/BAYER - ORGANIC FARMERS CAN APPEAL RULING
Canadian farmers seeking compensation for losses due to contamination of organic fields and crops by Monsanto's and Bayer's genetically engineered canolas have been given leave to appeal a refusal to allow them to bring a class-action lawsuit against the companies.

Plaintiff Larry Hoffman said, "A farmer like me can't afford to take on a big company like Monsanto when it threatens my livelihood and way of life. But if we can join together in a class action, our combined strength can make it possible to hold these companies accountable for their actions."

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