The environment group Greenpeace today lambasted the Department of Agriculture for allegedly flip-flopping on an earlier order revoking the authorization for the use of a genetically modified corn called MON863, which the group has found to be toxic. Mindanao is the country’s largest corn producer where many of these GMOs have been cultivated.
COMMENTARY: Can?t the Arroyo administration give intelligent solutions to our poverty problems? Is this the best thing the government could do — telling us to cut down on our luxuries when we don?t even have enough money for our basic needs?
Greenpeace demands immediate withdrawal, moratorium on GMO approvals
Manila/Berlin/Paris, 14 March 2007–A genetically-modified (GM) corn
strain approved for food, feed and processing in the Philippines shows
signs of toxicity to mammals, a new study released today reveals. The
study, and written by a panel of three independent scientists in France,
showed that laboratory rats fed with the GMO corn Monsanto (MON) 863
YieldGard Rootworm displayed kidney and liver toxicity. MON 863 is corn
genetically manipulated to produce its own insecticide called ‘modified
Cry3Bb1’ to kill rootworm insects in the soil, and contains gene coding
for antibiotic resistance.
DAVAO CITY — A store selling 100 percent pesticide-free food products will be finally opened here today, a move considered as a breakthrough in the growing world of alternative food production and consumption.
Opening the niche to the public is the Don Bosco Foundation for Sustainable Development or Don Bosco, a prime-mover in the science of biodynamics, an agricultural approach which recognizes ?the basic principles at work with nature and takes these principles to bring about balance and healing.?
Davao?s exporters complain of longer travel time for their goods to reach Japanese cities. According to them, this problem has affected the competitiveness of Davao exports. Germelina A. Lacorte reports.