US efforts to bully Mexico over its announced restrictions on imports of GM corn intensified last week, as a US Trade Representative official gave the Mexican government less than a week “to explain the science behind Mexico’s planned bans on genetically modified corn and glyphosate herbicide”. In fact, Mexico’s highest government science body has published a database on glyphosate and GM corn with 28 pages of citations. In fact it is so large that it is difficult to navigate. US officials could examine that scientific evidence, which has been available since the 2020 Mexican government decree clarifying the restrictions. But to make it easier for them, Timothy A. Wise, senior advisor on the Future of Food at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, highlights some of the most important evidence. Food Tank

 

 

In two studies, researchers at the University of Turku have found that carbon sequestration and plant resilience as well as forage pasture yield can be increased through key adjustments in agricultural management. The results provide a roadmap for reducing pesticide loads in soils and the first steps towards increasing climate change mitigation while improving crop yield in grasslands. The research team showed that the intensity of mowing has a great impact on pastures. By reducing the intensity of the mowing and cutting the plant higher, the overall yield of the pasture increased and the plants developed bigger roots. This indicates a higher atmospheric carbon sequestration into below-ground storage. Also, the researchers found a detrimental effect of herbicide residues in soil on root growth regardless of the intensity of the yield harvest. University of Turku

 

 

An international expert on the health damages caused by PCBs is under attack by Monsanto. Tell the University at Albany not to help Monsanto destroy Dr David Carpenter, a key expert witness in public interest litigation. Sign the petition! GMWatch on Twitter @GMWatch

 

 

A communications officer previously employed by the GMO industry lobby group EuropaBio now acts as media and communications adviser in the Cabinet of Virginijus Sinkevičius, the EU Commissioner for Environment. Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) and Testbiotech, in a joint letter to the Commission, have raise concerns about this new case of "revolving doors" between the GMO industry and EU institutions. The move from the GMO industry lobby group to the Commission is delicate because of several ongoing decision making processes. The future regulation of plants derived from new genomic techniques (NGTs) as well as dossiers like the Farm to Fork strategy, the Green Deal, bioeconomy and pesticide reduction are all of huge relevance for EuropaBio’s members. Testbiotech

 

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