Today the EU Member States voted, in a Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCOPAFF), on the Commission's proposal to renew the use of glyphosate for ten years. The required majority to adopt or reject the proposal was not reached. As a result, the proposal, which is based on an opinion delivered by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will be submitted to the Appeal Committee. The Committee is expected to discuss and vote on the Commission proposal in the first half of November. A decision on the renewal of glyphosate needs to be taken by 14 December 2023, as the current approval expires on 15 December 2023. European Commission

 

 

Corporate Europe Observatory has published a brilliant series of video clips from an interview with molecular geneticist Prof Michael Antoniou, in which he explains how the EU Commission's push to deregulate new GMOs endangers our health and environment and runs counter to scientific knowledge on the inherent risks posed by these products. GMWatch has noticed that many groups and individuals who oppose the Commission's deregulation plans fail to mention health risks and focus solely on the environment. Prof Antoniou explains in simple terms what can go wrong with gene editing and what that means for the food and feed supply, as well as the environment. Watch and circulate widely! Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) on Twitter @corporateeurope

 

 

In Peru, researchers are breeding drought-resistant potato varieties. They use genes from wild potato species so that cultivated potatoes can cope better with drought. Wild potato relatives grow in the wilderness and are subject to natural selection, so they are adapted to heat, drought, cold or they are resistant to diseases. Breeding researchers have already developed the first drought-resistant new varieties, and they must quickly save the original species, as these are also affected by climate change. So far, 2,500 varieties have been saved. Their genes can help ensure that everyone has enough to eat in the long term, they hope. Crop Trust

 

 

Scientists specialising in neurodegenerative diseases say there is now a body of scientific evidence indicating glyphosate is a possible cause of Parkinson's — and a consensus that the current regulatory framework for evaluating the risk is seriously inadequate. Animal studies show areas of the brain affected by Parkinson's are damaged by glyphosate exposure. A recent study showed glyphosate exposure is associated with signs of brain damage found in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. These effects were observed in the general human population. Current animal testing for the impact of glyphosate exposure on the brain is ineffective. The brain's large reserve capacity means 40% of brain cells could be dead and the animal tested would still appear perfectly healthy, even though the pesticide studied is anything but safe! Targeted cell counts in brain regions implicated in Parkinson's disease are needed, but this is currently not part of the evaluation. The scientists (Bas Bloem, professor of neurology, and Tjitske Boonstra, researcher in neurology) are advising governments to:
1) Vote against re-authorising glyphosate
2) Fund the rapid development of an improved pesticide assessment framework
3) Avoid leaving testing to industry — use independent scientists. GMWatch on Twitter @gmwatch, translating French language article in Le Monde

 

 

Researchers have found a link between the presence of high levels of glyphosate, fluoride, hardness, and vanadium in wells and the prevalence of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (cause). In Sri Lanka 5%–20% of the adult population have the disease in affected regions. Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett.

 

 

On the occasion of the UN World Food Day on 16 October, the organisation Donau Soja, a membership organisation of non-GMO, European-grown soy producers, says it is urgent to establish a European Protein Strategy for Europe's food security, though "Our protein supply must also prevent deforestation and promote climate-friendly measures. Currently, only about one percent of soybeans are grown as a valuable protein crop in EU countries. This is not enough to meet the protein demand on our continent. This gap in Europe's protein supply can be closed by several measures, including the expansion of soybean cultivation in countries inside and outside the EU. “In total, 15 million tonnes of sustainable and GMO-free soy could be produced in Europe by 2030. The remaining 15 million tonnes should only come from sustainable and certified sources from overseas,” says Donau Soja President Matthias Krön. Donau Soja

 

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