“Neither the ecological crisis nor its worsening impacts have converted scientific academies to a culture of precaution”, writes Le Monde's science correspondent Stéphane Foucart about the French Academy of Sciences' misplaced backing for deregulation of new GMOs (products of new genomic techniques, NGTs). The Academy's statement is unsigned. And in recent weeks, many other scientists have opened up to Le Monde about the omissions, misleading shortcuts and inaccuracies with which the document is riddled, Foucart writes. The Academy claims: “Unlike GMO production techs, genetic scissors precisely cut the DNA and allow it to be modified precisely without leaving the slightest artificial trace in the rest of the genome.” But gene editing is a form of GM, and as Foucart points out, its unintended impacts are attested by numerous studies. The unintentional effects of new GMOs (NGTs) are why ANSES — the French food safety agency — has called for the risks of these effects to be assessed before placing NGT plants on the market. Other expert bodies — like the German Federal Agency for Nature Protection — say the same. In fact the Academy of Sciences has form for promoting baseless industry promises for products. Foucart reminds us that in 2002, the Academy supported first generation GMOs and their potential benefits: improved yields and nutritional qualities, resilience to stress, reduced use of pesticides, etc. It now says nothing about those promises not being kept, while reiterating them for new GMOs! Le Monde's article (in French and behind a paywall) is here. GMWatch's Twitter/X thread on the article is here. GMWatch comment on article in Le Monde

 

 

Crop-killing weeds such as kochia are advancing across the US northern plains and Midwest, in the latest sign that weeds are developing resistance to chemicals faster than companies, including Bayer and Corteva, can develop new ones to fight them. In many cases weeds are developing resistance against multiple herbicides, scientists said. Reuters interviewed two dozen farmers, scientists, weed specialists and company executives and reviewed eight academic papers published since 2021 which described how kochia, waterhemp, giant ragweed and other weeds are squeezing out crops in North Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota as chemicals lose their effectiveness. A global database shows reduced effectiveness of glyphosate against 361 different weed species, including 180 in the US. Some 21 weed species globally show resistance to dicamba. Reuters

 

 

We were sad to hear of the death in December of the great investigative journalist, award winning author and film-maker John Pilger. He was a fearless champion of oppressed people and never stopped speaking truth to power. Although he never got involved in writing about the GMO issue, he was aware of GMWatch’s work and gave us kind support and encouragement in the tough early years. John was also on the advisory board of Spinwatch, which published some of our key pieces exposing the PR chicanery of the biotech brigade, as well as profiles of some of their key players. There’s an obituary here. GMWatch comment

 

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