16/October/20

 

Following a report that the Western corn rootworm pest is "poised to stage a comeback" as resistance spreads to the Bt insecticidal toxins in GM Bt crops, Dr Doug Gurian-Sherman explains why this is a problem created by industrial agriculture, with its destructive monocultures. He says that the problem would not have arisen in the first place if genuine agroecological principles had been followed. GMWatch

 

 

A GM virus-resistant cassava is slated for release in Kenya. But Dr Hans Herren, who won the World Food Prize in 1995 for using biological controls to halt a mealybug infestation that threatened to destroy cassava crops across Africa, is dismayed at this development. He says ecological approaches that keep nature in balance are the key to defeating viruses. Food Tank

 

 

The government of Switzerland has announced that it will no longer allow exports of five pesticides that have long been banned in their own country due to known health and environmental harms. Given that pesticide industry giant Syngenta is based in Switzerland, this is incredibly significant — and very good news. Pesticide Action Network North America