STOPPING Monsanto and 2,4-D Tolerant Corn

By Harry Hager at January 12, 2012 | 8:37 pm | Print

If you have never heard of Monsanto don’t feel bad. You won’t see ads for them during the Super Bowl, but they are one of the most powerful companies in the world. Monsanto is a multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation and while it is the leading producer of genetically engineered (GE) seed; (~90% of that used in the US market), you may be more familiar with some of their other products such as PCBs, Dioxin, and Agent Orange. This article is not a moral condemnation of Monsanto. Do your own research and reach your own conclusions.

The purpose of this article is to make you aware that when a company chooses to experiment with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the real world, as opposed to a controlled environment, that unexpected consequences can have irreversible real world repercussions. The social irresponsibility of that choice is everyone’s concern.

Monsanto is currently petitioning the USDA to approve the use of a 2,4-D resistant corn genetically modified by Dow Chemical. 2,4-D is the primary ingredient in Agent Orange. Despite the fact that Agent Orange was the horrific chemical weapon used to destroy foliage and poison North Vietnamese soldiers, and that it caused severe and prolonged consequences for the environment, ecology, and health of the people of Vietnam, Monsanto thinks it would be just fine to spray on America’s cornfields.

The new corn would be immune to 2,4-D. It would still grow in the newly poisoned fields since the 2,4-D would be absorbed straight into the structure of the new corn ready to be chemically released upon consumption. Obviously Monsanto is in the food productivity business — to hell with food safety — apparently that is someone else’s problem.

According to Phil Angell, the director of corporate communications at Monsanto: “Monsanto should not have to vouchsafe the safety of biotech food. Our interest is in selling as much of it as possible.”

It is only a little herbicide. Ignore the cancerous veterans. Sure, the use of such chemicals on civilian targets is a violation of the 1907 Hague Convention and both the 1927 and 1949 Geneva Conventions, but Monsanto isn’t advocating spraying anyone outright – just our nation’s farmlands and a primary food source. Isn’t that the whole purpose of having their little “time bomb” corn seeds immune anyway?

Research by the EPA found that birth defects have been 60-90% higher in counties with higher rates of 2,4-D applications to farm fields. In addition to birth defects affecting the respiratory and circulatory systems, 2,4-D has also been linked to a marked increase of such musculoskeletal defects such as clubfoot, fused digits and extra digits.

2,4-D contains dioxins and is part of a group of extremely toxic chemicals known as the dirty dozen already identified as persistent organic pollutants. In humans and other mammals 2,4-D depletes the body of ATP (a primary energy molecule) and has been linked to Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. As a primary ingredient in livestock feed, the implications of using 2,4-D infected corn are disturbing. A chemical bleed into the nation’s livestock feed is unavoidable. Do you really want your steak or pork chop laced with a carcinogenic poison? Or did you really think that third drumstick on your chicken was a bonus?

2,4-D is an herbicide. It is a poison. It was a weapon of war used to purposefully destroy both the environment and the people in it. Now it is about to be in your food. How can this possibly be a good idea?

As Dave Larkworthy, the local chef/owner of Five Seasons Brewing, pointed out: “You simply can’t control the contents of other foods once GMOs are introduced into the food chain. If I am going to be providing food for people I don’t want to provide food that isn’t wholesome.” Since most GMO food isn’t labeled as such, Larkworthy points out the importance of both knowing your food sources and in dealing with local purveyors who share a common concern about producing quality foods.

The upcoming USDA decision on “Agent Orange Corn” will be final BUT you can still voice your objection. Act now! We have until February 27th to try and convince the USDA not to approve the new 2,4-D tolerant corn.

Help stop the further poisoning of our food supply!
Go to: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_24592.cfm to learn more.

News & Events 2-4-D, 5 Seasons Brewing, Agent Orange, David Larworthy, Monsanto, Phill Angell