The Future of Food - Resources and Links

The Future of Food - December 9th

The Official Site of The Future of Food film
This site includes excellent links and ways you can learn more about the anti-GM food movement.

See the trailer for The Future of Food

Listen to an interview with Deborah Koons Garcia - KPFA 11/11/04

Critical reviews of The Future of Food:

San Francisco Gate

Related Articles and Sites:

Organic Consumers Association

Slow Food USA

Slow Food Modesto Convivia

Slow Food Madera

TD Willey Farms, Madera

Mountain Meadow Farms
Mariposa (no website yet, but proprietor Brenda Ostrom is our only local CSA offering home delivery of organic fruit, vegetables, chicken, eggs, and bread.)

American Farmland Trust
Since our founding in 1980, American Farmland Trust has helped win permanent protection for over a million acres of American farmland. Our hard work and sound strategies unite farmers, environmentalists and policymakers.

The Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity

Supermarket Giants Crush Central American Farmers (article in the New York Times -- free registration required.)

How does Biodiversity Benefit Natural and Agricultural Ecosystems? (From the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)

Global Policy Forum
Their comprehensive page on GMOs.

Old Eurpope and New GM Foods
From CommonDreams: President [Bush] portrays widespread European resistance to genetically modified food as not only a violation of 'free trade' principles but also the cause of Third World hunger. This time, however, Europeans would do well to hold their ground. But before European leaders claim too much of the moral high ground, the US, Europe, and the developing nations need to engage the issues of world hunger more fully.

The End for GM Crops
From the Independent: A final trial of a four-year series of experiments in the UK has found that genetically modified (GM) crops can be harmful to wildlife. The powerful herbicide that the scientists used with GM rape killed wild flowers that are important to the diet of many birds. According to experts, the unsuccessful trial almost certainly seals the fate of GM in Britain, at least in the foreseeable future.

UN Agency Accused of Distributing GM Crops
From the Inter Press Service: A group of Central American NGOs accuses the World Food Programme (WFP) of distributing genetically modified food as part of its aid efforts in the region. An independent laboratory also found small amounts of genetically modified corn unauthorized for human consumption in the food aid. WFP denies allegations of handing out any unapproved foodstuffs, saying 'all the products meet the health standards of the donor countries."

Defending a Vanishing Morotorium, GMOs and the WTO
From Focus on the Global South: The World Trade Organization’s agreement on "Technical Barriers to Trade," which excludes production processes and production methods from trade rules, endangers the European Union’s moratorium on US-exported genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The author argues that European workers and citizens who reject corporate agro-food imposition of GMOs must challenge the "false issue of [GMOs and] WTO-compatibility.

Africa's Hungry Are Fed Bad Policies
From YaleGlobal: Poor countries’ reliance on western policies risks growing further as the US pushes for the global embracement of genetically modified (GM) products. For long, rich countries’ conditionalities and trade and economic policies have narrowed down poor countries’ options for dealing with food crises. This article concludes that Africa’s embrace of GM products will rather stem from a lack of options, than from voluntary action.

Asia Holds the Key to the Future of GM Food
From YaleGlobal: If there was a global election on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) with US and Europe as the 'frontrunners,' Asia would be a swing state - the decisive place of the battle. The region has the world's largest consumer base and the greatest number of farmers. Therefore, argues this YaleGlobal article, its embrace of US acceptance or European reluctance to GM crops will decide the global future of genetic food technology.

Greenpeace Releases GM Corn Study
From El Universal/Herald: Greenpeace accuses the US government of burying a report from the Commission on Environmental Cooperation of North America, which recommends that Mexico enforce strict controls over US and Canadian genetically modified (GM) corn. The Commission warns that GMOs may threaten the diversity of Mexican "land races" of corn.

Earth Council
The Earth Council is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) that was created in September 1992 to promote and advance the implementation of the Earth Summit agreements. It is led by a body of 18 Members, drawn from the world's political, business, scientific and non-governmental communities. Sixteen eminent world leaders serve as Honorary Members, and an 18 member Earth Council Institute functions as an advisory board. Three fundamental objectives have guided the work of the Earth Council since its inception:
1. to promote awareness for the needed transition to more sustainable and equitable patterns of development
2. to encourage public participation in decision-making processes at all levels of government
3. to build bridges of understanding and cooperation between important actors of civil society and governments worldwide.

Science vs. Culture in Mexico's Corn Staple
An excellent article from the New York Times dealing with the importation of GMO corn and its effects on native varieties. From the article: "...a controversial biosecurity law passed by the Mexican Congress in February, a step that has divided Mexico's scientists. The issue has also put Washington on alert, making it wary of any threat to the 5.5 million tons of corn that American farmers export to Mexico each year, more than to any other country except Japan.

"After several years of study, a panel of international experts found that the risks to health, the environment and biodiversity from genetically modified corn were so far very limited. But after a public forum here in Oaxaca State, the panel gave special weight to social and cultural arguments about protecting corn. It recommended that Mexico reduce corn imports, clearly label transgenic corn and mill genetically modified corn as soon as it enters the country, to prevent farmers from planting it." (Free registration is required, and around April 9 it will cost $1.50 to purchase it from their archives.)

Cartagena Protocal on Biosafety
A UN treaty to protect biodiversity against the risk of genetically modified organisms, requiring that traders clearly label GMO products when exporting to those countries partied to the Protocal.

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)
Based in Minnesota, the IATP provides critical views of international trade policy, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity and intellectual property rights, environmental issues, and more. The site includes many valuable links to other sites in the field of international trade, trade law, and the like.

Pew Institute on Biotechnology and Food
The site provides balanced information and dialogue on genetically engineered foods for consumers and policymakers.

The World Trade Organization
An international organization that deals with the rules of trade between its member nations.

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