[LINK] Round Up = "superweeds and hard-to-kill insects"

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Jim writes, 

> Farming has always been problematical, ask to a farmer.  There isn't
> enough information in that article to validate its argument. It sounds
> like the regular argument that the Internet is responsible for whatever
> negative occurrence has just shocked someone but here the bad guy is GM.

Hmm, and as 90% of US corn is Monsanto's design, what would a blight do?

Those well respected http://www.enveurope.com guys and gals are hot for
genuine scientific truth regards ALL things environmental. However, and
as one can see in their latest peer-reviewed scientific journal (above)
three of the five latest research articles relate to GM foods. Benbrook
and his research http://www.enveurope.com/content/24/1/24/abstract does
indeed appear important science. Is business (eg Monsanto) ever honest?

For food DNA, we *really* don't want ANY "negative occurrences" at all.

Environmental Sciences Europe 2012, Research:  "Impacts of genetically 
engineered crops on pesticide use in the U.S. - the first sixteen years" 

Published: 28 September 2012 by C.M. Benbrook cbenbrook at wsu.edu 
www.enveurope.com/content/24/1/24/abstract

Background

Genetically engineered, herbicide-resistant and insect-resistant crops 
have been remarkable commercial successes in the United States. Few 
independent studies have calculated their impacts on pesticide use per 
hectare or overall pesticide use, or taken into account the impact of 
rapidly spreading glyphosate-resistant weeds. A model was developed to 
quantify by crop and year the impacts of six major transgenic pest-
management traits on pesticide use in the U.S. over the 16-year period, 
1996--2011: herbicide-resistant corn, soybeans, and cotton; Bacillus 
thuringiensis (Bt) corn targeting the European corn borer; Bt corn for 
corn rootworms; and Bt cotton for Lepidopteron insects. 

Results

Herbicide-resistant crop technology has led to a 239 million kilogram 
(527 million pound) increase in herbicide use in the United States 
between 1996 and 2011, while Bt crops have reduced insecticide 
applications by 56 million kilograms (123 million pounds). Overall, 
pesticide use increased by an estimated 183 million kgs (404 million 
pounds), or about 7%. 

Conclusions

Contrary to often-repeated claims that today's genetically-engineered 
crops have, and are reducing pesticide use, the spread of glyphosate-
resistant weeds in herbicide-resistant weed management systems has 
brought about substantial increases in the number and volume of 
herbicides applied. If new genetically engineered forms of corn and 
soybeans tolerant of 2,4-D are approved, the volume of 2,4-D sprayed 
could drive herbicide usage upward by another approximate 50%. The 
magnitude of increases in herbicide use on herbicide-resistant hectares 
has dwarfed the reduction in insecticide use on Bt crops over the past 16 
years, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. 
--  

Cheers,
Stephen