Seattle PI: EPA Retired Scientist – Herbicide and Pesticide Use Is Skyrocketing September 20, 2014
Dr. Ramon J. Seidler, Ph.D., former Senior Scientist at the Environmental Protection Agency, has recently published a detailed review documenting how pesticide and herbicide use has grown dramatically in the past few years due to the widespread planting of genetically engineered crops created to withstand higher doses of toxic herbicides and pesticides.
“Pesticide Use on Genetically Engineered Crops,” in Environmental Working Group’s online AgMag, can be read here: Pesticide Use on Genetically Engineered Crops
Seidler’s piece cites and links the relevant cutting edge scientific literature and media reports to paint a concerning picture of broken promises and harmful incentives related to the proliferation of engineered crops.
Over 99% of GMO acreage is engineered by chemical companies to tolerate heavy herbicide (glyphosate) use and/or produce insecticide (Bt) in every cell of the plant, Siedler points out. The result is massive selection pressure that has rapidly created pest resistance and increased the use of various chemicals; the very same chemicals that these corporations create. This creates harmful incentives wherein the biotechnology corporations that create these seeds stand to lose money if chemical use goes down.
Based on the latest mainstream scientific literature, Seidler concludes that genetically engineered crops are creating a pesticide escalation that is contaminating our food and water in order to increase the profits of the chemical and agribusiness conglomerates that manufacture not only the engineered crops, but also the herbicides and pesticides that they are engineered to tolerate.
“This article should be required reading for all journalists covering the debate on genetically modified organisms, as well as for citizens generally to understand why their right to know if food is genetically engineered is so important,” says Sandeep Kaushik, a spokesperson for the Yes on Measure 92 campaign to require labeling of genetically engineered foods in Oregon.
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