Organic Agriculture CAN Feed the World

THE TOP AGRICULTURAL BREAKTHROUGHS
Written and edited by Craig Minowa and Ronnie Cummins

Although the biotech industry and our indentured corporate mass media would have us believe that recent scientific advances in food and farming are derived from genetic engineering and chemicals, according to UK-based GM Watch, the real breakthroughs in farming in 2007 came from organic and sustainable agriculture:

1) In 2007 a deluge of new scientific studies from a wide variety of institutions indicate that in comparison to genetically modified (GM) crops, organic agriculture can better feed the world, reduce global warming, provide greater nutrition, and boost the economy. Digesting new research on the topic, the United Nations announced that organic agriculture is the best way to feed the world and help stabilize the climate:

+ ORGANIC FARMING CAN FEED THE WORLD - STUDY Organic farming can yield up to three times as much food on individual farms in developing countries, as low-intensive methods on the same land - according to new findings which refute the long-standing claim that organic farming methods cannot produce enough food to feed the global population. ''My hope is that we can finally put a nail in the coffin of the idea that you can't produce enough food through organic agriculture,'' said Ivette Perfecto, professor at University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environment, and one of the study's principal investigators.
http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8107

+ ORGANIC FARMING COMBATS GLOBAL WARMING... Big time, according to data from the Rodale Institute's long-running comparison of organic and conventional cropping systems. Converting the US's corn and soybean acres to organic production would sequester enough carbon to satisfy 73 percent of the Kyoto targets for CO2 reduction in the US.
http://www.newfarm.org/depts/NFfield_trials/1003/carbonsequest.shtml

+ ORGANIC FARMING BEATS NO-TILL Organic farming can build up soil organic matter better than conventional no-till farming, according to a long-term study by US Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists. Organic farming, despite its emphasis on building organic matter, was previously thought by some to endanger soil because it relies on tillage and cultivation - instead of herbicides - to kill weeds. But Teasdale's study showed that organic farming's addition of organic matter in manure and cover crops more than offset losses from tillage.
http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8094

+ UN's FOOD AND AG ORG SUPPORTS ORGANIC The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has come out in favour of organic agriculture. Its report, ''Organic Agriculture and Food Security'' states that organic agriculture can address local and global food security challenges.
http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8268

+ ORGANIC FOOD BETTER Important new research has shown up to 40% more beneficial compounds in organic vegetable crops and up to 90% more in organic milk. It has also found high levels of minerals such as iron and zinc in organic produce. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8430

+ IT'S OFFICIAL: ORGANIC REALLY IS BETTER FOR YOU A 10-year study comparing organic and non-organic tomatoes has found that the organic ones have almost twice the quantity of antioxidants (called flavonoids) that help to prevent high blood pressure, thus reducing the likelihood of heart disease and strokes. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/wine/main.jhtml?xml=/wine/2007/07/14/edorganic114.xml

+ GROWERS CAN MAKE MORE MONEY BY GOING ORGANIC Minnesota grain farmers could make more money by switching from conventional to organic grain crops, shows a four-year study announced at the American Agricultural Economics Association's annual meeting in Long Beach, Calif. The study, by David W. Archer, an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) economist, and Hillarius Kludze, an ARS soil scientist, analyzed both economic risks and transition effects of switching to organic farming. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8094

2) A wide range of new, non-GM crops over the last year are bringing hope to farmers around the world:

+ NEW SALT-TOLERANT WHEAT SET TO BRING LIFE TO ''DEAD'' FARM LAND Scientists have developed a non-GM salt-tolerant wheat which could allow farmers to crop a third of the 1.8 million hectares of agricultural land lost to salinity across Australia's wheat belt. http://www.gene.ch/genet/2004/Aug/msg00004.html

+ NON-PESTICIDE, NON-GM COTTON MANAGEMENT SUCCESS IN INDIA
http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7990

+ ZAMBIA: BETTER NON-GM MAIZE HARVESTS Although drought-prone Zambia is still facing many problems, huge improvements have been reported in its maize harvests - its main staple crop. A report from Inter Press Service notes, ''... production changed dramatically after President Levy Mwanawasa took over from Frederick Chiluba in 2001.... [He] promoted innovations like mixed farming and conservation farming. Mwanawasa rejected GM maize and encouraged the growing of non-GM maize, resulting in bumper harvests for the past three consecutive years.'' When the Zambian government rejected GM maize in 2002, there were calls from the US Ambassador to the FAO for its leaders to be tried ''for the highest crimes against humanity in the highest courts of the world.''
http://freezerbox.com/archive/article.asp?id=339 http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=36398

+ UK: NON-GM CROP SCIENCE GETS GBP13m BOOST UK crop scientists have been awarded a GBP13.3m boost in funding to carry out research aimed at delivering benefits for farmers and consumers. Researchers say they will not be producing GM crops. Prof David Pink, from Warwick HRI, University of Warwick, whose team has been awarded GBP500,000 to identify genes in broccoli that will extend its shelf life and maintain its nutritional value for longer, said, ''We are not going down that [GM] route because GM is not acceptable at the moment, and not acceptable to our plant breeding partner.'' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6245529.stm

NON-GM DROUGHT-RESISTANT RICE IN PIPELINE Japanese researchers have made progress in breeding non-GM drought-resistant rice, intended for planting in Africa and other dry regions.

GM DROUGHT TOLERANT MAIZE WAY BEHIND NON-GM During March 2007, the South African authorities gave Monsanto permission to conduct GM drought tolerant maize field trials in South Africa. The African Centre for Biosafety released a report on the issue, pointing out that drought tolerance is at least 8-10 years away from commercialisation. Nevertheless, GM drought tolerant crops are being used as PR tools by biotech lobbyists to promote acceptance of GM crops, expand existing markets and develop new markets. Finally, the report points out that traditional breeding, marker assisted selection, and building up organic content of the soil are proven methods of dealing with drought.
http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7969

PHILIPPINES NEW NON-GM DROUGHT-RESISTANT CORN A Philippines scientist has developed a new non-GM corn variety that was able to survive a drought for 29 days. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8361

INDIGENOUS RICE BETTER THAN GM FOR DEALING WITH STRESS A New Delhi-based NGO, together with farmers from nine Indian states, has developed a register documenting over 2,000 indigenous rice varieties. They say GM rice strains are not only costly to cultivate but also are a poor match to the native strains in fighting pests, diseases and environmental fluctuations.
http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8359

BODY BLOW TO GRAIN BORER The larger grain borer is taking a beating from CIMMYT (Internation Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre) breeders in Kenya as a new non-GM African maize withstands the onslaught of one of the most damaging pests. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8361

MORE NON-GM DEVELOPMENTS:

*Non-GM process for allergen-free peanuts
EurekAlert, USA, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, USA
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-07/ncas-naf072307.php

*Non-GM approach to Striga-resistant cowpeas in Africa
University of Virginia, USA
http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/newsRelease.php?id=2334

*Non-GM salt-resistant wheat
SOURCE: Molecular Plant Breeding CRC, Australia
http://www.molecularplantbreeding.com/news/releases/070411.asp

*Gates Foundation supports non-GM b-carotine rich sweet potato in Africa
International Potato Center, Peru
http://www.cipotato.org/pressroom/press_releases_detail.asp?cod=19

*Non-GM virus-resistant cassava for East and Central Africa
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, USA
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria, Press Release
http://www.cgiar.org/newsroom/releases/news.asp?idnews=574

*Non-GM technology reduces aflatoxins in maize in Nigeria
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, USA
http://www.cgiar.org/monthlystory/july_august2007.html

*Iron-fortified non-GM maize cuts anaemia rates inchildren
SciDev.Net, UK, Ochieng'' Ogodo
http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=3651&language=1

*Austro-Indian non-GM research cuts 50% of cotton insecticides,

adds 75% profitability SOURCE: Inter Press Service News Agency, Italy
Neena Bhandari
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38073

*Dutch researcher bred non-GM fungi-resistant tomato
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, The Netherlands
http://www.nwo.nl/nwohome.nsf/pages/NWOA_6ZPA4C_Eng