Environmental and Food Justice – Developed and moderated by Devon G. Peña, Ph.D., 30 November 2014

Artwork | Polo Castellanos | Courtesy of artelista

Source: http://ejfood.blogspot.com/2014/11/monsanto-in-mexico-statement-of-union.html

Moderator’s Note: At the request of anti-GMO activist networks in Mexico and the U.S. we are posting our translation of an editorial published in the Mexican national daily, La Jornada two days ago (28 November 2014). The statement was prepared by Professor Elena Álvarez-Buyll on behalf of the Mexican NGO known as Unión de Científicos Comprometidos con la Sociedad (UCCS) or Union of Socially Concerned Scientists.

This is one in a continuing series of translated works we are posting to keep our English language readers informed on important developments and perspectives in Mexico related to the science, culture, and politics of food and agriculture, with a focus on growing social movements for the protection of Mexico precious diversity of native crops.

Mexico is one of the premiere centers of origin for native (land race) crops – including multiple varieties among amaranth, avocado, bean, cacao, chile, corn, papaya, squash, and much more. One recent study (CONABIO as cited in Barrera-Bassols et al 2009) estimates that the crops developed by indigenous farmers of the Mesoamerican origin center comprise nearly 16 percent of all the crop varieties grown and eaten across the planet. Protecting this cultural ecological heritage is vital to the future of the planetary systems that sustain biological diversity and agroecological resilience.

On top of injury, a transgenic stab in the wound

Elena Álvarez-Buylla | Mexico City | November 30, 2014

Amid the grief that shakes us following the tragedy of Ayotzinapa, we were surprised by the news that the Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) has approved the free consumption of 132 transgenic products of which 50 percent corresponds to corn and the rest are cotton, soybean and canola, among others. This announcement was made by GMO enthusiast Alejandro Monteagudo Cuevas, CEO of AgroBio Mexico, who interests are kept in business with the approval of the planting of transgenic corn.

Through collective action, based on scientific evidence on the harmful effects on the environment and the biodiversity of native maize, we succeeded in suspending the release of transgenic maize in Mexico. The future of corn, now subject to climate change and other challenges, depends on the survival of Mexican landraces, the product of deeply grounded indigenous peoples who still support an important part of national production. The release of transgenic maize threatens these landraces and indigenous peoples in multiple forms.

It seems the State approves the use of more transgenic lines to compensate for the interruption our resistance brought to the business of monopolistic producers of GMOs, at the expense of food sovereignty and public health. This favor for the transnational corporations coincides with the rejection of GMOs by various countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America. There is abundant scientific evidence of health damage from the consumption of transgenic foods including the inordinate and growing quantity of herbicides and pesticides used to produce these crops.

Epidemiological data has been derived from animal studies in Paraguay, Argentina, and the United States, a country where the health of its inhabitants has deteriorated rapidly over the past 20 years. Since the mid-1990s, we witnessed in the USA an extraordinary increase in deaths from various cancers, diabetes, kidney damage or metabolic disorders, and even diseases like Alzheimers. These results have been published in the most prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journals. What is the cause of this trend? Recent studies indicate that the consumption of GMO foods and their associated agro-toxins may play a causal role.

GMO crops began to be release massively in the US in early 1990. One of the components that is most clearly correlated with the tendency toward greater incidence of these diseases is increased use of the herbicide glyphosate, called “Slaughter” [Faena] in Mexico. This herbicide was used for about 10 years before the release of GMO crops in the US, but was used more widely with the development of herbicide-tolerant transgenic crops. In Europe, the planting of herbicide-tolerant GMOs has not been approved and so the use of the agrochemicals and their consumption is avoided.

The correlation between increased disease prevalence and use of glyphosate along with the cultivation of transgenic herbicide-tolerant soybeans and corn is greater than 90 percent in many cases from the mid to late 1990s. Although correlation does not indicate causality, the correlation is so high for many diseases (22 studied) that it can be seen to indicate that this herbicide is a causative agent.

Inhabitants of the United States are subject to contaminants in water, air and food, and glyphosate apparently affects bodily systems exposed to the chemical. However, the US government continues to use its population as guinea pigs, has not approved labeling of GMOs, and does not prohibit the use of Slaughter (Roundup) and other agrochemicals. Some experts allude to corruption. They insist that the public institutions governing the use of these substances should apply the precautionary principle, rather than wait for the damages appear.

These damages and the persistence of toxins in the environment are difficult to reverse; and this happens at a time when we are only now beginning to understand the importance of epigenetic inheritance and how exposure today will affect future generations, even if the children and grandchildren of these were never exposed. In the absence of corruption, Slaughter (Roundup) never should have been approved for widespread use and it should be recalled.

Furthermore, the presence and spread of GMOs themselves, involving contamination with a life of its own and with unpredictable impacts, will be irreversible if it is not stopped now. This is particularly important for centers of origin and diversity, as is the case in Mexico for corn. Given recent data about damage to health by cultivation and consumption of GM, the only acceptable approach is to prevent these crops from contaminating our environment and food. The only purpose served by the use of GMOs and agro-toxins is profit; 20 years after their release, they have not fed one hungry person in the world; nor have yields increased or the use of toxic chemicals decreased.

Given the above, it is surprising that the current and two previous governments of Mexico sacrifice our health and food sovereignty, our environment and food, as well as our health in exchange for dark trade agreements. Scientific evidence in recent years shows a strong association between the consumption of GMO foods and exposure to glyphosate and increased prevalence of diseases such as intestinal inflammation, incidence of certain cancers, renal disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases (see, for e.g., Journal of Organic Systems 2014). This research should be sufficient to compel the State to prevent these types of pesticides and herbicides from contaminating our food.

* Researcher with the Institute of Ecology, UNAM; Campaign Coordinator, UCCS. For more information go to: http://www.uccs.mx.

This post is also available in: Spanish