Germany bans cultivation of GM corn

[lovuian]

The German government has banned the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) corn, calling it "a danger to the environment."

The cultivation of all other GM crops is already banned in Germany. The variety in question, known as MON 810, produces a pesticide inside its tissues to repel insects such as larvae of the corn borer moth. Such corn is also known as Bt corn, after the Bacillus thuringiensis bacterium that the toxin-producing genes come from.

MON 810 was approved for cultivation by the European Union in 1998, but E.U. law allows individual countries to impose their own bans. Such bans have since been implemented by Austria, France, Greece, Hungary and Luxemburg. According to German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner, Germany will now join their ranks.

Critics say that GM crops can damage wildlife, spread their genetic material to wild relatives, and produce health problems in humans.

"As an example, it is now being discovered that pollen from genetically modified corn can kill monarch butterflies," writes Ron Garner in his book Conscious Health.

http://www.spiegel.de/international...

[bemildred]

1. Good.

Classic "sorcerer's apprentice" situation.

[PDJane]

2. More than time.

And I'm glad someone is thinking straight.

[ixion]

3. Germany is smart. The US should follow suit

and stop Monsanto in the process.

[bluesmail]

4. Huge-ist Kick for The Ban! To think Germany, oh never mind. eom

[and-justice-for-all]

5. Ich leibe Deutschland...nt

[Ezlivin]

6. I wished I lived in a modern society informed by good science

But right now I'd be happy with a genuinely liberal president.

Fuck those frankencrops. Grow organic!

[Kevin1a]

7. Da kan man nur gluecklich sein!

One can only be happy about this. We should follow suit. Perhaps shift all those subsidies to the organic growers who are actually doing something for safe,sustainable agriculture.

[SpiralHawk]

8. US Heartland gets a woody at propect of Mutant GM Wheat

"A licensing agreement announced Wednesday will make Lincoln (Nebraska) the North American headquarters for wheat-breeding research by Bayer CropScience AG.

"Bayer plans to bring 20 to 30 plant scientists to work at what is expected to be a 300-acre complex, where they will focus on better yields, disease resistance and other challenges...."

http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/article_c12b2187-eeeb-5af5-bfd4-613fdee26454.html