Organic Agriculture, Capitalism and the Parallel World of the Pro-GMO Evangelist

[Judi Lynn]

February 8, 2016
Organic Agriculture, Capitalism and the Parallel World of the Pro-GMO Evangelist

by Colin Todhunter

Consider that India had for generations sustained one of the highest densities of population on earth, without any chemical fertilisers, pesticides, exotic dwarf strains of grain or ‘bio-tech’ inputs. And it did it without degrading the soil. That is according to the evidence provided by Arun Shrivastava. What is truly impressive, however, is he then goes on to demonstrate that in the 18th and 19th centuries India achieved better productivity levels with organic methods than those of the ‘green revolution’.

Now consider that, in 2011, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food (Olivier de Schutter) called on countries to reorient their agriculture policies to promote sustainable systems, not least agro-ecology, that realise the right to food. And Consider that The International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) was the work of over 400 scientists and took four years to complete. It was twice peer reviewed and states we must look to smallholder, traditional farming to deliver food security in third world countries through agro-ecological systems which are sustainable.

Yet, for all these considerations, what we witness from powerful interest groups is an on-going campaign to denigrate and marginalise organic-based farming and systems based on it. For example, here is a quote from a recent article by Shanthu Shantharam:

“Almost all anti-GM folks believe in organic agriculture and they have been active at the state level in India to convince gullible politicians that organic agriculture can feed the world and give food security. This is not accepted by most established agricultural scientists. Most farmers’ organizations in India, including BKS and SJM, are champions of organic farming, and organic farming completely prohibits the use of GM seeds. So, if the country accepts organic farming, there is no place for GM technology, and therefore they want it to be banned. India will pay a heavy price if they heed the anti-GM lobby on organic farming, a niche mode of cultivating crops on a small scale or in kitchen gardens.”

More:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/02/08/organic-agriculture-capitalism-and-the-parallel-world-of-the-pro-gmo-evangelist/

[tecelote]

1. Food security is national security.

It took until around 1800 for our world population to hit one billion people. A little over 200 years later, we were above six billion. In the next 50 years, we will reach 9 to 10 billion people sharing our planet. Our current agricultural systems will not support this growth and we need a sustainable solution.

Since hunger and malnutrition are a major cause of disease, displacement, local conflicts and international war, having enough food for our growing population is very important.

Big Agro is killing our planet with poisons and gmo seeds that change the environment they're grown in. Monopolies that nake huge profits by lobbying politicians.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

2. AIR WATER FOOD

we must get these right or...