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Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:05:17 -0700
From: "GM WATCH " <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: GMW: Non-GM Crops Dominate in World Agriculture
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NOTE: This new report shows GM crops cover only 2.4% of global agricultural=20=
land, and that just six countries account for 95% of that area: USA, Brazil,=
 Argentina, Canada, India and China - with India and China only growing GM c=
otton.

It also shows the USA grew over 50% of the world's GM crops in 2007. And wit=
hout the US data, the percentage for global agricultural land under GM was j=
ust 1.2%!

And, of course, even in countries like the USA, Argentina, Brazil and Canada=
, the majority of the land area is growing traditionally bred crops and past=
ure.=20

See: http://www.gmfreeze.org/uploads/GM_crops_land_area_final.pdf=20
---
---
Non-GM Crops Dominate in World Agriculture
GM Freeze, 17 June 2008

Non-GM crops bred using traditional plant breeding methods still provide mos=
t of the food and animal feed in the world, covering more than 97% of agricu=
ltural land [1] compared with only 2.4% growing GM crops.

The new analysis [2] was carried out by GM Freeze after media reports claime=
d 25% of global arable land was under GM crops =96 a figure obtained from th=
e National Environmental Research Council's website [3].

The GM Freeze analysis shows that in fact over 90% of global arable land [4]=
 is used to cultivate non-GM crops. Even in the USA, where GM crops have bee=
n widely adopted, over 85% of agricultural land is growing non-GM crops and=20=
two thirds of arable land grew non-GM crops in 2007. =20

Two countries, Argentina and Paraguay, are over dependent on GM crops to the=
 point that sustainable production is under threat. GM Freeze=92s analysis r=
aises serious concerns about the dominance of Monsanto's GM RR soya (genetic=
ally engineered to tolerate the company's top selling weedkiller RoundUp (gl=
yphosate)). In Argentina, 99% of soya production is GM and glyphosate resist=
ant weeds now appear in fields over considerable areas. The data reveal that=
 85% of Paraguayan arable land is under RR soya, suggesting that little by w=
ay of arable rotations are being practiced =96 a vital component of long-ter=
m soil health and productivity.

Recently the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology=
 for Development (IAASTD) Report [5] called for a rethink in agricultural re=
search to build on the knowledge of farmers, especially women, to improve fa=
rming systems with an agro-ecological approach designed to produce high qual=
ity food, without damaging soils, other natural resources and biodiversity w=
hile at the same time playing a key role in mitigating against climate chang=
e.

Commenting Pete Riley of GM Freeze said:
"Our analysis clearly shows just how important non-GM cultivation is in worl=
d agriculture.  This is likely to remain the case for years to come, and the=
re is an urgent need for Governments to increase funding for research and de=
velopment in traditional farming, including plant breeding led by farmers.

"Official obsessions with GM crops are leading us into oil dependent monocul=
tures and dangerous reliance on the huge seed and chemical corporations behi=
nd GM crops. Our analysis shows that despite billions spent in GM research a=
nd development, non-GM crops remain dominant around the world and offer the=20=
best hope of a sustainable future."=20

ENDS

Calls to Pete Riley 0845 217 8992 or 07903 341065

Please note GM Freeze=92s new land line number 0845 217 8992

Notes
1.  Agricultural land includes all land used for arable crops, permanent cro=
ps such as fruit trees and forage land (grasslands)
2.  See www.gmfreeze.org/uploads/GM_crops_land_area_final.pdf=20
3.  The NERC webpage has now been taken down following representations by Fr=
iends of the Earth.  A copy of the original site can be obtained from Friend=
s of the Earth or GM Freeze.
4.  Arable land is that used to grow annual crops re-sown each year such as=20=
wheat, rice and soya.
5.  See  www.agassessment.org/docs/Global_SDM_050508_FINAL.pdf     =20


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