Monsanto’s alfalfa
Notice of Submission for Approval of Novel Food, Livestock Feed and Environmental Safety for Alfalfa Genetically Modified For Herbicide Tolerance from Monsanto Canada Inc. Date Posted: September 7, 2004
It was approved.
The CFIA and Health Canada (HC) have received a submission from Monsanto Canada Inc. seeking environmental safety approval, and livestock feed and food use approvals of alfalfa designated as Events J101 and J163, which have been genetically modified for glyphosate herbicide tolerance.
Glyphosate herbicide “is the primary ingredient in Monsanto’s popular herbicide, Roundup. Many crops have been genetically engineered to be resistant to it. The chemical is only absorbed by the leaves of plants and it is not absorbed by roots from the soil.”
In-vitro studies (Walsh, et al 2000) have shown glyphosate to have an effect on progesterone production in mammalian cells and can affect mortality of placental cells in-vitro (Richard, et al 2005). Whether these studies classify glyphosate as an endocrine disruptor is a matter of debate. — From Wikipedia.org
Monsanto also produces seeds which grow into plants genetically engineered to be tolerant to glyphosate which are known as Roundup Ready crops. The genes contained in these seeds, although naturally occurring in other species, are patented (See Glyphosate). Such crops allow farmers to use glyphosate as a post-emergence pesticide against both broadleaf and cereal weeds. Soy was the first Roundup Ready crop and was produced at Monsanto’s Agracetus Campus located in Middleton, Wisconsin. Current Roundup Ready crops include maize (corn), sorghum, cotton, soy, canola and alfalfa.
The largest single user of Roundup reportedly is the U.S. Government, whom spray huge quantities of the herbicide over the northern countries of South America in an effort to discourage cultivation of the coca plant. (See article Plan Columbia). — From Wikipedia.org
Does it really make sense to use something in food production that has even minor health effects on humans, fish, and other animals? What happens when the alfalfa is consumed by the beasts and then we eat the beasts? I bet you they DON’T KNOW, and neither do you.
They say mad cow was caused by infected sheep fed to cows. Think about this for a second. Cows = vegetarian. Cows eat grass. What are they doing being fed SHEEP??? Did they not imagine it would have repercussions?