Explaining the science behind an anti-GM stance

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/telegraph/content/2010/s3055978.htm

ABC Radio – Bush Telegraph: Wednesday, 03/11/2010

People oppose GM foods for a variety of reasons.

According to a recent Greenpeace report, “If Genetic Engineered wheat prevails, it will have a widespread impact on the Australian consumers, farmers, the economy and the enviornment. We need to act now, before GE wheat is on Australian supermarket shelves in everyday foods like bread, pasta and breakfast cereals”.

But what about the science behind their arguments? How concerned do we need to be?

Dr Stapper is a farming systems agronomist with over 30 years experience. He is an advocate of biological-organic farming systems. He sees GM as working against nature. He is committed to helping farmers improve their profitability, by focusing on healthy, natural soil.

In this report: Dr Maarten Stapper, BioLogic Agfood, farming systems agronomist.

Listen to or download story.

Food industry slams genetically engineered wheat

The food industry will face widespread contamination and human health will be put at risk if trials for genetically engineered (GE) wheat are allowed out of laboratory conditions and into the field.

http://www.reportage-enviro.com/2010/11/food-industry-slams-genetically-engineered-wheat/

VIDEO: Modern farming has lost its Biosensitivity

Dr Maarten Stapper says that in modern farming farmers have lost touch with the soil and are not in tune with how it responds.

Click here to view video

Ecological agriculture

So is it possible to feed ourselves, and the world, without creating a toxic farm environment with dead soil? Yes, it certainly is! The principles of natural farming have been well established. Dr Maarten Stapper, a Dutch scientist who, until recently was working for the Australian government (CSIRO) and who specialises in the field, explains that:

Organic agriculture is a proven good producer of food, with yields comparable to those of conventional agriculture.

Continue reading in Energetic Agriculture by Alanna Moore

 

Calendar

ABC Catalyst GM special

Dr. Stapper recently appeared on ABC Catalyst’s GM special. The program is presented on their website in 5 segment starting with an introduction into the Genetically Modified breeding “In the Beginning”. Maarten appears at the end of the last section “Daily Bread or Dread” and a separate 5 minute interview.

Click here to watch the video on ABC Catalyst website

Continue reading

Food on trial

Broadcast: Landline, ABC, 21st August 2011
Reporter: Kerry Staight


http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2010/s3298417.htm

We’re looking at one of the most contentious issues in global agriculture – genetically modified food. There’s obviously a robust debate in Australia about the pros and cons of the GM crops that have already been introduced, such as cotton and canola. But what’s next?

Scientists here are busy assessing the potential and performance of a whole range of genetically engineered crops from wheat and barley to bananas and sugar cane.

As Kerry Staight reports, despite the small size of the trial sites and the precautions being taken, these experiments are proving just as divisive.

Continue reading

Contact

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BioLogic AgFood, POBox 4209, Weston Creek ACT 2611

Keynote Presentation: Environmental Challenges in Food Production

Click on the following link to view Maarten’s keynote presentation at a Community Engagement Action Research virtual meeting held on 24th October.

http://www.coserve.com.au/D3-CommunityA.htm

GM not the answer: look at the facts

Published in Countryman, 7 April 2011

Genetically modified (GM) wheat is not the solution for more productivity and profitability.

I am an agricultural scientist with more than 30 years of international experience and have worked for CSIRO in south-eastern Australia as a wheat research agronomist. Continue reading