Just read a really interesting piece which will appear in the next issue of Crops magazine, written by Keith Dawson, vice chairman of the Scottish Society of Crop Research.

It's in favour of GMs and he predicts that these crops "will prove to be a cornerstone of the required green production systems with roles in sparing land for natural ecosystems, while protecting soils and water resources and reducing both inputs and poverty".

I like this Tim, very much indeed. GM crops will save millions of lives in the world by increasing food production beyond our wildest dreams ,indeed they may save the human race from extinction. I hope we press ahead with all speed and let the Luddites and green warriors starve if they want to but GM crops are really good news for consumers everywhere.

Dick

    I am sure Keith will be right. I always said that GMs will be the stock for the Organic growers one day. It makes so much sense. Some folk are so determined to drive on rails that they cannot see through the GM gift.

 They'll most likely reduce the human population of the planet, which globally would be good, but not so good on a personal level

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2099/12/31/has-any-company-ever-harmed-the-planet-more-than-this.aspx

 snip

As you may know, chronic inflammation is at the root of many increasingly common diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. Food allergies are also skyrocketing, as is infertility, which could also be a potential side effect of GM foods, based on results from animal studies. Monsanto insists that GM foods are no different from conventionally grown varieties, but the research does NOT support this claim. Here is just a sampling of the unsavory findings associated with GM foods:

GM pea protein caused lung damage in mice   

Offspring of rats fed GM soy showed a five-fold increase in mortality, lower birth weights, and the inability to reproduce

GM potatoes may cause cancer in rats. 

Male mice fed GM soy had damaged young sperm cells

Bacteria in your gut can take up DNA from GM food   

The embryo offspring of GM soy-fed mice had altered DNA functioning

GM foods lead to significant organ disruptions in rats and mice, specifically the kidney, liver, heart and spleen   

Several US farmers reported sterility or fertility problems among pigs and cows fed on GM corn varieties

Bt corn caused a wide variety of immune responses in mice, commonly associated with diseases such as arthritis, Lou Gehrig's disease, osteoporosis, and inflammatory bowel disease   

Investigators in India have documented fertility problems, abortions, premature births, and other serious health issues, including deaths, among buffaloes fed GM cottonseed product

end snip

Joyce

These could all be true, but equally I've read a lot of these type of scare stories before, and on closer inspection the research has often been discredited.

It is ironic that the snip cites diabetes, heart disease and bowel complaints, as the Australian researcher I've spoken to for a GM wheat article, also in next week's Crops, is working on a GM wheat that would potentially help fight these conditions.  I certainly wouldn't be adverse to eat a GM crop with health benefits, assuming all the correct safety hurdles have been jumped successfully.

 

Mike,

    reading that piece it seems this GM wheat is designed to reduce the problems of diabetes, heart problems and bowel complaints caused by eating conventional wheat.

 

 I'd have thought any such health effects are more likely to be caused by the way the crop is processed rather than the variety itself and suspect they are trying to solve a problem that doesn't really exist. It is not going to be ready until 2019 and maybe a decade after that to get reliable health statistics on those that eat it - I'll wager there will be credible data on the downside of eating GM crops long before then.

Dear Joyce,

I do not know what level of understanding you have of how scientific research is undertaken or of how scientific papers are written and then checked but it would seem that you have been fooled by the misinterpretation of some of the work you refer to. I am sure that thius has been done with all sincereity but should you wish to gain an independent opinion of the work you refer to can I ask you to go to the 'SENSE ABOUT SCIENCE' website where you will find excellent explanations of these studies and several others (including the MMR debacle!. I wish you good reading. You will find that you are not alone in being mislead by certain claims and counterclaims!

gm crops sound great on paper, roundup resiestant crops etc, may well increase food proudction, will be great benitit to monsato, wont benifet individual farmers

multi power, well said.

farmers were better off growing 1 ton/acre wheat and the odd famine kicking about.

we now grow 4t/ acre and cant make ends meet.

Joyce:

 They'll most likely reduce the human population of the planet, which globally would be good, but not so good on a personal level

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2099/12/31/has-any-company-ever-harmed-the-planet-more-than-this.aspx

 snip

As you may know, chronic inflammation is at the root of many increasingly common diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. Food allergies are also skyrocketing, as is infertility, which could also be a potential side effect of GM foods, based on results from animal studies.

 

The last I heard inflammation (swelling) was the result of disease or injury not the cause.

There is much evidence that the increase in food allergies and asthma are a result of the modern cleanliness phobia encouraged by the chemical industry with every TV ad as well as alarmist journalism with articles like "the ten dirtiest place in your home/office/workplace. Many people are never exposed to "honest dirt" to develop a good well exercised immune system.  

 

harry on the hill:

I do not know what level of understanding you have of how scientific research is undertaken or of how scientific papers are written and then checked but it would seem that you have been fooled by the misinterpretation of some of the work you refer to.

 

Dont be fooled into thinking that science is some infallible pancea of truth. Lets not forget that many wonders of science of days gone by now look like at best comedy, and at worst a disaster. I am not a science hater, nor a GM hater, but blind faith in science is no better than blind faith in the paranormal. 

 

multi-power:

gm crops sound great on paper, roundup resiestant crops etc, may well increase food proudction, will be great benitit to monsato, wont benifet individual farmers

That's right. It wont take many more amagamations of plant breeders citing costs of getting a crop to market, and the reduction in effective chemcials allowed in Europe for us to be pushed down the GM route. As said, I am no GM hater, but I would hate not to have a conventional option. 

 An issue that worries me is the frantic legal activity of Monsanto to prevent their patented seed from becoming regrown. There have been cases reported where they have tried to sue landowners where spilled seed has grown and where cross pollination to a neighbouring non GM crop has taken place they have attempted to have the courts enforce destruction of  that crop.

This is an attempt to crush the historic practice of seed saving and sharing. They will ultimately be unsuccessful of course as they will be unable to enforce the patents globally and eventually the DNA will become wide spread. 

Read this Tim One of the nations senior soil scientists alerted the federal government to a newly discovered organism that may have the potential to cause infertility and spontaneous abortion in farm animals, raising significant concerns about human health.  Dr. Don Huber, professor emeritus at Purdue University, believes the appearance and prevalence of the unnamed organism may be related to the nation’s over reliance on the weed killer known as Roundup and/or to something about the genetically engineered Roundup-Ready crops. In a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the professor called on the federal government to immediately stop deregulation of roundup ready crops, particularly roundup ready alfalfa. Below is the full text of the letter: Dear Secretary Vilsack: A team of senior plant and animal scientists have recently brought to my attention the discovery of an electron microscopic pathogen that appears to significantly impact the health of plants, animals, and probably human beings. Based on a review of the data, it is widespread, very serious, and is in much higher concentrations in Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans and corn suggesting a link with the RR gene or more likely the presence of Roundup.  This organism appears NEW to science! This is highly sensitive information that could result in a collapse of US soy and corn export markets and significant disruption of domestic food and feed supplies. On the other hand, this new organism may already be responsible for significant harm (see below). My colleagues and I are therefore moving our investigation forward with speed and discretion, and seek assistance from the USDA and other entities to identify the pathogens source, prevalence, implications, and remedies. We are informing the USDA of our findings at this early stage, specifically due to your pending decision regarding approval of RR alfalfa. Naturally, if either the RR gene or Roundup itself is a promoter or co-factor of this pathogen, then such approval could be a calamity. Based on the current evidence, the only reasonable action at this time would be to delay deregulation at least until sufficient data has exonerated the RR system, if it does. For the past 40 years, I have been a scientist in the professional and military agencies that evaluate and prepare for natural and man made biological threats, including germ warfare and disease outbreaks. Based on this experience, I believe the threat we are facing from this pathogen is unique and of a high risk status. In laymans terms, it should be treated as an emergency. A diverse set of researchers working on this problem have contributed various pieces of the puzzle, which together presents the following disturbing scenario: Unique Physical Properties This previously unknown organism is only visible under an electron microscope (36,000X), with an approximate size range equal to a medium size virus. It is able to reproduce and appears to be a micro-fungal-like organism. If so, it would be the first such micro-fungus ever identified. There is strong evidence that this infectious agent promotes diseases of both plants and mammals, which is very rare. Pathogen Location and Concentration It is found in high concentrations in Roundup Ready soybean meal and corn, distillers meal, fermentation feed products, pig stomach contents, and pig and cattle placentas. Linked with Outbreaks of Plant Disease The organism is prolific in plants infected with two pervasive diseases that are driving down yields and farmer incomes, sudden death syndrome (SDS) in soy, and Goss wilt in corn. The pathogen is also found in the fungal causative agent of SDS (Fusarium solani fsp glycines). Implicated in Animal Reproductive Failure Laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of this organism in a wide variety of livestock that have experienced spontaneous abortions and infertility. Preliminary results from ongoing research have also been able to reproduce abortions in a clinical setting. The pathogen may explain the escalating frequency of infertility and spontaneous abortions over the past few years in US cattle, dairy, swine, and horse operations. These include recent reports of infertility rates in dairy heifers of over 20%, and spontaneous abortions in cattle as high as 45%. For example, 450 of 1,000 pregnant heifers fed wheatlege experienced spontaneous abortions. Over the same period, another 1,000 heifers from the same herd that were raised on hay had no abortions. High concentrations of the pathogen were confirmed on the wheatlege, which likely had been under weed management using glyphosate. Recommendations In summary, because of the high titer of this new animal pathogen in Roundup Ready crops, and its association with plant and animal diseases that are reaching epidemic proportions, we request USDA’s participation in a multi-agency investigation, and an immediate moratorium on the deregulation of RR crops until the causal/predisposing relationship with glyphosate and/or RR plants can be ruled out as a threat to crop and animal production and human health. It is urgent to examine whether the side-effects of glyphosate use may have facilitated the growth of this pathogen, or allowed it to cause greater harm to weakened plant and animal hosts. It is well-documented that glyphosate promotes soil pathogens and is already implicated with the increase of more than 40 plant diseases; it dismantles plant defenses by chelating vital nutrients; and it reduces the bioavailability of nutrients in feed, which in turn can cause animal disorders. To properly evaluate these factors, we request access to the relevant USDA data. I have studied plant pathogens for more than 50 years. We are now seeing an unprecedented trend of increasing plant and animal diseases and disorders. This pathogen may be instrumental to understanding and solving this problem. It deserves immediate attention with significant resources to avoid a general collapse of our critical agricultural infrastructure. Sincerely, COL (Ret.) Don M. Huber

Dear Dick, Saving millions of lives is clearly not the case.... there is enough food in the world to feed 12 billion. The problem is distribution. But you are obviously a fan of GM so why not look at the material below and give me your thoughts. If you want to see some opinions on GMO please see the following film of US farmers being interviewed by Michael Hart of The Small and Family Farms Alliance in the UK. He took the trouble of going to the USA and speaking to farmers about their experiences of GM.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEX654gN3c4   If you want to see more on the scientific effects of glyphosate on soil, crops and consumers watch Dr. Don Huber, Professor Emeritus of Plant Pathology, Purdue University interviewed. Just remember they are using much more glyphosate than we are in the UK but that has been a consequence of GMO's. The recent approval of GM Alfalfa will mean they will now be using even more glyphosate.   If you want to see more of his own work and photographs of the effects on plants and crops see the following on the web where you will find a PPP of his talk in the UK to an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Agroecology in the House of Commons on Tuesday 1 November 2011. You can also see his accompanying text which was taken down as he spoke through his power point presentation. Some of the pictures are pretty startling.   http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=1&oq=dr+don+huber+glyphosate&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4SKPB_enGB345GB348&q=dr+don+huber+glyphosate+house+of+commons&gs_upl=0l0l1l162905lllllllllll0&aqi=g1s1   Dr. Huber Explains Science Behind New Organism and Threat from the increasing use of Monsanto's Roundup, GMO's to Disease and Infertility   http://vimeo.com/22997532   This is probably the single most important decision that we as farmers need to make - please look widely when you research the issue - don't rely on the industry who inevitably have huge conflicts of interest.

By the way Tim, see this film on you tube If you want to see some opinions on GMO please see the following film of US farmers being interviewed by Michael Hart of The Small and Family Farms Alliance in the UK. He took the trouble of going to the USA and speaking to farmers about their experiences of GM.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEX654gN3c4

If you want to see some opinions on GMO please see the following film of US farmers being interviewed by Michael Hart of The Small and Family Farms Alliance in the UK. He took the trouble of going to the USA and speaking to farmers about their experiences of GM.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEX654gN3c4 Have you read Dr. Don Huber, professor emeritus at Purdue University, believes the appearance and prevalence of the unnamed organism may be related to the nations over reliance on the weed killer known as Roundup and/or to something about the genetically engineered Roundup-Ready crops. In a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the professor called on the federal government to immediately stop deregulation of roundup ready crops, particularly roundup ready alfalfa. It's worth a read. I can send it to you if you wish. Peter

Dear Joyce, great piece - have you read Don Huber's letter to Secretary Vilnack? I can send it to you if you wish? Peter

Dear Mike, Have you seen the Don Huber letter to Secretary Vilsack - here it is if you haven't. Basically he is saying we need more research before more is allowed - a fair point I think? One of the nations senior soil scientists alerted the federal government to a newly discovered organism that may have the potential to cause infertility and spontaneous abortion in farm animals, raising significant concerns about human health.  Dr. Don Huber, professor emeritus at Purdue University, believes the appearance and prevalence of the unnamed organism may be related to the nation’s over reliance on the weed killer known as Roundup and/or to something about the genetically engineered Roundup-Ready crops. In a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the professor called on the federal government to immediately stop deregulation of roundup ready crops, particularly roundup ready alfalfa. Below is the full text of the letter: Dear Secretary Vilsack: A team of senior plant and animal scientists have recently brought to my attention the discovery of an electron microscopic pathogen that appears to significantly impact the health of plants, animals, and probably human beings. Based on a review of the data, it is widespread, very serious, and is in much higher concentrations in Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans and corn suggesting a link with the RR gene or more likely the presence of Roundup.  This organism appears NEW to science! This is highly sensitive information that could result in a collapse of US soy and corn export markets and significant disruption of domestic food and feed supplies. On the other hand, this new organism may already be responsible for significant harm (see below). My colleagues and I are therefore moving our investigation forward with speed and discretion, and seek assistance from the USDA and other entities to identify the pathogens source, prevalence, implications, and remedies. We are informing the USDA of our findings at this early stage, specifically due to your pending decision regarding approval of RR alfalfa. Naturally, if either the RR gene or Roundup itself is a promoter or co-factor of this pathogen, then such approval could be a calamity. Based on the current evidence, the only reasonable action at this time would be to delay deregulation at least until sufficient data has exonerated the RR system, if it does. For the past 40 years, I have been a scientist in the professional and military agencies that evaluate and prepare for natural and man made biological threats, including germ warfare and disease outbreaks. Based on this experience, I believe the threat we are facing from this pathogen is unique and of a high risk status. In laymans terms, it should be treated as an emergency. A diverse set of researchers working on this problem have contributed various pieces of the puzzle, which together presents the following disturbing scenario: Unique Physical Properties This previously unknown organism is only visible under an electron microscope (36,000X), with an approximate size range equal to a medium size virus. It is able to reproduce and appears to be a micro-fungal-like organism. If so, it would be the first such micro-fungus ever identified. There is strong evidence that this infectious agent promotes diseases of both plants and mammals, which is very rare. Pathogen Location and Concentration It is found in high concentrations in Roundup Ready soybean meal and corn, distillers meal, fermentation feed products, pig stomach contents, and pig and cattle placentas. Linked with Outbreaks of Plant Disease The organism is prolific in plants infected with two pervasive diseases that are driving down yields and farmer incomes, sudden death syndrome (SDS) in soy, and Goss wilt in corn. The pathogen is also found in the fungal causative agent of SDS (Fusarium solani fsp glycines). Implicated in Animal Reproductive Failure Laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of this organism in a wide variety of livestock that have experienced spontaneous abortions and infertility. Preliminary results from ongoing research have also been able to reproduce abortions in a clinical setting. The pathogen may explain the escalating frequency of infertility and spontaneous abortions over the past few years in US cattle, dairy, swine, and horse operations. These include recent reports of infertility rates in dairy heifers of over 20%, and spontaneous abortions in cattle as high as 45%. For example, 450 of 1,000 pregnant heifers fed wheatlege experienced spontaneous abortions. Over the same period, another 1,000 heifers from the same herd that were raised on hay had no abortions. High concentrations of the pathogen were confirmed on the wheatlege, which likely had been under weed management using glyphosate. Recommendations In summary, because of the high titer of this new animal pathogen in Roundup Ready crops, and its association with plant and animal diseases that are reaching epidemic proportions, we request USDA’s participation in a multi-agency investigation, and an immediate moratorium on the deregulation of RR crops until the causal/predisposing relationship with glyphosate and/or RR plants can be ruled out as a threat to crop and animal production and human health. It is urgent to examine whether the side-effects of glyphosate use may have facilitated the growth of this pathogen, or allowed it to cause greater harm to weakened plant and animal hosts. It is well-documented that glyphosate promotes soil pathogens and is already implicated with the increase of more than 40 plant diseases; it dismantles plant defenses by chelating vital nutrients; and it reduces the bioavailability of nutrients in feed, which in turn can cause animal disorders. To properly evaluate these factors, we request access to the relevant USDA data. I have studied plant pathogens for more than 50 years. We are now seeing an unprecedented trend of increasing plant and animal diseases and disorders. This pathogen may be instrumental to understanding and solving this problem. It deserves immediate attention with significant resources to avoid a general collapse of our critical agricultural infrastructure. Sincerely, COL (Ret.) Don M. Huber Emeritus Professor, Purdue University

Dear Harry, Doesn't sound that what you say to Joyce about regulation and science is true - see below: Hear what Prof. Emeritus Dr Don M. Huber said to The US Secretary of Ag: “When we met the US Secretary of Agricultures top staff, they assured us they only use peer reviewed science to base any regulatory decisions on. So we asked them if they could provide one peer reviewed scientific article on the safety of GM or of glyphosate (and to my knowledge there are none). They couldn’t produce any. But I can produce 103 plus scientific papers showing the concerns, all are peer reviewed.” The US Cattlemen’s Association Statement to Congress: “Cattle ranchers are facing some puzzling - and, at times, economically devastating problems with pregnant cows and calves. At some facilities, high numbers of foetuses are aborting for no apparent reason. Other farmers successfully raise what look to be normal young cattle, only to learn when the animals are butchered that their carcasses appear old and, therefore, less valuable.” The farmers using non GMO in the USA and countries in the EU don’t have these issues. Don't believe all you are told Harry by the industry - do your own research as I have done here with Michael Hart If you want to see some opinions on GMO please see the following film of US farmers being interviewed by Michael Hart of The Small and Family Farms Alliance in the UK. He took the trouble of going to the USA and speaking to farmers about their experiences of GM.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEX654gN3c4 Best wishes Peter

See it in action here: If you want to see some opinions on GMO please see the following film of US farmers being interviewed by Michael Hart of The Small and Family Farms Alliance in the UK. He took the trouble of going to the USA and speaking to farmers about their experiences of GM.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEX654gN3c4 Let's get to the truth! Peter

Sorry Sirloy, if I sent this twice but it is very important you see it. Michael is great and I part funded it to help him get the message out. If you want to see some opinions on GMO please see the following film of US farmers being interviewed by Michael Hart of The Small and Family Farms Alliance in the UK. He took the trouble of going to the USA and speaking to farmers about their experiences of GM.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEX654gN3c4 Best wishes Peter

If you want to see some opinions on GMO please see the following film of US farmers being interviewed by Michael Hart of The Small and Family Farms Alliance in the UK. He took the trouble of going to the USA and speaking to farmers about their experiences of GM.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEX654gN3c4

Reply to David Richardson article on GM Tell the farmers here in the UK that farmers in the USA are now paying $50 to $60 a bushel for GM seed while they were paying $5 to $6 a bushel. Do our farmers want this type of hike in prices? Last year when most of the US consumer market was reducing prices GM seed went up as much as 25 to 30%. Three seed companies now control 65% of proprietary grain sales worldwide - does David really think this is a ‘good thing’ for farmers here? And ‘co-existence’ - does he not know that GMO Rape/Canola becomes next years weed in a crop of GMO sugar beet etc. and visa versa? The USA gave up all thoughts of co-existence many years ago - if it isn’t volunteers it is birds or spills that bring it in from great distances. Co-existence is impossible. Does he really want UK conventional farmers to have no choice over what they grow - as they now do in the USA and have to experience the impossibility to remove weeds except by hand! USA farmers now employ Mexicans to weed vast fields because glyphosate no longer works for them. Even tank mixes don’t always work (and unbelievably Monsanto has a patent on tank mixes too!) The only choice in the US is GMO - and it doesn’t take someone with a degree to work out why seed companies can hike prices as they wish - and why they are inserting marker genes - so they can recognize their own GMO crops and ‘fine’ farmers. Fearful farmers cannot afford to fight aggressive GM company legal departments even for adventitious contamination. Is this really what David wants? And as you would expect independent research and seed companies for conventional seed are dwindling. For everyone in the UK be in no doubt that GMO means contamination - all conventional crops will be contaminated with GMO. “Natural” will no longer be natural as it will be contaminated as has happened in the USA! Whole Foods Markets and Trader Joes in the USA and other natural supermarkets are compromised in the USA by GMO. There are strong consumer campaigns for GMO labelling... (see Millions Against Monsanto) because almost ALL their products are now contaminated with soya as an example. Even Kellogs admitted so a year ago - others are just keeping quiet! And glyphosate is leading to toxins and nutrient deficiency in crops. Listen to the American Bakers Association at the National Headblight Forum who said 2 years ago that they could not find enough domestically grown wheat to meet their needs because: “We are having to import wheat for our own bakery products because of excessive levels of the Fusarium mycotoxins” And hear Prof. Emeritus Dr Don M. Huber: “When we met the US Secretary of Agricultures top staff, they assured us they only use peer reviewed science to base any regulatory decisions on. So we asked them if they could provide one peer reviewed scientific article on the safety of GM or of glyphosate (and to my knowledge there are none). They couldn’t produce any. But I can produce 103 plus scientific papers showing the concerns, all are peer reviewed.” The US Cattlemen’s Association Statement to Congress: “Cattle ranchers are facing some puzzling - and, at times, economically devastating problems with pregnant cows and calves. At some facilities, high numbers of foetuses are aborting for no apparent reason. Other farmers successfully raise what look to be normal young cattle, only to learn when the animals are butchered that their carcasses appear old and, therefore, less valuable.” The farmers using non GMO in the USA and countries in the EU don’t have these issues.

Dear Peter,

I really think that you misunderstand the nature of plant biotechnology and how the use of genes from other types of organisms may be useful to plant breeders. Using such techniques as 'mutagenesis' breeders have been creating 'new' genes and gene sequences for over one hundred years and although they have caused a few problems (Eg in Potatoes) they have been remarkably useful in creating new traits and consequently new varieties. Norman Borlaug who is credited with inspiring the 'Green Revolution' managed to develop semi-dwarf wheats which were ultimately much higher yielding.

GM is in fact a far safer and more precise method than those used in the past and allows us to move genes from all sorts of closely related and for that matter less closely related species. True, to date many of the traits have only been really useful to western agricultural systems but the vast majority of farmers who have adopted the newer varieties are from developing countries.

If you are 'anti GM' then by definition you must also be anti most conventional breeding which would mean that you would like to research the possible perils of using many conventionally bred varieties. Many organic growers use varieties bred by using mutagenesis and yet you (and they) seem not to be concerned about this? If not why not? Perhaps you should start a campaign to investigate all varitiews bred by any form of mutagenesis? If that is what you have in mind then I think you MAY have a point, although I would have to add not a very convincing one!

How do you plan to breed genetic resistance to phytophera infestans into our many varieties of potato?

One more thing. I am amazed that you have been unable to find research into the efects of glyphostae on soil fauna and flora. There are hundreds if not thousands of studies on this subject. Just ask The USDA for some of the work they have on record. If not then ask any of the other independent scientific bodies who will I am sure be of help to you. You might like to note that glyphosate is about 25 times less toxic to mammals than table salt and about 20 times less toxic than caffeine. Do you eat either of these? You almost certainly do!

 

peterk:

Dear Joyce, great piece - have you read Don Huber's letter to Secretary Vilnack? I can send it to you if you wish?
Peter

I see you posted it and I will indeed be interested to read it in the next few days.

Here's a link I posted on www.farmingdiscussions.proboards.com recently.

Food We Eat Might Control Our Genes

Scientists find rice microRNA inside human cells

 By Anne-Marie C. Hodge   | November 25, 2011 |

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=vitamins-minerals-and-microrna&WT.mc_id=SA_WR_20111201


I was studying Nutritional Medicine but got sidetracked with the rest of my life...... though still have an immense interest in nutrition and health.

'Science' is still a mere infant and money sadly rules much of it.