Publications

Books

• Your Right to Know: Genetic Engineering and the Secret Changes in Your Food – Andrew Kimbrell (2007)
• Genetic Roulette – Jeffrey Smith (2007)
• The Omnivore’s Dilemma – Michael Pollan (2008)
• Uncertain Peril – Claire Cummings (2008)
• Making Peace With the Earth: Beyond Land Wars and Food Wars – Dr. Vandana Shiva (2012)
• Altered Genes, Twisted Truth – Stephen Druker (2012)

Articles

Consumers Deserve to Know They’re Consuming GMO Food– November 2012 – Ira Zunin discusses the aftermath of California’s Proposition 37, which would have required labels on all products that contain genetically modified ingredients.

Will Monsanto Rule Our Lives?– November 2012 – Vandana Shiva and Sonali Kolhatkar discuss the overarching influence of GMO agriculture and the struggle to pass Proposition 37, in an interview on Uprising Radio.

Discover of Bt Insecticide in Human Blood – November 2011 – The biotechnology industry’s house of cards appears to be crumbling, as a new study out of the University of Sherbrooke, Canada, recently found Bt toxin, a component of certain genetically-modified (GM) crops, in human blood samples for the first time.

Kaua‘i County Takes Legal Action Against Seed Companies – May 2011 – In response to community concerns, the county has issued multiple notices of violation to two South Shore seed companies for non-permitted grubbing activities in November and December of 2010.

Glyphosate Drift to Rice a Problem – May 2011 – Adapted from a speech by Mike Wagner, rice farmer and president of the Mississippi Rice Council, at that year’s Mississippi Agricultural Aviation Association meeting.

Lawsuit Filed Challenging GE Alfalfa Approval – March 2011 – Suit cites increased pesticide use, harm to ecosystems and organic industry, failure of USDA to protect public health and safety “Today, attorneys for the Center for Food Safety (CFS) and Earthjustice filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), arguing that the agency’s recent unrestricted approval of genetically engineered (GE), ‘Roundup Ready’ Alfalfa was unlawful.”

Why Monsanto Always Wins – February 2011 – Article reveals cooperation between government regulatory agencies and Monsanto: “The recent approval of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready alfalfa is one of most divisive controversies in American agriculture, but in 2003, it was simply the topic at hand in a string of emails between the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Monsanto. In the emails, federal regulators and Monsanto officials shared edits to a list of the USDA’s questions about Monsanto’s original petition to fully legalize the alfalfa. Later emails show a USDA regulator accepted Monsanto’s help with drafting the initial environmental assessment (EA) of the alfalfa and planned to “cut and paste” parts of Monsanto’s revised petition right into the government’s assessment.”

New Proof of Horizontal Gene Transfer – Ferbruary 2011 – Research in the UK demonstrates spread of genetically engineered genes via horizontal gene transfer: “Scientists at Bristol University in the UK announced the discovery of “a previously unknown route” whereby “GM genes may escape into the natural environment.”  “Escape” is a misnomer. There is no need for the GM (genetically modified) genes to “escape,” when genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been released in great abundance and with gay abandon into the environment over the past 17 years. At issue is how fast and how widely the GM genes can spread, and what dire consequences could arise.”

Why Monsanto Always Wins – Truthout article by Mike Ludwig, February 2011 – questionable procedures and ethics in government communication with Monsanto related to government GE/GMO approvals.

GMO Event on Kaua‘i Draws Crowds – August 2010 – More than 100 community members attended a two-day event on genetically modified foods this weekend at All Saints Gym in Kapa‘a.

Anniversary of a Whistleblowing Hero – August 2010 – Jeffrey Smith writes about Dr. Arpad Pusztai, one of the first “whistleblowers” on dangers of genetically engineered foods

GM Crops Not the Answer for Foreign Aid – April 2010 – This article in The Hill outlines basic problems with GM crops and proven better options for world’s farmers: “The Senate is considering a bill that would overhaul the way Americans deliver foreign aid. With more people going hungry than ever before, the bill’s attention to global hunger could not come at a better time…This bill includes a mandate that we spend foreign aid dollars developing genetically modified (GM) crops.”

Superweed Outbreak Triggers Arms Race – May 2010 – Wall Street Journal article on increased development of herbicides and herbicide resistant GE crops in response to spread of glyphosate resistance. “Hardy superweeds immune to the Farm Belt’s most effective weedkiller are invading fields, prompting a counterattack from agribusiness that could leave farmers using greater amounts of harsh old-line herbicides.” This Wall Street Journal article details how chemical and agribusiness companies aim to profit from the spread of ‘superweeds’ that they are themselves responsible for creating – and how that will result in more rather than less toxic herbicides in our soil, water and air.

Scientist Interviewed on Negative Impacts of GMO Crops – January 2010 – USDA doesn’t want to publicize studies showing negative impacts: Robert Kremer is a microbiologist with the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service and an adjunct professor in the Division of Plant Sciences at the University of Missouri. He is co-author of one of five papers published in the October 2009 issue of The European Journal of Agronomy that found negative impacts of Roundup herbicide, which is used extensively with Roundup Ready genetically modified crops. Kremer has been studying the impacts of glyphosate, the primary ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide, since 1997. The Organic & Non-GMO Report interviewed Mr. Kremer about his research and the reluctance of the USDA to publicize the findings of the five papers.

Non-GMO Sourcebook Now Available – January 2010 – The 2010 Non-GMO Sourcebook features over 700 non-GMO suppliers and service providers. The Organic and Non-GMO Report has published their 2010 non-GMO sourcebook. It is available in print and online (with purchase of print edition) via their web site:

Aquaculture in ancient Hawaii – An exploration of pre-contact aquaculture in Hawai’i – compare this integrated, healthy, regenerative system to current proposals for monoculture ocean farming of genetically engineered fish

Court Finds USDA Violated Federal Law by Allowing Genetically Engineered Sugar Beets on the Market– September 2009 – Government failed to evaluate environmental and economic risks of Monsanto product before allowing it to enter the market. A federal court ruled that the Bush administration USDA approval of genetically engineered (GE) “RoundUp Ready” sugar beets was unlawful.

Maui County Unanimous on GMO Ban – September 2009 – The Maui County bill to ban GMO taro had its first reading and vote and councilmembers were unanimous in their support.”We have a duty to protect Hawaiians and that starts right here, right now” said Chair Danny Matteo, right before the vote call. To those who were with us in spirit from every island and elsewhere in the world, mahalo for your support.  All of your positive intentions for protecting Haloa have been realized.

GMO mandate in US Global Food Security Act – A new bill before the Senate (April 2009) would create a federal mandate for genetically modified (GM) crop research as part of U.S. aid programs, despite evidence that these crops will fail to curb hunger.

Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear – Vanity Fair, May 2008 – Monsanto already dominates America’s food chain with its genetically modified seeds. Now it has targeted milk production. Just as frightening as the corporation’s tactics–ruthless legal battles against small farmers–is its decades-long history of toxic contamination.

Scientist interviewed on negative impacts of Roundup Ready GM crops – Robert Kremer, microbiologist with the USDA ARS and adjunct Plant Sciences professor at the University of Missouri, is co-author of one of five papers published in the October 2009 issue of The European Journal of Agronomy that found negative impacts of Roundup herbicide. Kremer has been studying the impacts of glyphosate (the primary ingredient in Roundup herbicide) since 1997. The Organic & Non-GMO Report interviewed Mr. Kremer about his research and the reluctance of the USDA to publicize the findings of the five papers.

Scientists Discover New Route for GM-gene Escape – Horizontal gene transfer is easier and more common than previously imagined – new research from UK.

Ten reasons why we don’t need GM foods – A concise list of ten arguments, with references, compiled by GM Watch.

The Good Food Revolution – Yes! magazine, Spring 2009 – “The lush landscape of Hawai‘i once offered abundant food. What can these islands teach us about food and sufficiency?” Includes info on GMO issues.

Unintended effects of genetic manipulation – A project of the Nature Institute – making evidence of the wide-ranging and never wholly predictable effects of genetic engineering readily accessible to concerned citizens, policy makers, and scientists through a searchable database of scientific articles, reports and summaries highlighting unintended effects of genetic manipulation.

Farmer to Farmer Report out on issues of concern in genetic engineering of seeds and consolidation of the seed industry. John S. The Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering (Farmer to Farmer) is a network of 34 farm organizations from throughout the United States that endorsed the Farmer Declaration on Genetic Engineering released in December 1999. Farmer to Farmer seeks to build a farmer driven campaign focused on concerns around agricultural biotechnology and to provide a national forum for farmer action on these issues.