Corporations And Agriculture: Empty Promises And Empty Calories

[S.Annadana]

Corporations And Agriculture: Empty Promises And Empty Calories
After nearly five years of research, an international project comprised of 30 governments, 22 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and 8 institutions have just released a remarkable study that touts the benefits of small-scale organic farming while at the same time calling the use of genetically modified organisms into question.

The International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) is a collaborative project initiated by the World Bank and the United Nations (UN) that includes more than 900 participants from 110 countries. The IAASTD is co-sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the World Health Organization (WHO). The IAASTD included stakeholders from governments, NGOs, producer groups, consumer groups, and other organizations and institutions to formulate a comprehensive and unbiased solutions for:


Reducing hunger and poverty
Improving nutrition, health and rural livelihoods
Facilitating social and environmental sustainability
The IAASTD final report was released on April 15, 2008 following its ratification by an Intergovernmental Plenary held in Johannesburg, South Africa. During the ratification process, the representatives from the governments of the United States, Canada, and Australia refused to ratify the report due to its negative conclusions about genetic engineering and the potential impacts of the findings on major corporations in their countries advancing genetic engineering as a "solution" for the current agricultural crisis. Representatives from biotechnology companies, including Monsanto, walked out of the meeting after failing to "get their way."

The final report, which is available online, rebukes the use of genetically modified organisms as a solution to our developing food crisis. The report also questions the safety of these biotechnologies for the health of consumers and the environment. Instead of relying on biotechnology, the report calls upon nations of the world to support small-scale organic farming techniques, the improvement of physical infrastructure, such as roads, low interest loans to farmers, and fair trade practices.

This report by the IAASTD represents the most comprehensive and inclusive study undertaken to date concerning global agriculture and food supply. The IAASTD created a forum for all voices to be heard, including those of industry, government, consumers, farmers, and scientists. The final report is truly an unbiased indictment of our current reliance on genetic engineering and the increasing use of chemical herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers.

In the years following World War II, agriculture was transformed through the use of chemicals and increasingly "scientific" techniques. These changes disrupted systems of agriculture throughout the world that had been successfully developed by farmers for millennia. And, we are now only beginning to see the terrible results of these changes as we face food shortages, famine, and environmental degradation.

It is absolutely disgusting to see entire countries bend to the will of corporate interest at the expense of the health and well being of the world's population and the global environment. The United States, Canada, and Australia have shown their cards by being the only countries involved in this five year study to not ratify the final report. These three countries are truly "rogue nations."

Furthermore, the biotechnology companies that walked out of the ratification meetings when the report called their genetic engineering into question have proved that they are not out to better the plight of the farmer and improve agriculture. Their childish actions demonstrate the fact that they are solely interested in profit and refuse to even entertain the possibility that their products are doing irreparable harm to the world.

But, perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the IAASTD report and the ratification process is the fact that few, if any, media outlets reported this story. In this case, the silence was remarkable. I only found out about this report almost two months after its ratification from a notification by the Union of Concerned Scientists.

It would appear that we are increasingly beholden to corporate masters not only to feed our bodies, but also, to feed our minds. And, I think it is clear that our daily bread is increasingly full of empty calories.

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