New GMOs will evade scrutiny as controversial bill passes; fight to defend the food chain continues | Sustain
The UK Government’s Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill, which exempts some genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from vital regulatory safeguards, is about to become law. That’s bad news for anyone who cares about food sovereignty but there could be much worse to come, writes Liz...
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New GMOs will evade scrutiny as controversial bill passes
The Genetic Technology Bill invents a new class of GMO on the basis that genetic changes that have been made in a laboratory “could have resulted from traditional processes”.
Genetically manipulated crop plants, livestock, trees, pets and even wild animals that meet this hypothetical benchmark will be designated as “precision bred organisms” (PBOs) and will not require individual risk assessments before release.
PBOs will also escape the detailed traceability and labelling rules that allow all of us to choose whether or not we want to grow, sell, buy or eat GMOs.
‘I was told I was a complete idiot’ about organic farming, Charles said day before becoming king
In final remarks as Prince of Wales, he recalled being called a ‘complete idiot’ for pursuing organic farming
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‘I was told I was a complete idiot’ about organic farming
King Charles III said he was thought of as a “complete idiot” for wanting to farm organically, but was proved right over his concerns about the impact of the use of antibiotics in conventional agriculture.
He said: “One of the reasons I went organic 40 years ago was because I felt there was an overuse of antibiotics. And I felt that if you overdo it, you end up with resistance. Anyway, that’s happened. I was told I was a complete idiot for even suggesting going organic.”
The King farmed organically at Home Farm near his Highgrove residence in Gloucestershire, but in 2020 it was announced that he would not be renewing the lease as he prepared for greater royal responsibilities. He continues to farm organically at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Organic farming methods strictly limit the use of antibiotics.