MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
China approves first shipment of Argentine GMO corn shaking world markets
China has approved its first shipment of genetically modified Argentine corn, Buenos Aires-based trade sources said, which could mean that the Asian giant may eventually import GMO crops from other producers like the United States. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesGM corn (maize) is ‘a recombinant-genetically engineered corn plant with agronomically desirable traits’.
Aug 07th, 2013 - 09:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0Some 30 varieties are imported legally into the EU, both for animal feed and human food.
Typically it is herbicide resistant to Glyphosate produced as Monsanto’s Roundup/Liberty [Inbred resistance to imidazoline is hybridization, not true genetic engineering].
‘Bt corn’ is a variant that has been genetically altered to express the bacterial Bt toxin, which poisons insect pests such as the European corn borer by inserting a gene from the microorganism Bacillus thuringiensis into the corn genome, causing death by intestinal sepsis.
Other GM modifications kill off Corn Ear Worms and Root Worms.
The GM variety ‘StarLink’ (Aventis/Byer AG), an anti-Corn Borer, is particularly controversial.
They say that Bt engineering does not kill non-target species eg bees and ladybirds, but Bt corn pollen travels great distances on the wind and it certainly does kill butterfly larvae that eat leaves where the pollen lands. And, of course, wind blows Bt pollen to cross-pollinate ‘GM-free’ maize corn.
Scientists know that the pests will develop resistance to the Bt crops. Even in the USA many farmers do not do what is legally necessary to delay the onset of resistance. In South America it is much, much worse.
In 2011 the Bt toxin was found in the blood of pregnant women but, as yet, there is no causal link with infant mortality.
StarLink Bt corn was created for strictly animal feedstuffs but, in the USA, Taco Bell taco shells containing high loadings of the Bt toxic agent caused – allegedly - multiple cases of hypersensitivity and allergies.
There is sufficient reason for the Chinese to import Argentinian GM corn, but to restrict its distribution to hogs and the proletariat.
Munnay !
Aug 07th, 2013 - 11:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0@1
Aug 07th, 2013 - 02:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Excellent brief rebuffed by a truly astounding post from “Vestige”.
But The Dark Country 'knows' how to poison not only its own land but those of its customers with this Monsanto product and the lemons (the real lemons, NOT the goverment ones).
Geoff, have you any information on how this maize has its ability to express poison negated before it is consumed? Seemingly not as the pregnant women situation must be a real concern, at least to their husbands if not to Monsanto.
Today 1st april 2030, a three legged china man sued Argentina for selling
Aug 07th, 2013 - 03:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0genetically modified Argentine corn,lol
cha ching.
Aug 07th, 2013 - 05:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I just read that 58% of BCRA reserves are in RG PESO Treasury bonds paying no interest.
Aug 07th, 2013 - 06:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0They better sell a lot of corn if they want to stay warm next year!
Soy down to the mid-low $400s by then will be devastating to the tax revenue.
USA cancels Obama-Putin meeting. Just because they are pouting over Russia protecting Snowden from the tyranny of the American dictatorship (that country is no longer a democracy).
Aug 08th, 2013 - 12:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0Hahaha, what a completely immature country, nothing but a tantrum for the world to see. How embarrasing.
If post 7 isn't proof of the side effects of GM foods I don't what is.
Aug 08th, 2013 - 08:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0I think it's more likely pesticide poisoning in the water and air.
Aug 08th, 2013 - 08:33 am - Link - Report abuse 0BTW corn is down 23% yoy and Soy 7% and falling
It may be much less risky to keep the fields fallow for a year or two until the Ks and minions are “retired”
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