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Biotech Crops and Foods: The Risks and Alternatives

April 30, 2006

The Oakland Institute joins the Reclaim the Commons, civil society's response to the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Convention in Chicago from April 8th-12th.

BIO is a group of the world's biggest agribusiness, pharmaceutical and bioweapons corporations.

Biotech Crops and Foods : The Risks and Alternatives by Fellow Carmelo Ruiz-Marrero

The raging worldwide controversy over genetically engineered (GE) crops and products continues to grow. Proponents claim these novel crops are helping feed the hungry, improve the economic situation of farmers and make agriculture more environmentally sound.

But a growing number of critics, which include environmentalists, farmers, intellectuals, indigenous peoples, students, academics, biologists, agronomists and people from all walks of life and from all over the world, hold that genetic engineering presents serious social and ecological questions that the proponents have not addressed adequately.

What is the truth then? Are GE foods safe? Are GE crops environmentally benign? Can biotechnology mitigate poverty and fight world hunger? Carmelo Ruiz-Marrero, Oakland Institute's Fellow, explores the track record of genetic engineering in agriculture.



Summary of the Conclusions and Recommendations of the WTO Dispute Panel Interim Report on GMOs, By Senior Fellow Lim Li Ching


On February 28, 2006, Friends of the Earth Europe published a leaked copy of the secret draft ruling in the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute over GM foods.

The US, Canada and Argentina launched a legal challenge against the EU in May 2003, claiming that EU measures to protect consumers and the environment from the risks posed by GM food and crops constituted a trade barrier in GM products.

Read a Summary of the Conclusions and Recommendations of the WTO Dispute Panel Interim Report on GMOs.

Download the Leaked WTO Report:

Descriptive (pages 1-248)

Findings (pages 249-1050)