Dear Editor
Discussion of the GMO issue is short due to silencing scientists. With corporations funding research scientists report first to them. Negative reports don't see daylight. Scientists who speak publicly should sign a declaration of no interest in what they speak on.
Monsanto and the FDA exchange employees. An executive for Monsanto was dropped into FDA. This was timely as congress was considering GMOs. He testified there was no difference between GMO corn and existing corn. Congress bought it, and since they are the same, there is no need to do expensive safety studies.
GMO plants are usually associated with a poison such as glyphosate.
Anytime you insert a gene into a plant, you reduce nutrient efficiency. Glyphosate unites with critical nutrients in the soil. The new "unfed" plant becomes easy prey for opportunist fungi.
A French supreme court ruling states it is fraud to claim biodegradability in soil of glyphosate, as it's not predictable and can last a long time. It's merely temporarily united. There is solid documentation of glyphosate promoted soil pathogens. It's implicated in the increase of 40 plant diseases. Yield decreases by putting foreign genes in a plant causes documented plant stress.
The Indian Supreme Court insisted an independent lab do a toxicology check of Bt eggplants. The lab stated data didn't meet international standards for toxic studies. The lab's research found it wasn't safe for human consumption. An Ohio State study shows glyphosate accumulates for six to eight years and then damages cell walls. It costs Ohio $6.5 million/year in lost ornamental plants. Plant stress is glyphosate toxicity from the weeds as it moves out of weeds picked up by the perennials (alfalfa is a perennial).
Genetic engineering is new to science. Many drugs that never should have been marketed are no longer there. There probably should be more independently funded studies before confirming use, but funding was not available.
Today many so called scientists are really paid "employees" flaunting drugs and techniques, thus a signed declaration of no relationship whatsoever with a product or company is needed.
Glyphosate starves a plant by backing up nutrients. It then is weak and subject to predators that kill it. There is increasing animal, crop and human effects of these toxins being noted. Scientists must consider end consumers.
N. Levandoski
Chitek Lake
