October
2008
GM labelling and organic yields
Natural and Organic Exhibition
If you ordered last week, hopefully you would have received a ticket to the Natural and Organic Exhibition in your box. Either way, we’d love to meet you in person at our stall. The exhibition runs from Friday to Sunday, and we suggest coming early. Judging by last year’s turnout, Friday will be busy, Saturday will be frenzied, and Sunday will be absolute mayhem.
GM labelling in South Africa
As expected, the backlash against the recent ruling by the Department of Trade and Industry that GM foods will be labelled (see GM foods to be labelled in South Africa) has begun. Using the classic FUD tactic (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt), a GM lobbiest announced that the ruling would lead to an increase in food prices. While such a tactic may hope to scare the unthinking back into the welcoming arms of our multinational saviours, the veil of deception and secrecy is slowly being lifted from this murky industry, and farmers and citizens will not be fooled.
The claims get more outrageous as time goes by. Claims of food price increases “from 0.5%” were made in Russia. In the Philippines, “as much as 12%“. Clearly these numbers aren’t frightening enough, so for us, it’s “a minimum of 15%”. After their distortions and apocalyptic claims of what would happen if we didn’t sell our food security to an American multinational, the press release ends with the laughable comment “rather than costing consumers more through labelling lets [sic] provide more accurate information to consumers”.
Indeed, here’s to more accurate information.
Organic yields are higher
Proponents of chemical farming or genetic modification frequently claim that organic yields are lower. Fortunately, it’s not true. Organic yields are often slightly lower in developed countries, mainly since many organic farms are new, and are still recovering from years of soil depletion. As the farms recover, yields increase.
A nine-year study at the University of Iowa showed that mature organic farms have higher yields than chemical farms. The organic farms produced 6% higher corn yields, and an average of 45 bushels per acre of soybeans, as opposed to 43 for the chemical farms. Farms in the study practised crop rotation – maize, followed by soybeans, then oats with alfalfa, and finally another crop of alfalfa. Proper crop rotation is key to soil fertility. Unfortunately, particularly with the pressure to produce biofuels, many farms produce one crop only, year after year, with devastating effects on their long-term viability.
Interestingly, particularly in an African context, a University of Michigan study indicated that yields of organic farms were two to three times higher in developing countries. Yes, that’s not a typo – two to three ties higher. Farmers in poorer countries could not afford expensive external inputs, supplied by large agribusiness companies. Once they’d switched to chemical or GM crops, they were stuck in a downward spiral, with ever-increasing costs, and ever-decreasing soil fertility.
To order, visit www.ethical.org.za.
Have a great week, and we hope to see you at the exhibition.
The Co-op team
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