Monsanto’s GMO Crops Ravage US, USDA Ignores Dangers

By: Mike Barrett

Monsanto’s genetically modified corn, which has been hailed as the answer to  many farmers’ prayers, has actually been creating resistant superbugs for years.  The genetically modified crop known as Bt corn has been altered to produce its own toxin, a pesticide called Bacillus  thuringiensis which was implemented into the crop to kill off rootworms before  they have a chance to ruin the crop. However the truth of the matter is that  this hybrid crop, taking up 65 percent of all U.S. corn  production, has been shown to cause a resistance in rootworm beetles,  rendering the crop useless.

So then why is the United States allowing Monsanto to ramp up the usage of  this environment-wrecking crop?

The EPA found that the resistant  rootworms, which are evolving to resist the insecticide,  are currently  found Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Nebraska. After the EPA evaluated documented  cases of severe crop damage as well as reports from entomologists, they  stated that “Monsanto’s program for monitoring suspected cases of  resistance is inadequate.” At least 8 populations of insects have  developed resistance, with 2 populations resistant to Bt sprays and at  least 6 species resistant to Bt crops as a whole. But this is creating a vicious  cycle very similar to how humans have become resistant to antibiotics, calling  for stronger drugs. As a solution to the Bt  resistance, biotech scientists are now creating even stronger  genetically modified Bt as farmers use even more  pesticides to combat the resistant bugs. And this is just  one example of how biotech corporations and GMO crops are threatening the  environment and humankind alike.

But the U.S. seems to be rather slow in taking any sort of action on a grand  scale. While GMO crops are being rejected by other nations such as Hungary, Peru,  and France,  the U.S. still decides to push for further genetic modification. This is also  reflected by the dominant presence of Monsanto’s  rBGH in the U.S. The synthetic hormone is created using molecules  and DNA sequences that are a result of molecular cloning, which  has been linked to breast and gastrointestinal cancer. Unfortunately, it is  estimated that around 1/3 of cows in the United States are injected with this  synthetic hormone, which means that you have most likely been highly exposed to  rBGH if you live in the U.S. or have eaten U.S. dairy products. All the while,  27 other countries are recognizing these problems, and have subsequently banned  the synthetic hormone.

In fact, the U.S. is the only developed nation to allow for  humans to consume milk from cows given artificial growth hormone. Are  U.S. government officials truly convinced that GMO crops and  even rBGH  dairy products are safe for human consumption, or does it have more to do with  the fact that key political figures who were instrumental in the approval of GMO  crops and rBGH were actually affiliated with Monsanto?

It is sad to see how the U.S. continues to so gracefully step back and give  biotech giant Monsanto more power. Not only are government agencies ignoring  these dangers, but the USDA seems to be so pleased with Monsanto that they even  considered allowing  the GMO giant to police itself. Nothing good can come from regulations where  the company behind nearly every genetically  modified crop in our daily diets is allowed to decide whether its  products are causing any environmental harm.

Read original and more pertinent articles at: http://naturalsociety.com/monsantos-gmo-crops-ravage-us-usda-ignores-dangers/#ixzz2XNUXaraZ

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