17/March/22

 

The pesticide industry lobby group CropLife Europe (CLE) and their allies have staged an immense and well resourced lobby campaign against the flagship policy of the EU – the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies (both pillars of the EU Green Deal). On behalf of agrochemical multinationals, CropLife organised a fierce attack on the EU's ambition to protect ecosystems and public health by reducing pesticide risk and use by 50% by 2030. Brussels-based lobby watchdog Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) has uncovered the toxic lobby strategies in a comprehensive report, "A loud lobby for a silent spring: The pesticide industry's toxic lobbying tactics against Farm to Fork". GMWatch

 

 

A new literature review highlights the mechanisms by which glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides disrupt male and female fertility. Intergenerational effects that disturb foetal development and adult reproductive life are also reported. Plasma concentrations of most hormones regulating reproductive function — or expression of their receptors — are altered at different levels of the entire reproductive axis — hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries, testicles, placenta, and uterus — by exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides. Glyphosate-based herbicides are considered more toxic than glyphosate alone, due to the presence of co-formulants such as polyoxyethylene tallow amine (POEA). Cells

 

 

Scientists at the Roslin Institute and the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture are hoping to identify genes that could help to protect Atlantic salmon against sea lice. According to Mark Butler, scientific advisor to Nature Canada, sea lice are only found in the open ocean so it sounds as if the intent here is to place GMO salmon in open-net pens where the probability of escape is very high. Fish Farmer Magazine/Mark Butler on Twitter @NovaMarkButler

 

 

PAN Asia Pacific (PANAP) fully supports the recommendations made by United Nations Special Rapporteurs (UNSR) during the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva to end all uses of Highly Hazardous Pesticides, as well as the partnership between Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the pesticide industry. In his report to the UNHRC, the UNSR on the Right to Food Michael Fakhri expressed alarm at the strategic partnership agreement signed between CropLife International and FAO, saying that it “may raise questions of conflict of interest and result in undue corporate influence over international policymaking". He encouraged the FAO Council to “review the agreement with CropLife International with an eye to human rights concerns and to consider directing the Director-General of FAO to rescind the agreement". PANAP