Welcome to GMFAA's May newsletter!

GM-Free Australia Alliance advocates for food and farming free from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).   Thank you for your interest in clean GM-Free food for Australia.  Welcome to our May 2024 newsletter! This month we have Part 3 of the GM corn situation in Mexico and find out what is happening with statements provided to the official U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade dispute process defending Mexico’s right to limit genetically modified (GM) corn and glyphosate. Then in New Zealand news, we see the loosening of regulations called government's 'GMO 2025'. Back in Australia, genetically modified potatoes were approved by Food Standards Australia New Zealand in 2020. Below is also a selection from our growing GM-Free True Food Guide. We're fast approaching the End of the Financial Year, all donations are tax-deductible. Please consider donating to the Alliance to help us carry on and keep getting the message out. $10 minimum amount. Please Donate The situation of GM Corn in Mexico Part 3 Mexican civil society groups with their allies in the United States and Canada provided statements to the official U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade dispute process defending Mexico’s right to limit genetically modified (GM) corn and glyphosate. Under USMCA dispute rules, non-governmental entities were able to submit requests outlining longer submissions that they would develop to inform the dispute resolution process. Ten of the 13 requests to submit comments of up to 10 pages were initially accepted, according to a letter from the USMCA Secretariat, but invitations to the two Canadian groups were later rescinded. See an analysis of the panel's decisions in this Food Tank article. The NGO contributions were posted April 5 in English and Spanish along with the formal submission by the Canadian government, which is a third party observer in the dispute. The U.S. written complaint and Mexico's detailed, science-based response are also available, downloaded from the USMCA public webpage for the dispute. IATP has posted an analysis of Mexico's response and will soon publish an article on the range of issues covered by the NGO contributions, which enrich the public debate on how trade rules could limit — or allow for — sustainable solutions that advance public health, human rights and economic opportunities. (IATP, 2024) The Milpa system is an agroecological cropping method in Mexico dating back thousands of years in which complementary crops such as corn, beans and squash are cultivated together in ways that nurture the soil and our bodies. Mexican civil society groups, noting the play on words, joined with their allies in the United States and Canada to provide 1,000-word (mil palabras) statements to the official U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade dispute process defending Mexico’s right to limit genetically modified (GM) corn and glyphosate. Whether or not the dispute panel accepts all of the submissions, the range of issues covered will enrich the public debate on how trade rules could limit — or allow for — sustainable solutions that advance public health, human rights and economic opportunities. The Mexican government announced its plans to transition away from imports of GM corn and the use of glyphosate shortly after President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office in 2019. These plans were part of a bigger package of reforms intended to strengthen the country’s self-reliance on its food supplies and to move toward agroecological production. It responded to years of concerted efforts by social movements, including successful advocacy efforts and litigation led by the Sin Maíz No Hay País (Without Corn, No Country) campaign to prevent planting of GM corn and protect the country’s cultural heritage and biodiversity. The initial decree called for phasing out the use of glyphosate and of imports of GM corn by 2024. The revised decree issued in February 2023 continues the phaseout of glyphosate, will eliminate the use of GM corn in flour and tortillas for direct human consumption, and calls for the eventual substitution of GM corn for industrial use and animal feed as non-GM corn becomes available (Hansen-Kuhn, 2023). For further reading Mil-palabras for milpas and trade and food justice | IATP At GM-Free Australia Alliance, we commend Mexico for keeping their corn GM-Free. La Tortilleria Tortillas Chips Authentic Totopos and Blue Totopos are GM-Free. References (Hansen-Kuhn, Karen, 20 November 2023) Mil-palabros for milpas and trade and food justice. Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. Mil-palabras for milpas and trade and food justice | IATP (Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), 8 April 2024) USMCA corn case submissions. USMCA corn case submissions | IATP Say NO to GMOs by sending us photos of the labels of your favourite GM-Free Foods to add to our list at [email protected] NZ's Government's 'GMO 2025' Jeopardises Agriculture and the Environment Minister Judith Collins announcement on the government's target to manage risk on Genetic Engineering (GE) by loosening regulation is a countdown to jeopardy for exports and the natural environment, and also enables the opening for a free trade deal with the USA.[1] Without regulatory oversight, safety trials and funding for research into long-term risks of new genetic biotechnologies (GE) it is impossible to know how to manage them. This undermines the integrity of our GE-Free conventionally grown and organic high-quality produce. It will damage New Zealand's reputation, nationally and internationally, and the pollute food and farming systems. “Ms. Collins spearheading "GMO 2025" comes from being heavily lobbied with misleading information on existing legislation around medicines and the environment,” said Claire Bleakley, president of GE Free NZ, “We have many recombinant (GE) medicines on the market, all clinically tested, and we know the adverse consequences like organ, immune failure, endocrine and neurological reactions so they can be thoroughly managed by the doctor.” [2] The existing legislation, Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) does not stop anyone from applying to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for release of genetically engineered organisms (GE) into the environment. The legislation, however, requires a robust scientific risk assessment and any unknown effects requires a precautionary approach to be taken. Applicants must provide scientific tests to guarantee that the New Zealand/ Aotearoa people, livelihoods, and environment will not be harmed from genetic contamination. Minister Collins fails to account for the poor investment of valuable research money and failed performance of New Zealand Crown Research Institutes (CRI) GE field trials, all approved under HSNO. All have failed to show benefit over the excellent animal breeds and plant varieties available today. [3] [4] Experiments using farm animals as bioreactors for pharmaceuticals or for climate change adaption have had cruel outcomes with animals suffering from deformities and abortions and with many euthanised on veterinary recommendation. [5] Reports on GE brassica trials found that the plants were affected with an undefined fungal rot and no reports were made to explain the failure of trials of GE potatoes and a variety of GE onions. The $25 million genetically engineered ryegrass trials conducted in the USA, and which Minister Judith Collins highlights, showed poor results and a further GE ryegrass application raised concerns of an allergen and was withdrawn in Australia. AgResearch is quoted as saying the GE grass is not the same as was trialed. This is not the first-time trials have been conducted on an organism that is different from the actual product. This was admitted by the GE American Chestnut applicants when they revealed that the GE American Chestnut, they were seeking to release was not the one trialed. Unless regulation by an independent agency is in place scientists/researchers could continue to provide incorrect data on the product they are wanting to release. [6] In Australia GE canola requires a system of segregation but there have been serious contamination incidents resulting in economic and certification loss for farmers. The demand for conventional non-GE canola has provided farmers with an average of $65 NZD/metric tonne premium over GE canola. Rabo Bank estimates that non-GE canola will reach between $650 - $700 in 2024. Considering the yield per acre is 2 tonnes/acre a 100-acre field would give the GE Free canola farmer an extra $13000 over a GE canola farmer.[7] Tasmania has extended its ban on GMOs until reassessment in 2029. This is to protect their GM-free premium in the market from GE contamination. [8] Image of field of canola Photograph: publicdomainpictures.net References – [1] Why government ending moratorium genetic modification [2] Medicines [3] low methane sheep genetics research [4] germinal [5]Animals in New Zealand [6] Official information act requests [7] Australian Winter Crop Forecast [8] Tasmania extends ban on GMOs (GE Free New Zealand, 2024) For further reading Governments GMO 2025 Conventional canola is going for $785/tonne. GM canola is usually cheaper than non-GM canola. Cheaper GM prices are being used to lure buyers in and then of course like any newer product once they phase out the older product, prices usually exceed the previous product prices. We congratulate Tasmania on having a strong stance on a GM-Free zone and we support their stance on GM-Free well into the future beyond 2029. References (GE Free New Zealand in Food and Environment Inc., 22 March 2024) Government's 'GMO 2025' Jeopardises Agriculture and the Environment. Governments GMO 2025 Please Support our Mission A1199 - Food derived from Innate potato lines V11 & Z6 Application A1199 seeks approval for the sale of food derived from genetically modified (GM) potatoes that have reduced acrylamide potential, reduced blackspot bruising and resistance to foliar late blight (FSANZ, 2020). This was approved in 2020 in Australia. On a global scale, potato is the fourth most important food crop following maize, rice and wheat and is cultivated in over 100 countries. It has been cultivated for human consumption for thousands of years and has a long history of safe use as human food. Potatoes are typically cooked before consumption and are processed into food commodities such as potato chips, pre-cooked French fries, potato flour and potato starch. Potato is also used as a feed for domestic livestock and for the production of alcohol. This safety assessment addresses food safety and nutritional issues associated with the GM food. It therefore does not address: risks related to the environmental release of GM plants used in food production the safety of animal feed, or animals fed with feed, derived from GM plants the safety of food derived from the non-GM (conventional) plant. Image of potatoes Photograph: pnghunter.com Conclusion No potential public health and safety concerns have been identified in the food safety assessment of lines V11 and Z6. On the basis of the data provided in the present application, and other available information, food derived from potato lines V11 and Z6 is considered to be as safe for human consumption as food derived from conventional potato varieties (FSANZ, 2020). We disagree and believe that the GM potato should not have been approved without the proper checks and balances and do not believe that they are as safe as conventional potato varieties. We at GMFAA are asking more questions of FSANZ and suggest all concerned consumers do the same, to show that there is a push against untested new Genetically Modified foods coming into the market. We’d like more research and development to show their impacts on our health and soils before these are released into our environment. References (Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), 25 September, 2020 (135 – 20)) Supporting document 1. Safety Assessment Report – Application A1199. Food derived from Innate potato lines V11 & Z6. A1199 SD1 at approval.docx (live.com) Our product of the month is La Tortilleria Tortilla Chips Blue Totopos A selection from our growing GM-Free True Food Guide: Here's a selection of products from our True Food Guide which is growing and we thought you might like to look for it on supermarket shelves. BFree Wraps, five:am organic natural yoghurt, Cleaver's Organic Beef Lasagne and Black Rice Toasties and Red Rice Toasties and Blue Dinosuar Protein Chocolate Bar are GM-Free. Join Our Mission Our mission is to educate the public through the GM-Free True Food Guide to empower all Australians to make healthy GM-Free food choices. We rely solely on the generous donations of people like you, who care about the health and sovereignty of the food that you and your family eat. Help the GM-Free Australia Alliance, help keep GM-Free foods out of the food supply, improve health by remaining GM-Free, and especially feed our children and babies with the best GM-Free food and produce. PLEASE DONATE TO THE GM-FREE TRUE FOOD GUIDE!  It's been a journey over the past 17 years - educating and advocating for GM-Free farms, foods and futures. We've influenced public sentiment to demand labelling of GMOs, voice concerns and help grow awareness of GM-Free products all over Australia.  To join or Volunteer for our cause, please visit our website to get involved. Follow our facebook pages, GM-Free Australia Alliance and True Food Network for the latest news, info and campaigns. In our next Newsletter, look out for more information on the True Food Guide and the future of food. Our team at GM-Free Australia Alliance Inc. work tirelessly on educating people about the dangers of GMOs, including the next generation of GMOs 2.0, GENE EDITING. We are strongly advocating for GMO labelling through the updating of the GM-Free True Food Guide. TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS BY CREDIT CARD Please Give Generously Click this link: Donate to support our work with the GM Free Australia Alliance - Friends of the Earth Australia (foe.org.au) TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS Make a Tax-Deductible bank transfer to: Bank Australia A/c: Friends of the Earth Australia BSB: 313-140 A/c Number: 12060185 Please reference "GMFAA" and ask [email protected] for a receipt. Send a Tax-Deductible cheque or money order to: Friends of the Earth PO Box 222 FITZROY  VIC  3065 Please reference: GM-Free Australia Alliance or True Food Guide. NON-TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS Make a Non-Tax Deductible Donation by direct transfer to our account: GM-Free Australia Alliance Inc. Bendigo Bank BSB: 633-000 Account Number: 204 256 887 Reference: Your Name or Company Send a cheque or money order for a Non-Tax Deductible Donation to: GM-Free Australia Alliance Inc. PO Box 298 MORLEY  Western Australia  6943 Reference: Your Name or Company We rely solely on the generosity of donations and volunteers to support our work. Every contribution you make counts and adds your voice to the power of our collective voice in Australia saying loud and clear: NO to GMOs! If your local GM-Free group, Facebook group or other allied group is not already a GMFAA member? – Please JOIN US NOW! Add your voice to our National Alliance! Join Here THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Please share and forward to like-minded family and friends. Please Share Working for a GM-Free Australia GM-Free Australia Alliance advocates for food and farming free from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)! We oppose the genetic engineering, editing, modification & manipulation of living organisms. Please Donate Yours in True Food Freedom,    GMFAA Committee of Management GM-Free Australia Alliance Inc.  http://www.gmfreeaustralia.org.au [email protected]     -=-=- Friends of the Earth Australia · 312 Smith St, 1/, Collingwood, VIC 3066, Australia This email was sent to [email protected]. To stop receiving emails, click here. -=-=-