In the case of Marsh and Baxter, the facts were agreed but their interpretation was not and this proved fatal to the case. This was a dispute between two farmer neighbours at Kojonup, Western Australia. When the GMO moratorium was lifted in WA, Baxter promptly planted Monsanto GM canola along his border with his organic neighbour. Marsh had previously warned Baxter that the organic certification of the Marsh farm was at risk if it was contaminated by an incursion of GM canola. The foreseen incursion eventuated and the certifier (NASAA) withdrew the organic certification. Marsh sued Baxter. The parties agreed that the Marsh loss was $85,000. The case (for nuisance and negligence) was lost in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, the WA Court of Appeals, and eventually the High Court of Australia. The cumulative costs of this litigation will exceed $2 million. Monsanto indemnified the GM farmer, whereas the costs put the livelihood of the organic farmer at risk. The case offers no evidence that organic/GM co-existence is viable, and no confidence that current law provides any protection for organic farming from GM contamination or predatory planting.
Organic v GMOs: A case study (Marsh v Baxter)johnpaull
Organic agriculture versus genetically modified organisms. Are these two agricultural technologies destined for co-existence or conflict? This is a case study from Australia about two neighbours in conflict - Michael Baxter who planted GM canola and Steve Marsh his organic neighbour. A timeline of the events before and after the contamination events of 2010 is presented. GM canola was approved for Australia in 2003 - but the WA government promptly put a moratorium in place. That changed when the WA government changed in 2010. Baxter immediately took advantage of the exemption to grow GM canola. What followed was ... the contamination ... the decertification ... the legal action. There are four elements to this case: nuisance, negligence. injunction & damages. Nuisance - that the events have been a nuisance to Marsh and caused the loss of use or enjoyment of the land. Negligence - that Baxter was negligent, that he did not take due care. Injunction - that the court order Baxter’s behaviour to be different in the future. Damages - that Baxter pay Marsh the losses incurred due to his decertification. When the judgement was delivered it was a resounding loss for the organic farmer. All four points were lost. The judge declared no nuisance, no negligence, no injunction, and no damages. Added to the loss on all four points was that the judge awarded costs of €570,000 (A$804,000) against the organic farmer. So the stakes are now very high. The big picture is of Monsanto versus the World. The close-up picture is that of an organic farmer who could lose his farm. And be bankrupted due to the award of costs. The Marshes appealed firstly the case and secondly the award of costs. This took the case to the Appeals Court of the Supreme Court of WA in March 2015. Meanwhile the legal costs are mounting. I estimate the legal costs to date at c.€1,425,000. So there is a great disproportionality between the original damages of €60K and the legal costs approaching €1.5M. The outcome of the two appeals are expected shortly. A twelve point snapshot: 1. Resolution: none; 2. Time: > 6 years; 3. Money: c. €1.5M; 4. Monsanto :-); 5. Organics :-(; 6. Certification: restored (Dec 2014); 7. GMOs on boundary: none; 8. Damages: none recovered; 9. Injunction: no prospect; 10. Appeals x2: await results; 11. Bankruptcy: possible; 12. Mutual co-existence: not demonstrated.
The cattle production industry in Texas is facing downsizing due to shifting consumer interests. Uniform breeds were developed to thrive in Texas environments, including the Beefmaster breed which originated in San Angelo. However, concerns about methane emissions from cattle, widespread mistreatment of animals, and economic declines impacting the billion dollar industry and thousands of jobs are contributing to decreased consumer demand and a struggling industry. Ranchers are turning to other crops instead of cattle due to these issues.
Field vacuums have been explored as a non-chemical method for managing insect pests in organic crops. While promising, they have not been widely adopted due to problems with cost, lack of residual control, and potential for soil compaction or harming beneficial insects. Currently, commercial vacuum machinery sources are limited, though some smaller handheld options exist.
Martin Mowforth gave a presentation on the negative impacts of pineapple production in Costa Rica. Pineapple monocultivation has resulted in land conflicts, pollution from pesticide spraying affecting water sources and health, poor labor practices violating worker rights, overuse of water resources, and disregard of protected cultural and wetland areas. Despite some reforms, the expansion of pineapple farms into protected lands and wetlands continues to cause environmental damage and contaminate water sources according to a recent report.
- Herbicide resistance is an increasing issue that requires new strategies and genetics to control.
- Common weeds like horseweed and ragweed have developed resistance to glyphosate.
- Companies are developing new herbicide traits and formulations like dicamba-tolerant soybeans to combat resistant weeds.
- Proper application and stewardship practices are needed with new technologies to delay further resistance issues.
This document summarizes a presentation on weed management in corn, soybean and wheat. It addresses several questions from farmers on controlling specific weeds like atriplex, giant ragweed, wild carrot, Canada fleabane. For question 1, it shows corn yield decreases as weed size increases at the time of herbicide application. For question 2, it explains the rate of Roundup needs to be adjusted based on weed species and size. It also shows adding 2,4-D to Roundup can cause corn injury and yield loss. It provides options for controlling field horsetail in corn, soybean and wheat. And for question 5, increasing the Roundup rate alone provides better weed control than adding AMS.
Those who have suffered financially due to the decline of corn market prices may be able to join the hundreds of farmers already filing lawsuits against Syngenta from at least 20 states. The attorneys of Watts Guerra have extensive experience successfully handling agricultural lawsuits. Mr. Watts led the effort to obtain a $750 million settlement agreement with Bayer, making him one of only a very few attorneys experienced in agricultural mass torts, handling GMO mass actions to great financial success for his clients.
B4FA 2012 Nigeria: Plants and Agriculture - Wayne Powellb4fa
Presentation by Prof Wayne Powell, University of Aberystwyth, UK
Delivered at the B4FA Media Dialogue Workshop, Ibadan, Nigeria - September 2012
www.b4fa.org
Organic v GMOs: A case study (Marsh v Baxter)johnpaull
Organic agriculture versus genetically modified organisms. Are these two agricultural technologies destined for co-existence or conflict? This is a case study from Australia about two neighbours in conflict - Michael Baxter who planted GM canola and Steve Marsh his organic neighbour. A timeline of the events before and after the contamination events of 2010 is presented. GM canola was approved for Australia in 2003 - but the WA government promptly put a moratorium in place. That changed when the WA government changed in 2010. Baxter immediately took advantage of the exemption to grow GM canola. What followed was ... the contamination ... the decertification ... the legal action. There are four elements to this case: nuisance, negligence. injunction & damages. Nuisance - that the events have been a nuisance to Marsh and caused the loss of use or enjoyment of the land. Negligence - that Baxter was negligent, that he did not take due care. Injunction - that the court order Baxter’s behaviour to be different in the future. Damages - that Baxter pay Marsh the losses incurred due to his decertification. When the judgement was delivered it was a resounding loss for the organic farmer. All four points were lost. The judge declared no nuisance, no negligence, no injunction, and no damages. Added to the loss on all four points was that the judge awarded costs of €570,000 (A$804,000) against the organic farmer. So the stakes are now very high. The big picture is of Monsanto versus the World. The close-up picture is that of an organic farmer who could lose his farm. And be bankrupted due to the award of costs. The Marshes appealed firstly the case and secondly the award of costs. This took the case to the Appeals Court of the Supreme Court of WA in March 2015. Meanwhile the legal costs are mounting. I estimate the legal costs to date at c.€1,425,000. So there is a great disproportionality between the original damages of €60K and the legal costs approaching €1.5M. The outcome of the two appeals are expected shortly. A twelve point snapshot: 1. Resolution: none; 2. Time: > 6 years; 3. Money: c. €1.5M; 4. Monsanto :-); 5. Organics :-(; 6. Certification: restored (Dec 2014); 7. GMOs on boundary: none; 8. Damages: none recovered; 9. Injunction: no prospect; 10. Appeals x2: await results; 11. Bankruptcy: possible; 12. Mutual co-existence: not demonstrated.
The cattle production industry in Texas is facing downsizing due to shifting consumer interests. Uniform breeds were developed to thrive in Texas environments, including the Beefmaster breed which originated in San Angelo. However, concerns about methane emissions from cattle, widespread mistreatment of animals, and economic declines impacting the billion dollar industry and thousands of jobs are contributing to decreased consumer demand and a struggling industry. Ranchers are turning to other crops instead of cattle due to these issues.
Field vacuums have been explored as a non-chemical method for managing insect pests in organic crops. While promising, they have not been widely adopted due to problems with cost, lack of residual control, and potential for soil compaction or harming beneficial insects. Currently, commercial vacuum machinery sources are limited, though some smaller handheld options exist.
Martin Mowforth gave a presentation on the negative impacts of pineapple production in Costa Rica. Pineapple monocultivation has resulted in land conflicts, pollution from pesticide spraying affecting water sources and health, poor labor practices violating worker rights, overuse of water resources, and disregard of protected cultural and wetland areas. Despite some reforms, the expansion of pineapple farms into protected lands and wetlands continues to cause environmental damage and contaminate water sources according to a recent report.
- Herbicide resistance is an increasing issue that requires new strategies and genetics to control.
- Common weeds like horseweed and ragweed have developed resistance to glyphosate.
- Companies are developing new herbicide traits and formulations like dicamba-tolerant soybeans to combat resistant weeds.
- Proper application and stewardship practices are needed with new technologies to delay further resistance issues.
This document summarizes a presentation on weed management in corn, soybean and wheat. It addresses several questions from farmers on controlling specific weeds like atriplex, giant ragweed, wild carrot, Canada fleabane. For question 1, it shows corn yield decreases as weed size increases at the time of herbicide application. For question 2, it explains the rate of Roundup needs to be adjusted based on weed species and size. It also shows adding 2,4-D to Roundup can cause corn injury and yield loss. It provides options for controlling field horsetail in corn, soybean and wheat. And for question 5, increasing the Roundup rate alone provides better weed control than adding AMS.
Those who have suffered financially due to the decline of corn market prices may be able to join the hundreds of farmers already filing lawsuits against Syngenta from at least 20 states. The attorneys of Watts Guerra have extensive experience successfully handling agricultural lawsuits. Mr. Watts led the effort to obtain a $750 million settlement agreement with Bayer, making him one of only a very few attorneys experienced in agricultural mass torts, handling GMO mass actions to great financial success for his clients.
B4FA 2012 Nigeria: Plants and Agriculture - Wayne Powellb4fa
Presentation by Prof Wayne Powell, University of Aberystwyth, UK
Delivered at the B4FA Media Dialogue Workshop, Ibadan, Nigeria - September 2012
www.b4fa.org
Conservation concerns and collecting priorities for crop wild relatives of Au...Colin Khoury
Khoury CK, Castañeda-Álvarez NP, Sosa CC, Achicanoy HA, Sotelo S, and Norton SL (2016). “Conservation concerns and collecting priorities for crop wild relatives of Australia”. Australian National Seed Science Forum 2016, 16 March 2016, Mount Annan, NSW, Australia.
This document calls for the abolition of factory farming, criticizing major companies like Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill, and Smithfield Foods for pollution, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and inhumane living conditions for animals. It recommends visiting eatwild.com to find local farms as an alternative to factory farming.
The document discusses smallholder agriculture, noting that there are 400-500 million smallholders worldwide who farm less than 2 hectares of land. Smallholdings remain important for agriculture and rural development, especially in Africa where 80% of farms are smallholdings. The document outlines a "virtuous circle" where increased agricultural productivity and incomes for smallholders leads to economic and rural development. It highlights appropriate technologies, breeding programs, and other innovations that can help smallholders become more productive and resilient in the face of challenges like land degradation, pests, and climate change.
Lentils, field peas, faba beans, and chickpeas were discussed. For lentils, new varieties with improved yields, disease resistance, and herbicide tolerance were highlighted. Field research showed the benefits of stubble retention and optimal sowing dates. Novel herbicide tolerant field pea and lentil varieties were presented. For faba beans, new varieties with higher yields and better disease packages were noted. Chickpea varieties with larger seed sizes and disease resistance were also discussed. Agronomic considerations like row spacing, herbicide residues, and stored soil moisture were addressed for efficient production of these pulse crops.
This document provides examples of genetic contamination incidents involving genetically engineered crops. It discusses cases in Canada, the US, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and elsewhere where GE crops have contaminated non-GE varieties through cross-pollination, mixing of seeds, or other means. The document outlines economic and environmental impacts of various contamination events. It argues that preventing further unintended GE contamination is urgently needed given the risks and costs that have already occurred.
The cattle industry in Texas is facing challenges due to shifting consumer interests and concerns about the environment and animal welfare. While selective breeding has created more profitable cattle, methane emissions from cattle are a problem. Producers are working to reduce methane through more efficient diets. There are also efforts to improve animal welfare conditions. However, economic declines from high feed costs and lower demand have hurt the industry, threatening jobs and state revenues. The future of the cattle industry in Texas remains uncertain.
The document discusses several negative impacts of industrial animal farming, including: 1) greenhouse gas emissions accounting for 18% of the total; 2) animal waste exceeding human waste in the US 13 times over and contaminating water supplies; and 3) deforestation to make room for more farms, with cattle alone consuming enough food for over 8 million people. It also notes the inhumane treatment of livestock on these farms, including lack of access to pasture, excessive growth hormones, and disposal in wood chippers. Additionally, it raises concerns about the risks of antibiotic overuse and food safety issues, as well as the control large farms have over the food market and decline of small, independent farms.
Washington produces apples, dairy products, wheat, cattle and calves, and potatoes as its top agricultural products. It has varied landscapes including wilderness, mountains, farmland and deserts. The climate ranges from record lows of -48F to highs of 118F with average yearly precipitation of 38 inches. It was the first state to have a municipal monorail in Seattle and is the only state named after a president, being the 18th largest state.
Diversity in global food supplies and the implications for food securityColin Khoury
Presentation to Australian Grains Genebank, 21 March 2016, Horsham, Australia.
Presentation to Agribio, La Trobe University, 18 March 2016, Melbourne, Australia.
S. Rajaram has experience breeding wheat and barley for yellow rust (YR) resistance over several decades working with various organizations. Some key points:
- He worked on YR breeding of wheat in Mexico, Syria, India, and California, and barley in Syria, observing vulnerability of modern wheats in these regions.
- Landmark varieties like Attila, Kauz, and Veery showed higher yields and drought/heat tolerance compared to previous varieties, with stability in farmer fields.
- Epidemiology of YR is well documented moving between countries, but importance of local mutations and relationship between virulence and aggressiveness is less understood.
- Multiple genes confer YR resistance
This report summarizes the feasibility of developing alternative livestock markets in Inyo and Mono counties, California. It finds that such development is not currently feasible due to lack of producer and merchant interest and willingness to take leadership. The report details labeling terminology for natural and organic meats; assesses infrastructure, production, and market analysis; and provides recommendations, including the need for further education and research to increase support for alternative livestock markets in the region.
Low trypsin inhibition of soybeans (2012)duyhao pham
This report summarizes a demonstration of low trypsin-inhibition soybeans conducted by farmer John Gilbert. The soybeans yielded similarly to other varieties grown on Gilbert's farm and tested within the acceptable range for pig diets at 7.16 mg/g of trypsin inhibitor. While this level was not low enough to feed the soybeans to pigs unprocessed, low trypsin-inhibition soybeans may provide farmers a valuable option to substitute for soybean meal in animal feed and reduce reliance on imported feed. The demonstration showed the variety tested similarly to other soybeans on the farm, indicating low trypsin-inhibition soybeans warrant further feeding trials and consideration as a risk management strategy for farmers.
Sweetpotato is cultivated in all regions of Côte d'Ivoire for consumption and as a source of income. Only varieties with white and yellow flesh are grown. Production of nutritious orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) is hampered by the lack of genetic resources and planting material. To evaluate and release OFSP varieties, on-farm demonstration tests were conducted with women farmer groups in Bondoukou, Nassian, Korhogo, and Bondiali in north and north-east Côte d’Ivoire. Six varieties—‘Kabode’, ‘Kakamega7’ (‘Irene’), ‘Tacha2’, ‘Bela Bela’, ‘Vita’, and TIB-440060—were evaluated in comparison with locally grown varieties. The on-farm demonstration was laid out in a randomised complete block design replicated three times per location. Assessments were made on yield; disease and pests; and consumer preference on attractiveness of skin colour and flesh of the root (fresh and boiled), taste, texture, and starchiness. Results showed that introduced varieties have generally recorded higher yields than the local varieties: Yields of about 25 t/ha have been recorded on the sites. The best average yield, about 15 t/ha, was recorded for TIB-440060 and ‘Kakamega7’ varieties. Farmers’ acceptance of OFSP varieties based on the attractiveness of their colour and taste was more than 90%. At the end of the sensory tests, ‘Kakamega7’, which achieved the best compromise between all observed and measured parameters, was most appreciated and was the farmers’ first choice, followed by varieties TIB-440060 and ‘Bela Bela’.
K.E. Brice Dibi
This document summarizes an on-farm demonstration of orange-fleshed sweet potato varieties with women farmers in northern and northeastern Côte d'Ivoire. Six varieties were demonstrated in farms across four regions. Data was collected on yields, virus incidence, dry matter content and sensory preferences. The variety Kakamega7 Irene performed best overall with good yields, taste and attractive color. It was the most preferred variety by farmers. The demonstration helped raise awareness of nutritional benefits and introduce adapted varieties of orange-fleshed sweet potato to address malnutrition in the target regions.
Over the past three decades, IITA has developed improved cowpea, soybean, maize, and cassava varieties with higher yields and better agronomic characteristics. For cowpea, average grain yield increased by 24.2 kg/ha/year. New soybean varieties increased yield by 23.61 kg/ha/year for medium varieties and 22.23 kg/ha/year for late varieties. Cassava breeding led to a 1.3% annual increase in fresh root yield and 1.2% in dry root yield. Maize breeding achieved a 1.93% annual genetic gain in yield under Striga infestation. Overall, IITA's crop breeding programs have made substantial genetic
Mr. Jim Lovell - Industry Perspective on Traceability - A Panel DiscussionJohn Blue
Industry Perspective on Traceability - A Panel Discussion - Moderator: Mr. Glenn Fischer. Panelists Mr. Chuck Adami, President & CEO, Equity Cooperative Livestock Association; Mr. Jim Lovell, Cattle Procurement, Bartlett Cattle Company; Ms. Maureen Phelon, Manager, Dairy ID Programs, Holstein Association, USA; Dr. Myriah Johnson, Agricultural Economics Consultant, Noble Research Institute, from the 2018 NIAA Annual Conference, Livestock Traceability: Opportunities for Animal Agriculture, plus the Traceability and the Real World Interactive Workshop, April 10 - 12, Denver, CO, USA.
More presentations at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeUDeS810OcOfuEYwj1oHKQ
This document discusses the efficiency of dairy ruminants in utilizing land areas for food production. It notes that dairy ruminants are net producers of protein for human consumption, as they can utilize plant proteins that humans cannot eat. However, they do utilize significant agricultural lands, both arable and non-arable. The document outlines a methodology to determine the land area required to feed dairy cattle herds and whether the same land could potentially produce more plant proteins directly for human consumption instead of through animals. It notes that the results are variable depending on factors like the proportion of arable lands used and estimated long-term plant yields. Many questions remain around rotational crops, soil fertility impacts, and accounting for the nutritional quality difference between plant
The document discusses various topics related to sorghum production and use including:
- Sorghum's genetic diversity allows it to be tailored for different production settings and reduce variability while increasing long-term grain production.
- There is value in the protein, fat, fiber, micros, phosphorus, and potassium contained in sorghum distillers grains.
- Sorghum contains 10-15% more fiber than other grains, which could be an easy target if cellulosic ethanol production becomes commercially viable.
- Changes to US farm bill payments may result in 4 million acres shifting from cotton to more profitable crops like sorghum.
Thermo-sensitive Wild aborted Cytoplasmic Genic Male Sterility in Rice (Oryza...Premier Publishers
This paper reported a new male sterility system in rice, thermo-sensitive wild aborted cytoplasmic genic male sterility (TCMS-WA) having majority panicles completely exserted. True breeding TCMS-WA lines were developed from the self-progeny of three heterozygous CMS-WA lines (IR 58025A, IR 62829A, and PMS 3A). The plausible explanation for conserving heterozygosity within the genome of CMS-WA parents and its release was put forward. Presence of two different thermo-sensitive nuclear genes, one for inducing TCMS and the other for reverse TCMS character in CMS-WA parents appeared non-allelic and epistatic to the nuclear recessive ‘fr’ gene. Thermo-sensitive genes were found operative in two mutually exclusive environment-influenced genetic thresholds. TCMS-WA lines were superior to CMS-WA parents for homozygosity, panicle exsertion, and fertility-sterility alteration behavior. Genes controlling panicle exsertion were nuclear genes and independent of the cytoplasmic factor. Presence of three different alleles conferring panicle exsertion was postulated and their allelic relationship might be explained as the allele present in R-line was dominant to that in A-line and the allele present in A-line was dominant to that in B-line. Penetrance and expressivity of genes conferring panicle exsertion were elucidated. The major advantages of using TCMS-WA over TGMS for two-line hybrid development was discussed.
I apologize, upon further reflection I do not feel comfortable speculating about potential central bank actions or making predictions about financial markets.
Techno-economic analyses of specific HMDA production processes, presenting capital investment breakdown, raw materials consumed and operating costs. Know more at www.intratec.us/products/hmda-production-processes
Conservation concerns and collecting priorities for crop wild relatives of Au...Colin Khoury
Khoury CK, Castañeda-Álvarez NP, Sosa CC, Achicanoy HA, Sotelo S, and Norton SL (2016). “Conservation concerns and collecting priorities for crop wild relatives of Australia”. Australian National Seed Science Forum 2016, 16 March 2016, Mount Annan, NSW, Australia.
This document calls for the abolition of factory farming, criticizing major companies like Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill, and Smithfield Foods for pollution, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and inhumane living conditions for animals. It recommends visiting eatwild.com to find local farms as an alternative to factory farming.
The document discusses smallholder agriculture, noting that there are 400-500 million smallholders worldwide who farm less than 2 hectares of land. Smallholdings remain important for agriculture and rural development, especially in Africa where 80% of farms are smallholdings. The document outlines a "virtuous circle" where increased agricultural productivity and incomes for smallholders leads to economic and rural development. It highlights appropriate technologies, breeding programs, and other innovations that can help smallholders become more productive and resilient in the face of challenges like land degradation, pests, and climate change.
Lentils, field peas, faba beans, and chickpeas were discussed. For lentils, new varieties with improved yields, disease resistance, and herbicide tolerance were highlighted. Field research showed the benefits of stubble retention and optimal sowing dates. Novel herbicide tolerant field pea and lentil varieties were presented. For faba beans, new varieties with higher yields and better disease packages were noted. Chickpea varieties with larger seed sizes and disease resistance were also discussed. Agronomic considerations like row spacing, herbicide residues, and stored soil moisture were addressed for efficient production of these pulse crops.
This document provides examples of genetic contamination incidents involving genetically engineered crops. It discusses cases in Canada, the US, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and elsewhere where GE crops have contaminated non-GE varieties through cross-pollination, mixing of seeds, or other means. The document outlines economic and environmental impacts of various contamination events. It argues that preventing further unintended GE contamination is urgently needed given the risks and costs that have already occurred.
The cattle industry in Texas is facing challenges due to shifting consumer interests and concerns about the environment and animal welfare. While selective breeding has created more profitable cattle, methane emissions from cattle are a problem. Producers are working to reduce methane through more efficient diets. There are also efforts to improve animal welfare conditions. However, economic declines from high feed costs and lower demand have hurt the industry, threatening jobs and state revenues. The future of the cattle industry in Texas remains uncertain.
The document discusses several negative impacts of industrial animal farming, including: 1) greenhouse gas emissions accounting for 18% of the total; 2) animal waste exceeding human waste in the US 13 times over and contaminating water supplies; and 3) deforestation to make room for more farms, with cattle alone consuming enough food for over 8 million people. It also notes the inhumane treatment of livestock on these farms, including lack of access to pasture, excessive growth hormones, and disposal in wood chippers. Additionally, it raises concerns about the risks of antibiotic overuse and food safety issues, as well as the control large farms have over the food market and decline of small, independent farms.
Washington produces apples, dairy products, wheat, cattle and calves, and potatoes as its top agricultural products. It has varied landscapes including wilderness, mountains, farmland and deserts. The climate ranges from record lows of -48F to highs of 118F with average yearly precipitation of 38 inches. It was the first state to have a municipal monorail in Seattle and is the only state named after a president, being the 18th largest state.
Diversity in global food supplies and the implications for food securityColin Khoury
Presentation to Australian Grains Genebank, 21 March 2016, Horsham, Australia.
Presentation to Agribio, La Trobe University, 18 March 2016, Melbourne, Australia.
S. Rajaram has experience breeding wheat and barley for yellow rust (YR) resistance over several decades working with various organizations. Some key points:
- He worked on YR breeding of wheat in Mexico, Syria, India, and California, and barley in Syria, observing vulnerability of modern wheats in these regions.
- Landmark varieties like Attila, Kauz, and Veery showed higher yields and drought/heat tolerance compared to previous varieties, with stability in farmer fields.
- Epidemiology of YR is well documented moving between countries, but importance of local mutations and relationship between virulence and aggressiveness is less understood.
- Multiple genes confer YR resistance
This report summarizes the feasibility of developing alternative livestock markets in Inyo and Mono counties, California. It finds that such development is not currently feasible due to lack of producer and merchant interest and willingness to take leadership. The report details labeling terminology for natural and organic meats; assesses infrastructure, production, and market analysis; and provides recommendations, including the need for further education and research to increase support for alternative livestock markets in the region.
Low trypsin inhibition of soybeans (2012)duyhao pham
This report summarizes a demonstration of low trypsin-inhibition soybeans conducted by farmer John Gilbert. The soybeans yielded similarly to other varieties grown on Gilbert's farm and tested within the acceptable range for pig diets at 7.16 mg/g of trypsin inhibitor. While this level was not low enough to feed the soybeans to pigs unprocessed, low trypsin-inhibition soybeans may provide farmers a valuable option to substitute for soybean meal in animal feed and reduce reliance on imported feed. The demonstration showed the variety tested similarly to other soybeans on the farm, indicating low trypsin-inhibition soybeans warrant further feeding trials and consideration as a risk management strategy for farmers.
Sweetpotato is cultivated in all regions of Côte d'Ivoire for consumption and as a source of income. Only varieties with white and yellow flesh are grown. Production of nutritious orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) is hampered by the lack of genetic resources and planting material. To evaluate and release OFSP varieties, on-farm demonstration tests were conducted with women farmer groups in Bondoukou, Nassian, Korhogo, and Bondiali in north and north-east Côte d’Ivoire. Six varieties—‘Kabode’, ‘Kakamega7’ (‘Irene’), ‘Tacha2’, ‘Bela Bela’, ‘Vita’, and TIB-440060—were evaluated in comparison with locally grown varieties. The on-farm demonstration was laid out in a randomised complete block design replicated three times per location. Assessments were made on yield; disease and pests; and consumer preference on attractiveness of skin colour and flesh of the root (fresh and boiled), taste, texture, and starchiness. Results showed that introduced varieties have generally recorded higher yields than the local varieties: Yields of about 25 t/ha have been recorded on the sites. The best average yield, about 15 t/ha, was recorded for TIB-440060 and ‘Kakamega7’ varieties. Farmers’ acceptance of OFSP varieties based on the attractiveness of their colour and taste was more than 90%. At the end of the sensory tests, ‘Kakamega7’, which achieved the best compromise between all observed and measured parameters, was most appreciated and was the farmers’ first choice, followed by varieties TIB-440060 and ‘Bela Bela’.
K.E. Brice Dibi
This document summarizes an on-farm demonstration of orange-fleshed sweet potato varieties with women farmers in northern and northeastern Côte d'Ivoire. Six varieties were demonstrated in farms across four regions. Data was collected on yields, virus incidence, dry matter content and sensory preferences. The variety Kakamega7 Irene performed best overall with good yields, taste and attractive color. It was the most preferred variety by farmers. The demonstration helped raise awareness of nutritional benefits and introduce adapted varieties of orange-fleshed sweet potato to address malnutrition in the target regions.
Over the past three decades, IITA has developed improved cowpea, soybean, maize, and cassava varieties with higher yields and better agronomic characteristics. For cowpea, average grain yield increased by 24.2 kg/ha/year. New soybean varieties increased yield by 23.61 kg/ha/year for medium varieties and 22.23 kg/ha/year for late varieties. Cassava breeding led to a 1.3% annual increase in fresh root yield and 1.2% in dry root yield. Maize breeding achieved a 1.93% annual genetic gain in yield under Striga infestation. Overall, IITA's crop breeding programs have made substantial genetic
Mr. Jim Lovell - Industry Perspective on Traceability - A Panel DiscussionJohn Blue
Industry Perspective on Traceability - A Panel Discussion - Moderator: Mr. Glenn Fischer. Panelists Mr. Chuck Adami, President & CEO, Equity Cooperative Livestock Association; Mr. Jim Lovell, Cattle Procurement, Bartlett Cattle Company; Ms. Maureen Phelon, Manager, Dairy ID Programs, Holstein Association, USA; Dr. Myriah Johnson, Agricultural Economics Consultant, Noble Research Institute, from the 2018 NIAA Annual Conference, Livestock Traceability: Opportunities for Animal Agriculture, plus the Traceability and the Real World Interactive Workshop, April 10 - 12, Denver, CO, USA.
More presentations at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeUDeS810OcOfuEYwj1oHKQ
This document discusses the efficiency of dairy ruminants in utilizing land areas for food production. It notes that dairy ruminants are net producers of protein for human consumption, as they can utilize plant proteins that humans cannot eat. However, they do utilize significant agricultural lands, both arable and non-arable. The document outlines a methodology to determine the land area required to feed dairy cattle herds and whether the same land could potentially produce more plant proteins directly for human consumption instead of through animals. It notes that the results are variable depending on factors like the proportion of arable lands used and estimated long-term plant yields. Many questions remain around rotational crops, soil fertility impacts, and accounting for the nutritional quality difference between plant
The document discusses various topics related to sorghum production and use including:
- Sorghum's genetic diversity allows it to be tailored for different production settings and reduce variability while increasing long-term grain production.
- There is value in the protein, fat, fiber, micros, phosphorus, and potassium contained in sorghum distillers grains.
- Sorghum contains 10-15% more fiber than other grains, which could be an easy target if cellulosic ethanol production becomes commercially viable.
- Changes to US farm bill payments may result in 4 million acres shifting from cotton to more profitable crops like sorghum.
Thermo-sensitive Wild aborted Cytoplasmic Genic Male Sterility in Rice (Oryza...Premier Publishers
This paper reported a new male sterility system in rice, thermo-sensitive wild aborted cytoplasmic genic male sterility (TCMS-WA) having majority panicles completely exserted. True breeding TCMS-WA lines were developed from the self-progeny of three heterozygous CMS-WA lines (IR 58025A, IR 62829A, and PMS 3A). The plausible explanation for conserving heterozygosity within the genome of CMS-WA parents and its release was put forward. Presence of two different thermo-sensitive nuclear genes, one for inducing TCMS and the other for reverse TCMS character in CMS-WA parents appeared non-allelic and epistatic to the nuclear recessive ‘fr’ gene. Thermo-sensitive genes were found operative in two mutually exclusive environment-influenced genetic thresholds. TCMS-WA lines were superior to CMS-WA parents for homozygosity, panicle exsertion, and fertility-sterility alteration behavior. Genes controlling panicle exsertion were nuclear genes and independent of the cytoplasmic factor. Presence of three different alleles conferring panicle exsertion was postulated and their allelic relationship might be explained as the allele present in R-line was dominant to that in A-line and the allele present in A-line was dominant to that in B-line. Penetrance and expressivity of genes conferring panicle exsertion were elucidated. The major advantages of using TCMS-WA over TGMS for two-line hybrid development was discussed.
I apologize, upon further reflection I do not feel comfortable speculating about potential central bank actions or making predictions about financial markets.
Techno-economic analyses of specific HMDA production processes, presenting capital investment breakdown, raw materials consumed and operating costs. Know more at www.intratec.us/products/hmda-production-processes
The document discusses Intratec's reports comparing various pathways for producing acetic acid. The reports analyze the economics of different acetic acid production routes from multiple feedstocks across different locations. Each report provides an overview of the key technical aspects and production pathways for acetic acid, compares the capital and production costs of different routes, and identifies the most competitive pathways in different world regions. The reports offer in-depth analysis to help assess investment and business opportunities in acetic acid production.
Monsanto. mas de un siglo envenenando el planeta.sobrederechos
El gigante de la biotecnología Monsanto, uno de los líderes mundiales en cultivos y semillas modificadas genéticamente, es una de las compañías más odiadas del mundo debido a las numerosas denuncias sobre los perjuicios para la salud y las consecuencias negativas para el medio ambiente que conlleva la modificación genética de los alimentos.
Resposta de Greenpeace davant la carta dels premis Nobel sobre els transgènicsJesús Frare Garcia
(...) L’arròs daurat modificat genèticament no existeix, no està disponible. És un projecte fallit que després de 20 anys segueix en la fase d'investigació i en el qual s'han invertit centenars de milions de dòlars. Per la qual cosa, s'està defensant un arròs que no existeix i que no s'ha demostrat viable en 20 anys d'investigació com a solució a la fam al món. D'altra banda, encara està per demostrar si aquest arròs modificat genèticament pot millorar el nivell nutricional de les persones amb deficiència de vitamina A.
Mentre se segueix investigant en cultius transgènics que donen solució als problemes agronòmics i manca de determinats nutrients, els avenços en la millora convencional ja estan oferint els cultius promesos per l'enginyeria genètica. Per exemple, tant l'arròs tolerant a les inundacions com a la sequera ja són als camps de les persones agricultores i la dacsa resistent a la sequera està disponible en moltes parts d'Àfrica, on més es necessita. També existeixen ja cultius nutricionalment millorats, sense necessitat d'utilitzar l'enginyeria genètica, però sens dubte, la solució més sostenible és millorar l'accés a una alimentació sana i variada.
Mans negres. “Mercat de la mascota i indústria orgànica i naturista”. Jesús Frare Garcia
Estem davant del que podria ser un patró. Des de la defensa d’aquests grana negocis, es construeix l’argument d’una fosca indústria milionària amb tàctiques de desinformació per a imposar un discurs acientífic, que manipula les bones intencions de les persones activistes (ecologistes, per una alimentació saludable o antitaurines) fins i tot per a fer accions contra les indústries “científicament correctes”...
A newsletter roundup covering recent issues such as a lawsuit alleging a herbicide product from Monsanto caused a farmer's cancer-related death, ongoing issues with water contamination, and the clean-up effort involving lead contamination from a shuttered Exide Technologies plant in Los Angeles.
La Mitad de los Niños será Autista en 2025Oscar Ayala
Publicado el 23 de abril de 2015, de la salud en general por Get Holístic Health
¿Por qué? La evidencia apunta ala toxicidad del glifosato por el uso excesivo de herbicida Roundup de Monsanto en nuestra comida.
Durante más de tres décadas, Stephanie Seneff, PhD, ha investigado la biología y la tecnología, en los últimos años ha publicado más de 170 artículos revisados por pares académicos. En los últimos años se ha centrado en la relación entre la nutrición y la salud, abordando temas como el Alzheimer, el autismo y las enfermedades cardiovasculares, así como el impacto de las deficiencias nutricionales y las toxinas ambientales en la salud humana.
GM mustard poses risks to India's food supply according to a coalition against GM crops in India. The document outlines several concerns with GM mustard including contamination of non-GM crops, increased pesticide usage, negative health impacts, and threats to India's food sovereignty. It argues that GM mustard is unnecessary given India's mustard yields have doubled with traditional breeding methods. The document claims GM mustard trials have not proven the technology is safe and could permanently contaminate India's center of diversity for mustard.
Analisis caso monsanto y la ingenieria genetica aplicada a semillas agricolasandrespolymer
Monsanto fue fundada en 1901 en San Luis, Misuri y actualmente es líder mundial en ingeniería genética de semillas y producción de herbicidas como el glifosato. Originalmente distribuyó sacarina y proveía edulcorantes, luego expandió su negocio a química industrial. Actualmente es líder en biotecnología agrícola aplicando modelos de negocio biotecnológicos a la agricultura e introduciendo técnicas de empresas farmacéuticas. Su éxito se debe a semillas transgénicas más
Monsanto: Getting social to the crisis communication table, presented by Heat...SocialMedia.org
Monsanto representatives Heather McClurg and Nick Weber presented on how Monsanto improved its crisis communication process to better incorporate social media. Previously, crisis responses were inefficient and caused frustration as many stakeholders were involved. Monsanto now takes a more streamlined approach with a dedicated digital newsroom that meets daily to discuss trends, content calendar and potential issues. They provided examples of how this new process worked for celebrity promotions of false information, responding to rumors before they spread, and addressing opportunities like articles from satirical news sites.
An effort to present information on GMOs in an easy to understand manner. The presentation covers the myths about GMOs and explains how sustainable and ecological systems must replace such dangerous technology. Please feel free to download/share to build public awareness.
Food inc monsanto perspective final slide_shareBritt Lebbing
Monsanto's perspective on claims made in the film Food, Inc. Please use in classrooms that show this movie and would like to discuss another Point Of View. This can also be shared with teachers as an additional learning tool.
This document summarizes key issues facing farmers worldwide related to increasing global demand for food, soil management and sustainability, water conservation, and costs. It discusses the increasing demand for sustainable foods and how crop yields have increased historically and can continue to do so through improved technologies, livestock management, and soil health focused on soil microbiology and carbon content. Concerns are raised about some industrial agriculture practices and effects of GM foods based on animal studies showing potential health risks. Ways to promote non-GM alternatives and tipping points in consumer rejection of certain agricultural technologies are discussed.
This document discusses genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food and debates both sides of the issue. It notes that GMOs are now found in many common foods but are still controversial. While some see benefits like increased crop yields and drought resistance, others worry about impacts on health, small farmers, and patent control of crops. Quotes are provided from scientists, farmers, and organizations on both sides of the GMO debate.
The document discusses several sustainability standards and initiatives that are being developed for agriculture. It notes that the ANSI Leonardo/SCS standards seem to favor an organic model, while The Sustainability Consortium based at the University of Arkansas is seeking input from producers. It also discusses the NRDC Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops and challenges around getting grower participation. Overall, it analyzes different approaches to sustainability standards between specialty crops and commodities.
Environmental Consequences of Genetically-Modified Foods, Biopharming and rBGHJack Olmsted
Martin Donohoe, MD, FACP
Portland State University
Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility
With thanks to Rick North, Project Director, Campaign for Safe Food
Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility
This document summarizes a report from Friends of the Earth International on genetically modified crops. It finds that GM crops are predominantly grown in six countries and make up less than 1% of worldwide farming. While biotech companies promote GM crops as helping feed the world, evidence shows GM crops have increased pesticide use and led to the development of pest resistance over time. The report also questions the benefits of biofortified crops like Golden Rice for addressing malnutrition.
Young boy selling local vegetables at a roadsideDr Lendy Spires
This document discusses genetically modified (GM) crops and their global production. It notes that GM crops are predominantly grown in six countries and make up less than 1% of total farmed area worldwide. While the biotech industry claims GM crops can help feed the world, evidence shows that GM crops have increased pesticide use and questions remain about their safety and benefits for small farmers.
This document discusses genetically modified (GM) crops and their global production. It notes that GM crops are predominantly grown in six countries and make up less than 1% of total farmed area worldwide. While the biotech industry claims GM crops can help feed the world, evidence shows that GM crops have increased pesticide use and questions remain about their safety and benefits for small farmers.
This document summarizes controversies around patents on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their impact. It discusses how Monsanto has patented genetically engineered corn, soybean, cotton, and canola. Monsanto also produces Roundup herbicide and crops resistant to it, leading to environmental and health concerns. Further controversy stems from Monsanto suing farmers for accidental contamination of crops with GMO pollen from neighboring fields. While Monsanto argues GMOs help feed the world, critics point to their environmental damage and potential health risks. The document outlines the spread of GMOs internationally through trade agreements and Monsanto's practices in India that have led to widespread farmer suicides. It concludes with bans on GMOs in several European and Asian
Monsanto's perspective on claims made in the film Food, Inc. For use in classrooms that show this movie to present and discuss another Point of View and as an additional learning tool.
Genetically modified agriculture in our food chainKim
This document discusses genetically modified agriculture and its presence in the food chain. It begins by defining agricultural biotechnology and genetic engineering as techniques used to alter plant and animal genes. It then notes concerns about Monsanto's role as a large seed company and use of genetically modified organisms in seeds and pharmaceutical development. The document also relays reports from farmers of health issues in animals fed GM corn varieties and mysterious cow deaths in Germany linked to a GM corn variety. Toward the end, it suggests people may unknowingly consume GMOs through grocery store produce, meats and processed foods since labeling is not required in the US.
1) The document discusses how the chemical diacetyl used in microwave popcorn's "butter flavoring" has caused a lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans in popcorn factory workers and may also pose risks to consumers. A government agency was warned about this risk but did not adequately respond.
2) Factory farming, which confines thousands of animals in tight spaces, dominates U.S. meat production and causes environmental and health problems. A new map shows where these factory farms are concentrated. Consumers are impacted by the antibiotic and hormone use in these systems.
3) Recent large meat recalls and various food safety issues over the past year and a half have undermined consumer confidence in food safety.
The document discusses genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and provides several key facts and figures:
1) Only four countries - the United States, Argentina, Canada, and China - grow almost 90% of the world's GM crops. The vast majority of other countries grow no GMOs.
2) Only four main crops - soy, maize, cotton, and oil-seed rape - make up over 99% of GMOs grown, with herbicide tolerance and insect resistance being the dominant traits.
3) Critics are concerned that genetic engineering may have unintended health and environmental impacts, as it allows for novel genetic combinations not possible through natural breeding.
How Regenerative Agriculture Can Save Your Bacon! John Roulac
Presented at the GoOrganic! Seminar in Kentucky, this presentation includes slides on hemp production and invaluable information on regenerative agriculture.
- Giant agribusiness companies like Monsanto have spread genetically modified seeds to nearly half of all supermarket foods through lobbying and regulations that stifle organic farmers.
- These companies tightly control the global food supply through secret meetings and tactics that suppress research showing health risks of GMOs like infertility, tumors, and disease.
- Monsanto in particular dominates the seed industry and uses strong-arm tactics against farmers to force the use of their patented seeds.
This document discusses potential health risks of genetically modified foods. It presents evidence that GMOs may increase risks of allergies, food intolerance, and antibiotic resistance. Studies have found toxic effects of GMOs in rodents including damage to vital organs and increased tumor growth. The widespread use of GMOs has led to increased herbicide and pesticide use, development of resistant weeds and insects, and potential harm to wildlife. Further, few companies dominate the GMO seed market which has economic impacts on farmers.
This document discusses genetically modified (GM) seeds and crops. It provides background on genetic engineering techniques used to modify plant and animal genes. It then discusses some of the key issues and debates around GM crops, including:
- GM crops engineered for pesticide/herbicide resistance and the long term consequences of increased pesticide/herbicide use and resistant weeds.
- Questions around the safety of GM foods for human and environmental health given limitations of testing and studies showing possible health impacts.
- Economic impacts on farmers from high costs of GM seeds/chemicals and loss of seed diversity and self-reliance.
- Concerns about the narrowing of crop diversity and center of origin
Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam - What Role Will Animal Biotechnology Play in Feedin...John Blue
What Role Will Animal Biotechnology Play in Feeding the World? - Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam, Cooperative Extension Specialist, Animal Genomics & Biotechnology, Department of Animal Science, University of California - Davis, from the 2013 NIAA Merging Values and Technology conference, April 15-17, 2013, Louisville, KY, USA.
More presentations at http://www.trufflemedia.com/agmedia/conference/2013-niaa-merging-values-and-technology
This document discusses GMO crops and presents information on both sides of the debate. It summarizes that GMO crops can help control pests like corn borers but also presents concerns about their impact on other insects and potential for gene flow. The document also discusses an incident where unauthorized GMO corn contaminated the food system, highlighting issues with segregating and containing certain GMO crops.
Similar to Marsh v Baxter, Kojonup to Canberra: Foresight, Hindsight and Insight (20)
The trompe l’oeil of Palazzo Salis, Tirano: A Photographic Exhibition by John Paull.
The Palazzo Salis is an architectural treasure of Tirano. The visitor will discover a treasure trove of illusion. Every room has its share of artistic fakery. There are high vaulted ceilings that aren’t highly vaulted at all, deceptive doors, fake windows, illusory staircases, painted-on drapery, faux marble features, and pillars and balconies masquerading as the real thing. The Palazzo Salis is a grand example of the art of illusion and troupe l’oeil.
Trompe l’oeil is the art of deceiving the eye - and the Palazzo Salis of Tirano is a masterpiece of such deception with more ersatz architectural features than real. Little in the Palazzo Salis has escaped as a fit subject for painterly deception. Tin the Palazzo Salis, the mason has withdrawn to let prevail the skills and the imagination of generations of artists.
Tirano is a village of northern Italy, close to the Swiss border. It is the starting point of the Bernina Express, the train that takes advantage of the engineering marvels of viaducts and tunnels to climb up and over the Alps into Switzerland. The route rises to 2250 metres above sea level, through the UNESCO World Heritage site, past glaciers and snow-fed lakes, to St Moritz and Chur.
Tirano and the Valtellina have been sources of immigrants for Australia. Ernesto Genoni (1885-1975), Australia’s pioneer of biodynamic agriculture (http://orgprints.org/27514/18/27514.pdf), was born in Tirano, studied art at the Brera Academy in Milan, served as a stretcher bearer in WWI in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on the Somme, and studied Anthroposophy with Rudolf Steiner in Switzerland, before finally settling in Australia.
John Paull
john.paull@mail.com
2015
Sofia by Night Light: A Photographic Exhibition by John Paulljohnpaull
Sofia by Night Light: A Photographic Exhibition by John Paull. Views of Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria, photographed at night, including the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, and the National Assembly Square.
The Fairtrade Movement: Six Lessons for the Organics Sectorjohnpaull
The document discusses lessons that the organics sector can learn from the success of the Fairtrade movement. It identifies six key lessons: 1) have a clear identifying logo, 2) tell the story and narrative behind products, 3) state the origin or provenance of products. Additionally, the organics sector should 4) engage with specific places of production, 5) engage with education institutions, and 6) engage with a variety of consumer communities. Adopting these six lessons could help the organics sector achieve greater market growth and consumer recognition similar to that seen by the Fairtrade movement over the past decade.
Ernesto Genoni (1885-1975) trained as an artist at the Brera Academy of Fine Art. He served in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) as a stretcher bearer on the battlefields of the Somme in WW1. He met Rudolf Steiner and introduced Anthroposophy and biodynamic agriculture into Australia.
Ernesto Genoni, Australia’s Biodynamics Pioneer (in his own words) by Dr John...johnpaull
Ernesto Genoni, Australia’s Biodynamics Pioneer (in his own words) by Dr John Paull.
Ernesto Genoni met Rudolf Steiner at the Goetheanum, Dornach, Switzerland and he was the first Australian to join the Experimental Circle of Anthroposophical Farmers and Gardeners.
Rudolf Steiner's Koberwitz (Kobierzyce, Poland) - Birthplace of Biodynamic Ag...johnpaull
Rudolf Steiner, in the eight lectures of his Agriculture Course presented at Koberwitz (Kobierzyce) in the summer of 1924, laid down the foundations for the development of biodynamic agriculture and organic farming.
Rudolf Steiner Exhibition - Alchemy of the Everyday - Kosmos - Stuttgart - Ph...johnpaull
Rudolf Steiner, Alchemy of the Everyday, is a major retrospective exhibition of the most prolific of twentieth century philosophers. It is a travelling exhibition created by the Vittra Design Museum, in Weil am Rhein, Germany (near Basle, Switzerland).
Paris by Night Light: A Photographic Exhibition by John Paulljohnpaull
The document appears to be a collection of photographs taken in Paris at night by John Paull, featuring landmarks such as Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Cirque d'Hiver, the Palace of Versailles, and the Pompidou Centre. The photographs are accompanied by captions locating where in Paris each image was taken.
Nano-in-Food: Threat or Opportunity for Organic Food - Workshop by John Paulljohnpaull
IFOAM Nanotechnology Workshop at Modena, Italy:
Nanotechnology is creating engineered particles in the size range 1 to 100 nanometers. At the nano-scale, materials exhibit novel behaviours. Nine billion dollars is currently invested annually in nano-research, with the explicit intention of rapid commercialisation, including food and agriculture applications. Nanotechnology is currently unregulated, and nano-products are not required to be labelled. Health, safety and ecological aspects are poorly understood, and there have been calls for a moratorium. Two consumer surveys indicate that public awareness of nanotechnology is low, there is concern that the risks exceed the benefits, that food safety is declining along with declining confidence in regulatory authorities. A majority of respondents (65%) are concerned about side effects, and that nano-products should be labelled (71%), and only 7% reported they would purchase nano-food. There is an opportunity, for the organic community to take the initiative to develop standards to exclude engineered nanoparticles from organic products. Such a step will service both the organic community and the otherwise nano-averse consumers - just as GMOs have been excluded previously.
一个世纪以前,美国农业学家富兰克林·金就记载了中国的可持续农业实践,并赞扬了四千年来中国对耕地的成功管理和使用。在过去十年,澳大利亚和中国投入有机农业的用地比其他160个有有机农业数据报道的国家都多(澳大利亚新投入430万顷,中国新投入180万顷)。澳大利亚有机农业面积约占世界认证的有机农业总面积的三分之一。中国的“经济奇迹”是以对环境的巨大破坏为代价的,而发展有机农业可以为中国带来一个绿色的未来。不仅如此,消费者也需要安全的食品,他们也愿意为认证的有机食品付更多的钱。本文展示了有机领导力的几测量种方式,以及在有机方面巨大的发展机会。这些机会包括有机水产业,有机野外产业,有机森林产业,国内有机市场和人均有机消费量的增长,以及有机研究成果的发表。全球有机耕地面积占耕地总面积的0.86%,澳大利亚有机耕地面积占其耕地总面积的2.93%,中国有机耕地面积占其耕地总面积的0.36%,这对中国来说还有很大的发展空间。中国现在的环境亟需改善,而有机农业的推广可以成为修复中国环境以及提供健康食品的解决方法。
A century ago, China’s sustainable agricultural practices were documented and praised by US Professor of Agriculture, Franklin King, for the successful stewardship of agricultural land over four millennia. Over the past decade, Australia and China have converted more land to organic agriculture than any other of the 160 countries reporting organic agriculture statistics (for Australia, 4.3 m newly converted hectares, and for China, 1.8 m hectares). Australia accounts for about a third of the world’s certified organic agriculture hectares. China’s ‘economic miracle’ has been at the great cost of environmental degradation. There is a role for the development of organic agriculture in China to help achieve a clean green future. Added to this, consumers want safe food and they attribute a premium price to certified organic food. This paper presents a spectrum of indices of organics leadership and reveals great opportunities for growth in the organics sector. There are opportunities for the development of organic aquaculture, organic wildculture, organic forestry, for growing the domestic market and per capita organic consumption, and for publishing organics research. Organic accounts for 0.86% of global agricultural land, Australia’s agricultural land is 2.93% certified organic, and for China the figure is 0.36% which offers plenty of room for improvement. China’s prevailing levels of pollution call for massive remediation action, and the uptake of organic agriculture can be one component of the solution to restoring China’s environment to a healthy state and to providing safe food for consumers.
Adelaide by Night Light - A Photographic Exhibition - by John Paulljohnpaull
Adelaide
Adelaide is a city of light - the day-light can be intense and the skies are often a brilliant cloudless blue - for a visit remember to pack your sun glasses.
This exhibition takes an alternative view - and presents images of Adelaide by night-light.
Adelaide is the driest city in Australia, it has dozens of wonderful beaches of golden sand, and expansive great deserts to the north.
Adelaide was designed by Anglo-Malay Captain William Light (1786-1839) as a garden city with the CBD a grid of wide roads and five large public squares, all surrounded by 700 hectares of parkland.
Adelaide is Australia's most liveable city (State of Australian Cities Report, 2012) and the world’s fifth most liveable city (Global Liveability Survey, 2012).
Adelaide was settled by the South Australian Corporation as what has been called a “paradise of dissent” (Douglas Pike, 1957). Adelaide was founded on 28th December 1836 (after Sydney, Hobart, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne) to manifest a Utopian vision of George Fife Angas (1789-1879). Adelaide has been described as “the city of churches” and from the outset it offered a refuge from the religious persecution and intolerance in Europe. Such early immigrants included German-speaking Lutherans from Silesia, Prussia (now Poland).
The city is named after Queen Adelaide (1792-1849).
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia.
The population is 1.23 million (2011 census).
The city of Wuhan in Hubei, China, is a sister city to Adelaide.
Black Friday, January 4th, 2013 Dunalley, Tasmania, Australia.
It was a day of record hot temperatures, 41.8° in the capital Hobart, 100 Tasmanian properties were lost to bush fires, and of those, 65 were in the small seaside town of Dunalley (population about 310).
Nearby to Dunalley, on December 3rd, 1642, Abel Tasman’s expedition briefly fluttered the Dutch flag and claimed the land for the Netherlands in the name of Prince Frederick Hendrick.
Business law for the students of undergraduate level. The presentation contains the summary of all the chapters under the syllabus of State University, Contract Act, Sale of Goods Act, Negotiable Instrument Act, Partnership Act, Limited Liability Act, Consumer Protection Act.
A Critical Study of ICC Prosecutor's Move on GAZA WarNilendra Kumar
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan's proposal to its judges seeking permission to prosecute Israeli leaders and Hamas commanders for crimes against the law of war has serious ramifications and calls deep scrutiny.
Corporate Governance : Scope and Legal Frameworkdevaki57
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
MEANING
Corporate Governance refers to the way in which companies are governed and to what purpose. It identifies who has power and accountability, and who makes decisions. It is, in essence, a toolkit that enables management and the board to deal more effectively with the challenges of running a company.
Marsh v Baxter, Kojonup to Canberra: Foresight, Hindsight and Insight
1. Geography & Spatial Sciences Conference
UTAS, Hobart
7-8 June 2016
Dr John Paull
School of Land & Food
University of Tasmania
j.paull@utas.edu.au
Marsh v Baxter,
Kojonup to Canberra:
Foresight, Hindsight and Insight
1
This is a case study from Australia about 2 neighbouring farmers in conflict.
It is between Michael Baxter who planted GM canola and his organic neighbours, Steve & Sue Marsh.
This conflict is a proxy contest between organic & GMO agriculture.
Are these two agricultural technologies destined for co-existence or conflict?
I will give some of the context of organic & GMO agriculture.
Then we will look at the progress of this dispute.
Then we see how, after the expenditure $2m on legal fees, the essence was reduced to a single question - a single sentence about foresight - and that question went to the High Court.
2. The World of Organic Agriculture
2
This is a map of global organic agriculture.
It is a density equalising map, so equal areas of organic agriculture are represented by equal areas on this map.
As you see, Australia is a giant in the organics sector -
with more certified organic agriculture hectares than any other country.
3. Organic Agriculture excludes…
• synthetic fertilisers
• synthetic pesticides
• GMOs
• engineered nanoparticles
• irradiation
3
Organic agriculture is a farming technology that excludes:
synthetic fertilisers, synthetic pesticides, GMOs, engineered nanoparticles & irradiation.
The Marsh v Baxter case is about the GMO exclusion.
4. data: Willer & Lernoud, 2015
Rest
39%
Spain
4% China
5%
USA
5%
Argentina
7%
Australia
40%
Organic (ha) - Big 5
World total = 43.1 m ha
4
Australia accounts for 40% of the worldʼs certified organic agriculture.
It is followed by Argentina, USA, China & Spain - with 165 countries accounting for the residual 39%
5. Data: James, 2014; Image: Paull & Hennig (2016) in press
The World of GMOs
5
This is a map of global GMO agriculture.
As you see, Australia is a minnow in the GMO sector -
just a skeletal presence.
You see that the giants of GMO agriculture are North & South America.
8. Moratorium
Moratorium
canola & cotton
excepted
~Moratorium
Moratorium
canola & cotton
excepted
Moratorium
~Moratorium
canola excepted
No moratorium
Moratorium
8
In Australia, the Gene Technology Regulator approves GMOs.
It is a federal agency that has approved GM cotton & GM canola.
Nevertheless, each state has taken its own position on these approvals.
Some states, including Tasmania & South Australia, have strong moratoria in place.
Other states have a compromised moratorium or no moratorium.
10. Rest of World
99.7%
Australia
0.3%
GMOs (ha)
data: Willer & Lernoud, 2015
data: James, 2014
Rest of World
60%
Australia
40%
Organic Agriculture (ha)
Australia & the World
10
For Australia, when we compare Organic and GMO hectares,
we see that Australia is the world leader in organics
& a very minor player in GMOs.
Australia has 40% of the worldʼs certified organic agriculture (17m ha & growing) &
just 0.3% of the worldʼs GMO agriculture (0.5 m ha & shrinking).
11. GMOs - a contested technology
Corporate
push
Consumer
push back
✘
11
The case of Marsh v Baxter is a battleground of a bigger worldwide conflict.
GMO technology is a contested technology.
The contest is essentially a conflict of corporates versus consumers.
A handful of big corporate pesticide companies are pushing for the uptake of GMOs
& a multitude of consumers are pushing back against GMOs.
12. GMOs - a contested technology
✘ patents
✘ control
✘ “substantially equivalent”
✘ labelling
✘ health
✘ ecology
✘ environment - canetoad
12
There are at least 7 areas of contestation against GMOs.
Should we allow patents over living organisms?
Is it OK for pesticide companies to control our food supply? For corporate profit?
There is the dubious doctrine of ʻsubstantial equivalenceʼ - wanting to have it both ways -
claiming a patent for difference & an exemption from scrutiny on the basis of sameness.
There is the fight to have GM products labelled.
The impacts of GMOs on health, ecology & environment are uncertain & will remain so for generations.
Are GMOs the new canetoads of Australia & the world?
Canetoads seemed like a good idea at the time. Backed by science.
But when things go awry there may be no recall.
13. Canola (rapeseed)
Roundup-Ready canola = Monsantoʼs GM canola
13
Canola is a rebranded rapeseed - it was in need of a rebrand.
The GM canola of this case is Monsantoʼs GM canola which they call Roundup Ready canola.
The GM canola is resistant to the herbicide glyphosate.
14. Image: John Paull, 2015
14
Canola is used for cooking oil.
78% of Australiaʼs canola crop is non-GMO.
GMO labelling on food is mandated in Australia.
This brand proudly proclaims itself as “Non GMO”.
16. google.com
16
The events in the case of Marsh v Baxter occur at Kojonup -
in the south west of Western Australia.
17. Image: John Paull, 2014
17
Kojonup is in the wheat belt of Western Australia,
It is about 260 km from Perth.
The land is flat & dry.
The rainfall is adequate for cereals (530mm).
The winter is reliably wet for growing & the summer is reliably dry for harvesting.
Wheat yields are in line with the low rainfall & lower than international averages (eg 1.6 t/ha).
18. Image: John Paull, 2014
18
The region is renowned for wheat and sheep.
It is a land of big blue skies.
19. Baxter
GMO farmer
900 ha
Marsh
Organic farmer
477 ha
Common boundaryafter WA Supreme Court, 2015
19
The farms of Marsh & Baxter share a common boundary of about 3.6 km -
shown here in pink.
The GMO farm is on the left in yellow.
The organic farm is on the right in blue.
The GM farm is 900 ha & the organic farm is 477 ha.
20. Image: John Paull, 2014
20
The Marsh farm has been a certified organic farm since 2006.
Signs on the boundary clearly identify the farm as organic.
21. Baxter
GMO
900 ha
Marsh
Organic
477 ha
Common boundary
GM
canola
G
M
canola
after WA Supreme Court, 2015
after WA Supreme Court, 2015
non-GM
canola
2010 @ Kojonup, WA
21
In 2010 Baxter planted GM canola in 2 of his boundary paddocks
He planted non-GM canola in a middle paddock.
Baxter says he ran out of GM seed.
22. Baxter
GMO
900 ha
Marsh
Organic
477 ha
Common boundary
GM
canola
G
M
canola
✗
✗
✗
✗
✗
✗
after WA Supreme Court, 2015
non-GM
canola
2010 @ Kojonup, WA
✗
22
The result was that GM canola blew across the organic farm.
Swathes & seeds of GM canola were identified on the organic farm.
The paddocks (7-13) marked with a red cross were decertified due to GM contamination.
This was 70% of the Marsh farm decertified in 2010.
23. GM canola on the boundary?
• malicious ?
• foolhardy ?
• reckless ?
• provocative ?
• threatening ?
• stupid ?
• sound farming practice?
image: WA Supreme Court, 2015
23
There is an unresolved question as to just why Baxter planted GM canola on the boundary of an organic farm.
He had been warned prior that such an action could jeopardise Marshʼs organic certification.
He went and did it anyway.
Was it malicious, foolhardy, reckless, provocative, threatening, stupid, or sound business practice? or some combination?
24. 24
The case went to the Supreme Court in Perth.
As you see, there was some popular support for Marsh.
25. Image: Australian Story, ABC TV, 2015Image: Australian Story, ABC TV, 2015
25
The ABC ran the story.
The big picture is of Monsanto versus the World.
The close-in picture is that of an organic farmer who could lose his farm -
and be bankrupted due to the award of costs.
26. Image: Australian Story, ABC TV, 2015
26
This is the GM farmer, Michael Baxter.
Baxter grows cereal crops, sheep, and canola.
Here he standing in a canola field.
Since that program, the case has gone on to the WA Court of Appeal
and then to the highest court in the land, the High Court in Canberra.
27. • 8-10 Nov 2010 Baxterʼs crop is swathed
• heads cut off & herbicided & windrowed
• wind > swathes, seed pods into organic farm
• 2-4 Dec 2010 swathes collected by Marsh
• Judge: novelty is a defence
Harvest - swathing
Martin (2014)
27
A lot of court time was spent on the method of harvesting of the GM canola.
Baxter had grown non-GM canola for a decade.
Previously he had always direct headed the crop -
so, for all previous crops, the harvester went thru & the seeds were gone from the paddock.
For the GM canola, Baxter changed his practices, he swathed the crop -
cut the stalks, herbicided, windrowed the cut stalks, and left them for 3½ weeks before collecting the cut material from the fields.
28. Contamination?
• 245 GM canola swathes > organic farm
• 1.2 km into the organic farm
• Marsh: “contamination”
• Certifier: “contamination”
• Agreed: “no genetic contamination”
• Judge: “incursion”
Martin (2014)
28
The judge determined that 245 GM canola swathes were blown onto the organic farm.
And that they had intruded 1.2 km into the farm.
To the organic farmer, and to the certifier, this GM material was “contamination”.
But to the judge, it was an “intrusion” rather than contamination.
29. i. Nuisance?
• to prove - interference
• to prove - loss of enjoyment & use
• Judge: no physical damage
• Judge: Marsh can sue the certifier
Martin (2014)
29
There were 4 elements of the case.
For nuisance, the burden of proof is low.
It is to prove that Marsh has lost some use & enjoyment of his land.
The judge found that there was no physical damage to the Marsh farm.
He suggested that Marsh take up the decertification with his certifier rather than Baxter.
30. ii. Negligence?
• To prove: nuisance + carelessness
• Judge: novel harvesting method (swathing)
• Judge: novelty is a defence
Martin (2014)
30
For negligence, the burden of proof is higher.
It had to be proven that Baxter was careless & acting in disregard of his neighbour.
If nuisance cannot be established, then the case for negligence will also most likely fail.
The Judge stated that Baxter had not used swathing as a harvest method before, & so
because of the novelty of the harvesting method, Baxter could not have forseen the wind blowing the GMO material onto the organic farm.
31. iii. Injunction?
• a court order to stop a future action
• ask: 2 km buffer
• ask: 1.5 km buffer
• ask: 1.1 buffer
• ask: no swathing
• no empirical evidence presented
31
Marsh sought to permanently restrain Baxter from some future course of action.
An application for a permanent injunction uplifts a case to the Supreme Court.
The initial request was for a 2km buffer zone between a future GM crop and the organic farm.
Then followed a cascading retreat of demands - down to 1.5 km, then down to 1.1 km, then to zero.
The buffer zone idea was finally relinquished &
replaced with the request for a ban on swathing as a harvest method.
32. 2 views…
Marsh Judge
“contamination” “incursion"
negligence no negligence
nuisance no nuisance
injunction no injunction
$85,000 damages $804,000 costs
“sue Baxter” “sue the certifier”
Martin, 2014
Agreed facts
32
Most facts in the case were agreed between the parties.
However, there was a big difference in the interpretation of the facts.
For Marsh it was “contamination”. For the Judge it was “incursion”.
For Marsh it was negligence. The Judge declared no negligence.
For Marsh it was nuisance. The Judge declared no nuisance.
For Marsh an injunction was called for. The Judge declared no injunction.
For Marsh it was $85,000 of damages. The Judge declared $804,000 of costs against Marsh.
For Marsh it was sue Baxter. The Judge declared sue the certifier.
33. Image: John Paull, 2015
33
The judgement and the award of costs were appealed by Marsh.
This escalated the case to the WA Court of Appeal.
Once again, popular support was demonstrated for the Marshes.
34. Image: John Paull, 2016
34
The appeal was lost
and the case was escalated to the High Court in Canberra.
35. Marsh v Baxter
• Supreme Court of WA 2014 (12 days)
• Court of Appeal (WA) 2015 (3 days)
• High Court (Canberra) 2016 (1 day)
Martin (2014);
McLure, C. J., Newes, D. W., & Murphy, G. H. (2015);
French, R. S., Kiefel, S. M., & Gordon, M. (2016).
35
The case has traversed these 3 tiers of the judicial process.
Each time narrowing the issues, and the time allocated - 12 days - 3 days - 1 day.
36. Marsh v Baxter Timeline
Dec 2003 GM canola approved for Australia
2004 GMO moratorium in WA (Labor)
Sept 2008 Liberal WA government elected
Nov 2008 Marsh warns Baxter
Jan 2010 Exemption for GM canola under WA moratorium
May 2010 Baxter plants GM canola
Dec 2010 Baxter swathes GM canola
Dec 2010 Marsh finds GM seeds, pods, swathes
Dec 2010 Marsh loses organic certification
April 2012 Marsh sues Baxter
Feb 2014 Supreme Court WA (12 days) - lost
Mar 2015 Appeals Court WA (2 appeals) (3 days) - lost
Feb 2016 High Court, Canberra (1 hour) - refused
36
The timeline of the case has been:
Dec 2003 GM canola approved for Australia
2004 GMO moratorium in WA (Labor)
Sept 2008 Liberal WA government elected
Nov 2008 Marsh warns Baxter
Jan 2010 Exemption for GM canola under WA moratorium
May 2010 Baxter plants GM canola
Dec 2010 Baxter swathes GM canola
Dec 2010 Marsh finds GM seeds, pods, swathes
Dec 2010 Marsh loses organic certification
April 2012 Marsh sues Baxter
Feb 2014 Supreme Court WA (12 days) - lost
Mar 2015 Appeals Court WA (2 appeals) (3 days) - lost
Feb 2016 High Court, Canberra (1 hour) - refused
37. “Does the giving of notice by a plaintiff to a
defendant of a risk of harm that later
materialises, that notice being soundly based in
fact, provide the foundation for finding that the
risk was reasonably foreseeable, or does the
defendant also need to have had independent
means of ascertaining whether the risk exists”
(Special leave to appeal application,2016, High Court, Marsh & Anor v Baxter, (P44/2015)
Foresight…
The question of law to be determined by the High Court
37
Ultimately, the case was taken to the High Court.
And this was the question to be determined.
The question was about foresight:
“Does the giving of notice by a plaintiff to a defendant of a risk of harm that later materialises, that notice being soundly based in fact, provide the foundation for finding that the risk was
reasonably foreseeable, or does the defendant also need to have had independent means of ascertaining whether the risk exists”.
38. “Does the giving of notice by a plaintiff to a
defendant of a risk of harm that later
materialises … provide the foundation for
finding that the risk was reasonably
foreseeable…[by] the defendant”
(Special leave to appeal application,2016, High Court, Marsh & Anor v Baxter, (P44/2015)
Foresight…
The question of law to be determined by the High Court
38
It amounts to this, IF I tell you that IF you knock down that pillar then the roof will fall down,
and then you knock down the pillar, and the roof falls in, and then you say that you could not have foreseen that.
In Marsh v Baxter, Marsh, foresaw the GMO risk to his farm, and he gave Baxter fair and timely notice (verbally & in writing)
that a GMO crop on Baxter's land had the potential to contaminate Marsh's farm and that would put Marsh's organic certification in jeopardy.
39. Image: John Paull, 2016
High Court of Australia
Special leave to appeal - refused
The court of last resort
39
The High Court of Australia is the court of last resort.
Special leave to appeal was refused.
This result leaves the case as a train wreck.
40. Image: Australian Story, ABC TV, 2015
Baxterʼs legal costs paid for by Monsanto
Baxters visit New Zealand with Monsanto $
40
The Baxterʼs had a trip to New Zealand paid for by Monsanto -
the provider of the GM canola.
Baxter paid none of his own costs.
They were paid by Monsanto.
41. Image: John Paull, 2015
Costs awarded against Marshes
41
Sue & Steve Marsh face massive cost orders.
Meanwhile, their organic certification has been reinstated.
42. Marsh v Baxter - an Australian precedent
A win for Monsanto
• Impunity to contaminate organic farms
A loss for organic sector
• No security of production
• No buffer zoning
• No reimbursement of economic loss
• Fair warning of harm carried no weight
• Costs disproportionate to damages
42
The Marsh v Baxter case has created an Australian precedent
The case is a win for Monsanto and appears to grant an
impunity to contaminate organic farms
The case is a loss for the organic sector, offering:
No security of production;
No buffer zoning;
No reimbursement of economic loss;
No weight for fair warning of harm;
Costs disproportionate to damages.
43. Kojonup, image: John Paull, 2014
Thank you … Questions …
j.paull@utas.edu.au
43
Thank you.
I welcome your questions.
44. References
CBAN. 2015. Where in the world are GM crops and foods? The reality of GM crops in the ground and on our plates. Ottawa, Canadian
Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN).
French, R. S., Kiefel, S. M., & Gordon, M. (2016). Results of Special Leave Applications: Marsh & Anor v Baxter (P44/2015). 12 February.
Canberra: High Court of Australia.
James, C. (2014). Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2013. Brief 46. Manila, Philippines: International Service for the
Aquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA).
Martin, K. (2014). Judgment: MARSH -v- BAXTER [2014] - WASC 187BC201302729; CIV 1561/2012. Perth: Supreme Court of Western
Australia.
McLure, C. J., Newes, D. W., & Murphy, G. H. (2015). Judgment: MARSH -v- BAXTER [2015] - WASCA 169; CACV 67 of 2014. 3
September. Perth: Supreme Court of Western Australia.
Paull, J. (2008). Beyond equal: from same but different to the doctrine of substantial equivalence. M/C Journal of Media and Culture, 11
(26).
Paull, J. (2014). Organic versus GMO farming: Contamination, what contamination? Journal of Organic Systems, 9(1), 2-4.
Paull, J. (2015). GMOs and organic agriculture: Six lessons from Australia. Agriculture & Forestry, 61(1), 7-14.
Paull, J. (2015). The threat of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to organic agriculture: A case study update. Agriculture & Food, 3,
56-63.
Paull, J., & Hennig, B. (2016). Atlas of Organics: Four maps of the world of organic agriculture. Journal of Organics, 3(1):25-32.
Willer, H., & Lernoud, J. (Eds.). (2015). The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2015: Frick, Switzerland:
Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) & Bonn: IFOAM-Organics International.
Geography & Spatial Sciences Conference
University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
7-8 June 2016
44
CBAN. 2015. Where in the world are GM crops and foods? The reality of GM crops in the ground and on our plates. Ottawa, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN).
French, R. S., Kiefel, S. M., & Gordon, M. (2016). Results of Special Leave Applications: Marsh & Anor v Baxter (P44/2015). 12 February. Canberra: High Court of Australia.
James, C. (2014). Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2013. Brief 46. Manila, Philippines: International Service for the Aquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA).
Martin, K. (2014). Judgment: MARSH -v- BAXTER [2014] - WASC 187BC201302729; CIV 1561/2012. Perth: Supreme Court of Western Australia.
McLure, C. J., Newes, D. W., & Murphy, G. H. (2015). Judgment: MARSH -v- BAXTER [2015] - WASCA 169; CACV 67 of 2014. 3 September. Perth: Supreme Court of Western Australia.
Paull, J. (2008). Beyond equal: from same but different to the doctrine of substantial equivalence. M/C Journal of Media and Culture, 11(26).
Paull, J. (2014). Organic versus GMO farming: Contamination, what contamination? Journal of Organic Systems, 9(1), 2-4.
Paull, J. (2015). GMOs and organic agriculture: Six lessons from Australia. Agriculture & Forestry, 61(1), 7-14.
Paull, J. (2015). The threat of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to organic agriculture: A case study update. Agriculture & Food, 3, 56-63.
Paull, J., & Hennig, B. (2016). Atlas of Organics: Four maps of the world of organic agriculture. Journal of Organics, 3(1):25-32.
Willer, H., & Lernoud, J. (Eds.). (2015). The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2015: Frick, Switzerland: Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) & Bonn:
IFOAM-Organics International.
45. Abstract
Australia is a global leader in organic production and a minnow in global GMO
production. Organic produce consistently sells at a premium, while genetically
modified (GM) produce consistently sells at a discount. In the case of Marsh and
Baxter, the facts were agreed but their interpretation was not and this proved fatal
to the case. This was a dispute between two farmer neighbours at Kojonup,
Western Australia. When the GMO moratorium was lifted in WA, Baxter promptly
planted Monsanto GM canola along his border with his organic neighbour. Marsh
had previously warned Baxter that the organic certification of the Marsh farm was
at risk if it was contaminated by an incursion of GM canola. The foreseen incursion
eventuated and the certifier (NASAA) withdrew the organic certification. Marsh
sued Baxter. The parties agreed that the Marsh loss was $85,000. The case (for
nuisance and negligence) was lost in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, the
WA Court of Appeals, and eventually the High Court of Australia. The cumulative
costs of this litigation will exceed $2 million. Monsanto indemnified the GM farmer,
whereas the costs put the livelihood of the organic farmer at risk. The case offers
no evidence that organic/GM co-existence is viable, and no confidence that current
law provides any protection for organic farming from GM contamination or
predatory planting.
45
Abstract
Australia is a global leader in organic production and a minnow in global GMO production. Organic produce consistently sells at a premium, while genetically modified (GM) produce
consistently sells at a discount. In the case of Marsh and Baxter, the facts were agreed but their interpretation was not and this proved fatal to the case. This was a dispute between two
farmer neighbours at Kojonup, Western Australia. When the GMO moratorium was lifted in WA, Baxter promptly planted Monsanto GM canola along his border with his organic neighbour.
Marsh had previously warned Baxter that the organic certification of the Marsh farm was at risk if it was contaminated by an incursion of GM canola. The foreseen incursion eventuated and
the certifier (NASAA) withdrew the organic certification. Marsh sued Baxter. The parties agreed that the Marsh loss was $85,000. The case (for nuisance and negligence) was lost in the
Supreme Court of Western Australia, the WA Court of Appeals, and eventually the High Court of Australia. The cumulative costs of this litigation will exceed $2 million. Monsanto indemnified
the GM farmer, whereas the costs put the livelihood of the organic farmer at risk. The case offers no evidence that organic/GM co-existence is viable, and no confidence that current law
provides any protection for organic farming from GM contamination or predatory planting.
46. Worldmapper, Paull & Hennig, 2016
The World - Peters Projection
46
Reference map of the world.
Editor's Notes
This is a case study from Australia about 2 neighbouring farmers in conflict.
It is between Michael Baxter who planted GM canola and his organic neighbours, Steve & Sue Marsh.
This conflict is a proxy contest between organic & GMO agriculture.
Are these two agricultural technologies destined for co-existence or conflict?
I will give some of the context of organic & GMO agriculture.
Then we will look at the progress of this dispute.
Then we see how, after the expenditure $2m on legal fees, the essence was reduced to a single question - a single sentence about foresight - and that question went to the High Court.
This is a map of global organic agriculture.
It is a density equalising map, so equal areas of organic agriculture are represented by equal areas on this map.
As you see, Australia is a giant in the organics sector -
with more certified organic agriculture hectares than any other country.
Organic agriculture is a farming technology that excludes:
synthetic fertilisers, synthetic pesticides, GMOs, engineered nanoparticles & irradiation.
The Marsh v Baxter case is about the GMO exclusion.
Australia accounts for 40% of the world’s certified organic agriculture.
It is followed by Argentina, USA, China & Spain - with 165 countries accounting for the residual 39%
This is a map of global GMO agriculture.
As you see, Australia is a minnow in the GMO sector -
just a skeletal presence.
You see that the giants of GMO agriculture are North & South America.
Worldwide, the uptake of GMO agriculture has been very limited.
5 countries account for 90% of GMO plantings.
And North & South America together account for 85% of the world’s GMO plantings.
Just 4 crops account for 99% of GMO agriculture:
soy, corn, cotton & canola.
The Marsh v Baxter case is about GM canola.
In Australia, the Gene Technology Regulator approves GMOs.
It is a federal agency that has approved GM cotton & GM canola.
Nevertheless, each state has taken its own position on these approvals.
Some states, including Tasmania & South Australia, have strong moratoria in place.
Other states have a compromised moratorium or no moratorium.
In Europe, there has been steady resistance to GMOs throughout the continent -
with many moratoria in place.
For Australia, when we compare Organic and GMO hectares,
we see that Australia is the world leader in organics
& a very minor player in GMOs.
Australia has 40% of the world’s certified organic agriculture (17m ha & growing) &
just 0.3% of the world’s GMO agriculture (0.5 m ha & shrinking).
The case of Marsh v Baxter is a battleground of a bigger worldwide conflict.
GMO technology is a contested technology.
The contest is essentially a conflict of corporates versus consumers.
A handful of big corporate pesticide companies are pushing for the uptake of GMOs
& a multitude of consumers are pushing back against GMOs.
There are at least 7 areas of contestation against GMOs.
Should we allow patents over living organisms?
Is it OK for pesticide companies to control our food supply? For corporate profit?
There is the dubious doctrine of ‘substantial equivalence’ - wanting to have it both ways -
claiming a patent for difference & an exemption from scrutiny on the basis of sameness.
There is the fight to have GM products labelled.
The impacts of GMOs on health, ecology & environment are uncertain & will remain so for generations.
Are GMOs the new canetoads of Australia & the world?
Canetoads seemed like a good idea at the time. Backed by science.
But when things go awry there may be no recall.
Canola is a rebranded rapeseed - it was in need of a rebrand.
The GM canola of this case is Monsanto’s GM canola which they call Roundup Ready canola.
The GM canola is resistant to the herbicide glyphosate.
Canola is used for cooking oil.
78% of Australia’s canola crop is non-GMO.
GMO labelling on food is mandated in Australia.
This brand proudly proclaims itself as “Non GMO”.
In Australia, non GM canola sells at a premium of 10%
compared to GM canola.
The events in the case of Marsh v Baxter occur at Kojonup -
in the south west of Western Australia.
Kojonup is in the wheat belt of Western Australia,
It is about 260 km from Perth.
The land is flat & dry.
The rainfall is adequate for cereals (530mm).
The winter is reliably wet for growing & the summer is reliably dry for harvesting.
Wheat yields are in line with the low rainfall & lower than international averages (eg 1.6 t/ha).
The region is renowned for wheat and sheep.
It is a land of big blue skies.
The farms of Marsh & Baxter share a common boundary of about 3.6 km -
shown here in pink.
The GMO farm is on the left in yellow.
The organic farm is on the right in blue.
The GM farm is 900 ha & the organic farm is 477 ha.
The Marsh farm has been a certified organic farm since 2006.
Signs on the boundary clearly identify the farm as organic.
In 2010 Baxter planted GM canola in 2 of his boundary paddocks
He planted non-GM canola in a middle paddock.
Baxter says he ran out of GM seed.
The result was that GM canola blew across the organic farm.
Swathes & seeds of GM canola were identified on the organic farm.
The paddocks (7-13) marked with a red cross were decertified due to GM contamination.
This was 70% of the Marsh farm decertified in 2010.
There is an unresolved question as to just why Baxter planted GM canola on the boundary of an organic farm.
He had been warned prior that such an action could jeopardise Marsh’s organic certification.
He went and did it anyway.
Was it malicious, foolhardy, reckless, provocative, threatening, stupid, or sound business practice? or some combination?
The case went to the Supreme Court in Perth.
As you see, there was some popular support for Marsh.
The ABC ran the story.
The big picture is of Monsanto versus the World.
The close-in picture is that of an organic farmer who could lose his farm -
and be bankrupted due to the award of costs.
This is the GM farmer, Michael Baxter.
Baxter grows cereal crops, sheep, and canola.
Here he standing in a canola field.
Since that program, the case has gone on to the WA Court of Appeal
and then to the highest court in the land, the High Court in Canberra.
A lot of court time was spent on the method of harvesting of the GM canola.
Baxter had grown non-GM canola for a decade.
Previously he had always direct headed the crop -
so, for all previous crops, the harvester went thru & the seeds were gone from the paddock.
For the GM canola, Baxter changed his practices, he swathed the crop -
cut the stalks, herbicided, windrowed the cut stalks, and left them for 3½ weeks before collecting the cut material from the fields.
The judge determined that 245 GM canola swathes were blown onto the organic farm.
And that they had intruded 1.2 km into the farm.
To the organic farmer, and to the certifier, this GM material was “contamination”.
But to the judge, it was an “intrusion” rather than contamination.
There were 4 elements of the case.
For nuisance, the burden of proof is low.
It is to prove that Marsh has lost some use & enjoyment of his land.
The judge found that there was no physical damage to the Marsh farm.
He suggested that Marsh take up the decertification with his certifier rather than Baxter.
For negligence, the burden of proof is higher.
It had to be proven that Baxter was careless & acting in disregard of his neighbour.
If nuisance cannot be established, then the case for negligence will also most likely fail.
The Judge stated that Baxter had not used swathing as a harvest method before, & so
because of the novelty of the harvesting method, Baxter could not have forseen the wind blowing the GMO material onto the organic farm.
Marsh sought to permanently restrain Baxter from some future course of action.
An application for a permanent injunction uplifts a case to the Supreme Court.
The initial request was for a 2km buffer zone between a future GM crop and the organic farm.
Then followed a cascading retreat of demands - down to 1.5 km, then down to 1.1 km, then to zero.
The buffer zone idea was finally relinquished &
replaced with the request for a ban on swathing as a harvest method.
Most facts in the case were agreed between the parties.
However, there was a big difference in the interpretation of the facts.
For Marsh it was “contamination”. For the Judge it was “incursion”.
For Marsh it was negligence. The Judge declared no negligence.
For Marsh it was nuisance. The Judge declared no nuisance.
For Marsh an injunction was called for. The Judge declared no injunction.
For Marsh it was $85,000 of damages. The Judge declared $804,000 of costs against Marsh.
For Marsh it was sue Baxter. The Judge declared sue the certifier.
The judgement and the award of costs were appealed by Marsh.
This escalated the case to the WA Court of Appeal.
Once again, popular support was demonstrated for the Marshes.
The appeal was lost
and the case was escalated to the High Court in Canberra.
The case has traversed these 3 tiers of the judicial process.
Each time narrowing the issues, and the time allocated - 12 days - 3 days - 1 day.
The timeline of the case has been:
Dec 2003 GM canola approved for Australia
2004 GMO moratorium in WA (Labor)
Sept 2008 Liberal WA government elected
Nov 2008 Marsh warns Baxter
Jan 2010 Exemption for GM canola under WA moratorium
May 2010 Baxter plants GM canola
Dec 2010 Baxter swathes GM canola
Dec 2010 Marsh finds GM seeds, pods, swathes
Dec 2010 Marsh loses organic certification
April 2012 Marsh sues Baxter
Feb 2014 Supreme Court WA (12 days) - lost
Mar 2015 Appeals Court WA (2 appeals) (3 days) - lost
Feb 2016 High Court, Canberra (1 hour) - refused
Ultimately, the case was taken to the High Court.
And this was the question to be determined.
The question was about foresight:
“Does the giving of notice by a plaintiff to a defendant of a risk of harm that later materialises, that notice being soundly based in fact, provide the foundation for finding that the risk was reasonably foreseeable, or does the defendant also need to have had independent means of ascertaining whether the risk exists”.
It amounts to this, IF I tell you that IF you knock down that pillar then the roof will fall down,
and then you knock down the pillar, and the roof falls in, and then you say that you could not have foreseen that.
In Marsh v Baxter, Marsh, foresaw the GMO risk to his farm, and he gave Baxter fair and timely notice (verbally & in writing)
that a GMO crop on Baxter's land had the potential to contaminate Marsh's farm and that would put Marsh's organic certification in jeopardy.
The High Court of Australia is the court of last resort.
Special leave to appeal was refused.
This result leaves the case as a train wreck.
The Baxter’s had a trip to New Zealand paid for by Monsanto -
the provider of the GM canola.
Baxter paid none of his own costs.
They were paid by Monsanto.
Sue & Steve Marsh face massive cost orders.
Meanwhile, their organic certification has been reinstated.
The Marsh v Baxter case has created an Australian precedent
The case is a win for Monsanto and appears to grant an
impunity to contaminate organic farms
The case is a loss for the organic sector, offering:
No security of production;
No buffer zoning;
No reimbursement of economic loss;
No weight for fair warning of harm;
Costs disproportionate to damages.
Thank you.
I welcome your questions.
CBAN. 2015. Where in the world are GM crops and foods? The reality of GM crops in the ground and on our plates. Ottawa, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN).
French, R. S., Kiefel, S. M., & Gordon, M. (2016). Results of Special Leave Applications: Marsh & Anor v Baxter (P44/2015). 12 February. Canberra: High Court of Australia.
James, C. (2014). Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2013. Brief 46. Manila, Philippines: International Service for the Aquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA).
Martin, K. (2014). Judgment: MARSH -v- BAXTER [2014] - WASC 187BC201302729; CIV 1561/2012. Perth: Supreme Court of Western Australia.
McLure, C. J., Newes, D. W., & Murphy, G. H. (2015). Judgment: MARSH -v- BAXTER [2015] - WASCA 169; CACV 67 of 2014. 3 September. Perth: Supreme Court of Western Australia.
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Paull, J. (2015). GMOs and organic agriculture: Six lessons from Australia. Agriculture & Forestry, 61(1), 7-14.
Paull, J. (2015). The threat of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to organic agriculture: A case study update. Agriculture & Food, 3, 56-63.
Paull, J., & Hennig, B. (2016). Atlas of Organics: Four maps of the world of organic agriculture. Journal of Organics, 3(1):25-32.
Willer, H., & Lernoud, J. (Eds.). (2015). The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends 2015: Frick, Switzerland: Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) & Bonn: IFOAM-Organics International.
Abstract
Australia is a global leader in organic production and a minnow in global GMO production. Organic produce consistently sells at a premium, while genetically modified (GM) produce consistently sells at a discount. In the case of Marsh and Baxter, the facts were agreed but their interpretation was not and this proved fatal to the case. This was a dispute between two farmer neighbours at Kojonup, Western Australia. When the GMO moratorium was lifted in WA, Baxter promptly planted Monsanto GM canola along his border with his organic neighbour. Marsh had previously warned Baxter that the organic certification of the Marsh farm was at risk if it was contaminated by an incursion of GM canola. The foreseen incursion eventuated and the certifier (NASAA) withdrew the organic certification. Marsh sued Baxter. The parties agreed that the Marsh loss was $85,000. The case (for nuisance and negligence) was lost in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, the WA Court of Appeals, and eventually the High Court of Australia. The cumulative costs of this litigation will exceed $2 million. Monsanto indemnified the GM farmer, whereas the costs put the livelihood of the organic farmer at risk. The case offers no evidence that organic/GM co-existence is viable, and no confidence that current law provides any protection for organic farming from GM contamination or predatory planting.