Farmers, consumers and civil society organizations in Australia, Canada and the U.S. released a joint statement confirming their collective commitment to stop commercialization of genetically engineered (GE) wheat. (1) In 2004, global pressure prevented biotechnology company Monsanto from pushing GE wheat onto an unwilling market.
The statement “Definitive Global Rejection of Genetically Engineered Wheat” was released to counter a May 14 “Wheat Commercialization Statement” from industry lobby groups in the three countries. (2) The industry pledged to “work toward the goal of synchronized commercialization of biotech traits in our wheat crops.” Today’s statement was released by 15 groups in Australia, Canada and the US, including the Organic Consumers Association, and counters the six stated industry arguments in favor of GE wheat.
“GE wheat is a potential disaster of huge proportions. People do not want GE in their bread,” said Terry Boehm, Vice President of the National Farmers Union of Canada, “We refuse to allow industry groups to restart any campaign to commercialize GE wheat.”
The group statement centers on the pledge: “In light of our existing experience with genetic engineering, and recognizing the global consumer rejection of genetically engineered wheat, we restate our definitive opposition to GE wheat and our commitment to stopping the commercialization of GE traits in our wheat crops.”

“Genetic engineering for wheat would be a calamity for all wheat farmers. Consumers across the world have already rejected the idea of GE wheat but corporations are intent on controlling this crop through their gene patents,” said Julie Newman of the Network of Concerned Farmers in Australia.In 2004, Monsanto withdrew its applications for approval of GE wheat in Canada and the U.S., due to intensive consumer and farmer protest.  The wheat is engineered to be tolerant to Monsanto’s brand-name herbicide Roundup.”Monsanto and industry groups in our countries need to abandon their agendaof forcing GE wheat onto a market that doesn’t want or need it,” said Katherine Ozer, Executive Director of the National Family Farm Coalition in the U.S.
“The greatest strides in developing productive, profitable and sustainable modern wheat varieties have been made through traditional breeding methods, not genetic engineering,” said Bill Wenzel, Policy Consultant with the Center for Food Safety and Director of the Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering.  “Introduction of GE wheat will increase seed costs for farmers, keeping wheat producers under the thumb of five international seed companies.”The groups are also asking other organizations around the world to join them by signing on to the statement before August 31, 2009 (at www.cban.ca/globalstopGEwheat).

It’s that time of the season. Hopefully, it will be a quite season for West Nile like it has been so far for the new flu strain.

Lincoln — The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is now accepting dead birds for testing for West Nile virus. Mosquito trapping for additional surveillance has also begun.

“Finding the virus in birds and mosquitoes gives public health officials an indication of the level of the virus in the area and the risk to human beings of contracting the disease,” said Annette Bredthauer, state public health veterinarian.

This year the department is accepting all species of birds for testing.

“Because the types of birds that we previously tested have had their numbers decimated by the West Nile virus, we have to expand our surveillance to other birds,” Dr. Bredthauer said. “In previous years, blue jays, crows, hawks and owls were the only ones accepted for testing, but their numbers are down considerably.”

People who find dead birds should contact their local health department. (A list of local health departments can be found at www.dhhs.ne.gov/puh/oph/lhd.htm). Testing can only be conducted on birds that are in good condition, with no evidence of maggots or rotting.

Last year, 67 birds in the state were tested and 17 found to be positive for the virus. Of the 1,592 mosquito pools collected, 81 were positive.

Mosquito trapping will take place in 24 counties in Nebraska. The pools of mosquitoes are tested for the virus.

There were 45 human cases of the disease reported last year. This compares to 163 in 2007, 264 in 2006, 188 in 2005, 57 in 2004, 2,366 in 2003 and 174 in 2002. There were no cases prior to 2002, the year the disease found its way to Nebraska from the East Coast.

West Nile is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. In turn, the mosquito can pass the virus to humans.

West Nile fever includes flu-like symptoms such as fever and muscle weakness. Symptoms of West Nile encephalitis include inflammation of the brain, disorientation, convulsions and paralysis. People over 50 and those with weak immune systems are especially vulnerable to the disease.

Insect repellents can save lives, according to the state’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joann Schaefer.

“We need to do the things that can prevent mosquito bites, like wearing insect repellant and long-sleeved shirts and pants at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active,” she said.

People can “fight the bite” to reduce their risk by:

• • Using a repellant that contains DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus;
  • Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes and socks;
  • Taking extra precautions when going outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active; and
  • Removing standing water where mosquitoes breed.

For more information, visit the HHS Web site at http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/wnv/

Some tips from Karen Blakeslee, Kansas State University Research and Extension food scientist when it come to shopping at farmers’ markets.

• Go early for best selection.

• Allow time to shop leisurely, to survey the market and make selections.

• Encourage children (and family and friends as well) to shop – and learn—with you; leaving pets at home is, however, recommended.

• Don’t be shy. Ask about less familiar foods, such as a pink – or purple – heirloom tomato, white eggplant, unfamiliar squash or greens.

• Take advantage of the opportunity to get to know the grower. Ask where the food was grown, when it was harvested, how to select the best of the crop and cook, store, or freeze for future use.

• Plan to choose one or two new food items or varieties each week to add flavor, color, texture and health-promoting nutrients to meals.

• Buy quantities sized to fit your household; overbuying increases waste and runs up food costs unnecessarily.

• Carry a basket or re-usable grocery bags to reduce waste.

• Store foods promptly to preserve freshness; use perishable items first.

• As a general rule, wait to wash fresh produce until ready to use it. For example, wash melons before slicing and serving to reduce the risk of transferring naturally occurring bacteria found in the soil in which the melon was grown to the edible portion of the melon.

Brushing off dirt, sand or other debris from freshly harvested crops grown either in soil or in close proximity to the ground is, however, recommended.