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April 7 --  MONTVILLE BAN ON GENETIC ENGINEERING COULD HURT STATE’S ECONOMY

A ban on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), recently enacted by the Town of Montville, could hurt the state’s efforts to attract biotechnology companies and investment, warns the Maine Biotechnology Information Bureau.  “Whether they intended to or not, the Town of Montville banned all biotechnology activity, including research and development, in their town,” said Douglas Johnson, Ph.D., executive director of the bureau.  “If The Jackson Laboratory were located in Montville, they would have to shut down.”

At town meeting on March 29, Montville voters passed an ordinance entitled “Town of Montville Genetically Modified Organisms Ordinance.”  The ordinance makes it “unlawful for a person, partnership, firm, or organization of any kind to produce genetically modified organisms in the Town of Montville for a period of ten (10) years.”

“Maine is investing millions in research and development in order to attract private investment to the state in an effort to grow the state’s economy,” Johnson said.  “The Montville ban says biotechnology is not welcome here.  Who would invest in Maine knowing that any town in the state could suddenly make their business illegal?”

In an article posted on the Maine Biotechnology Information Bureau blog, Johnson challenges state officials and scientists to speak out against Montville’s attack on biotechnology.  “If state officials and scientists remain silent, the residents of Montville will get their wish as the state slips quietly back into the 19th century,” the article concludes.
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September 15 -- COMMON GROUND FAIR SPEAKER A QUACK

A keynote speaker at this year’s Common Ground Fair has been labeled a “quack” by Maine’s leading biotechnology advocate.   The executive director of the Maine Biotechnology Information Bureau in Stonington also accused the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association of promoting a divisive agenda by inviting an unqualified speaker and critic of modern biotechnology to speak at the fair’s popular Saturday session.
Jeffrey Smith, the author of two self-published books critical of biotechnology in farming, is scheduled to speak at the fair on Saturday, September 20.  He lives in Fairfield, Iowa, the home of Maharishi University and participated in a Maharishi Natural Law Party 1996 press conference in Washington, D.C. to demonstrate the technique of “yogic flying.”  He also ran for Congress as a Maharishi Natural Law Party candidate.  Smith, who has a degree in business administration, is executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology.
“Smith has absolutely no scientific training,” said Doug Johnson, executive director of the Maine Biotechnology Information Bureau, “Yet he bills himself as the ‘leading spokesperson on the health dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).’  He is completely unqualified, yet he presumes to criticize the preeminent scientists of our time.  He’s a quack.”
Smith’s most recent self-published book “Genetic Roulette” lists sixty-five alleged health dangers from eating foods containing GMO ingredients.  According to Johnson, every one of the sixty-five supposed dangers has been refuted by experts.
“Smith drags out every tired, worn out canard from the opponents of biotechnology and parades them as fact.  No self-respecting scientific institution in the world would give this man the stage, it’s a shame that MOFGA has seen fit to bring him to Maine.”
Johnson also had some sharp criticism for MOFGA.  “It’s time for MOFGA to end its attacks on biotechnology and the Maine farmers who choose to employ it,” said Johnson.  “Promoting your ideas by tearing down other people is not the Maine way.”
For more information about Jeffrey Smith read the Maine BioBlog at http://mainebioblog.blogspot.com.
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October 3 -- BIOTECH CROPS PROVIDING ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

Biotech crops have yielded significant global economic and environmental benefits and are making important contributions to global food security, according to a recent report from PG Economics in the UK.  “Since 1996, biotech crop adoption has contributed to reducing the release of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, decreased pesticide spraying and significantly boosted farmers’ incomes,” said Graham Brookes, director of PG Economics, co-author of the report.

Key findings:

  • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture equal to removing 6.6 million cars from the road each year.
  • Reduced pesticide spraying by 286 million kg, a decrease of 7.8%.
  • Net economic benefits at the farm level of nearly $7 billion in 2006 and $33.8 billion for the eleven year period biotech crops have been planted.
  • Of the total farm income benefit, 43% ($14.54 billion) has been due to yield gains, with the balance arising from reductions in the cost of production.
  • Farmers in developing countries obtained the largest share of the farm income gains in 2006 (54%) and over the eleven year period obtained 49% of the total ($33.8 billion) gains.
  • Biotech traits have added 53.3 million tons and 47.1 million tons respectively to global production of soybeans and corn.

Global impact of biotech crops: socio-economic and environmental effects 1996-2006, PG Economics, Dorchester, U.K., June 2008