[Terrapreta] Roundup & Monsanto

[MFH]

There are debates on many aspects of crops engineered to be resistant to
Roundup, and a scary one is that there could be transfer of the resistant
genes to some weeds. If this is correct then it could mean that (a) the
genes could transfer to many other plants and (b) some weeds would no longer
be able to be controlled by Roundup. So, full circle.

 

Irrespective, I don't believe that the introduction of food crops that are
resistant to any herbicide is in the best interests of the planet. The main
objective is to enhance one company's profits, and to provide that company
with increasing control of the world's food crops.

 

Fukuoka proved over a period of 25 years (up to 1978) that he could achieve
yields per acre as high as the most industrialised farming, and without
chemicals, fertilisers of machinery. Admittedly his labour inputs were
relatively high, but he had few other costs. His methods include building up
high levels of carbon in the soil, which he achieved mostly through mulch,
plus adding ash when available (which would inevitably have some charcoal).
Elaine Ingham claims that her methods can eliminate hard pans in as little
as 6 months, and produce soils with good tilth without the plough.

 

It seems clear that the addition of agricultural chemicals and fertilisers
reduces the "life" in soils. Add to this the compaction by machinery and the
soil becomes merely a substance in which to anchor plants, while they are
fed and watered artificially. Hydroponics on a grand scale.

 

There is another aspect to food production that Fukuoka mentions which isn't
normally in the productivity debates. Plants harvest energy from the sun. No
matter how good the soil is or how much fertiliser is added, the amount of
energy falling on an acre is the final determinant of how much biomass can
be produced.

 

Max H

 

  _____  

From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
[mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Michael Bailes
Sent: Sunday, 25 May 2008 1:12 AM
To: Terra Preta
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] No till faming

 

Can you point to any research that shows Rounup et all kill or otherwise
damge soil micro-organisms?
m

2008/5/25 Nikolaus Foidl <nfoidl at desa.com.bo>:

Hi Michael!

The linkage to Tp is , if we believe that the main positive effect of
Charcoal is breeding ground for Microbial live and on the other hand the
physical ability of the charcoal is to adsorb and absorb those types of
toxins for the bacterial and fungal live we so hardly want to promote, then
we have a problem and not a small one.
Best regards Nikolaus





On 5/24/08 10:37 AM, "Michael Bailes" <michaelangelica at gmail.com> wrote:

You are obviously very concerned about this, but what does it have to do
with TP or char amended soils?

I doubt very much that Glyphosate will ever be banned when now, 2/3 of the
planet are using DDT again and we know what that does. Glyphosate does not
have the rap sheet of chlorinated hydrocarbons(DDT DDE Dieldrin Toxaphene
etc etc) or organo-phosphates..

There seems to be little research done on Glyphosate, that shows
bio-accumulation or too many other adverse effects.
That done a few years ago on how it killed frogs was side-stepped by
Monsanto by adding a different surfactant and promoting the new Roundup
Biactive as a safe alternative.
I have seen one research paper since saying it didn't kill four varieties of
Australian Frogs, but you would need to be on Monsanto's case full time to
see what is really happening.

Personally I think making a food plant resistant to a weedicide you sell and
then selling both is immoral.
I think there is some justification for GM crops if they help feed people ,
but this is an obvious, amoral, money-making, corporate play/ploy.

I would love to see TP stay true to its roots and stay organic; but it is a
big world out there and I can't shoot all the people I'd like to :).
Michael

2008/5/24 Nikolaus Foidl <nfoidl at desa.com.bo>:

Dear Michael!

That is exactly the perversion of 0-tillage. It started 30 or more years ago
with the intention to escape the high costs of mechanical weeding 
Please people, once in your live, get real. Lets speak charcoal meanwhile
Monsanto or Pioneer does not sell or promote it.

I rest my case
Nikolaus





On 5/24/08 7:37 AM, "Michael Bailes" <michaelangelica at gmail.com> wrote:

The CSIRO seems very keen about it here and is promoting it both here and in
SE Asia.
They say it helps increase soil micro-organisms and enhances plant growth
due to better biological activity. Some plant diseases are prevented.

Does it have to always include weedicides?
I note that even the CSIRO is talking about plant weedicide resistance.

 

 

 




-- 
Michael the Archangel
"Politicians will never solve The Problem;
because they don't realise they are The Problem.".
-Robert ( Bob ) Parsons 1995

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