Tech | July 13, 2011 | 35 comments

Hungary destroys all GMO maize fields

source: http://www.allaboutfeed.net/news/hungary-destroys-all-gmo-maize-fields-11994.html

Image
JanforGore
Some 400 hectares of maize found to have been grown with genetically modified seeds have been destroyed throughout Hungary deputy state secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Lajos Bognar said.

The GMO maize has been ploughed under, said Lajos Bognar, but pollen has not spread from the maize, he added. Unlike several EU members, GMO seeds are banned in Hungary.

Authorities have been checking for GMO crops since the beginning of this year as a new regulation came in force this March which stipulates GMO checks before seeds are introduced to the market.

The checks will continue despite the fact that seed traders are obliged to make sure that their products are GMO free, Bognar said.

Compensation unlikely

Controllers have found Pioneer and Monsanto products among the seeds planted. The free movement of goods within the EU means that authorities will not investigate how the seeds arrived in Hungary but they will check where the goods can be found, Bognar said.

Regional public radio reported that the two biggest international seed producing companies are affected in the matter and GMO seeds could have been sown on up to thousands of hectares in the country.

Local farmers complain that the use of GMO seeds has only been revealed now when it is too late to sow again and the entire year's harvest has been lost.

Another problem is that the company that distributed the seeds in Baranya county is under liquidation, therefore if any compensation is paid by the international seed producers, the money will be paid primarily to that company's creditors, rather than the farmers.
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  2. tags:
    Environment,  Monsanto,  Organic,  transgenic contamination,  9 more
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35 comments // Hungary destroys all GMO maize fields

  • theknopfknows
    • 0
      theknopfknows  
    • Image

    • First Austria now Hungary, Father from Pest of Budapest. Mother from Vienna I am the left overs of Austro-Hungarian empire. Hungary was Communism for a long time 1947/1984! They see this Corporate take over as another form of Communism.

    • 11 months ago
  • artemis6
  • COMMONSENSEFORCOMMONGOOD_COM
  • COMMONSENSEFORCOMMONGOOD_COM
  • Earl_Dixon
  • Milieu
  • trut
    • +3
      trut  

    • Hungary better be prepared for terrorists to strike. That's what happens when American companies are shown the door. Possibly even assassinations.

    • 11 months ago
  • JanforGore
    • +2
      JanforGore  
    • trut:

      That's true. There have already been threats. And also intimidation of scientists doing independent testing and reporting their findings regarding immunity, reproduction, allergies, etc. The environmental minister of India I believe was also just relieved of his duties. There is no doubt we are in a war for our food sovereignty, but it is a war worth fighting.

    • 11 months ago
  • NiceN
  • Richard_Wyatt
  • ecoalex
    • +3
      ecoalex  

    • I have grown my own open pollinated yellow dent field for over 35 years in Pa and Ca.It tests 12% protein,and has many trace minerals hybrid corn does not have.I don't use herbicide ,which makes for higher quality corn with no residue.I ,and people that have eaten my pork and poultry say it's the best,it's the corn.I am glad Hungary is destroying the GM corn.Hopefully next year with vigilance in the Spring,there will be no GM corn grown in Hungary, and other countries will take heed that GM corn and other crops damage the environment and health of the animals and humans.

    • 11 months ago
  • JanforGore
    • +6
      JanforGore  

    • This is also why there is now a full court press persuasion campaign going on in Africa from Monsanto with the help of Bill Gates. They see the markets here are no longer viable. Even BASF pulled all of their funding for GM potatoes in the EU. Farmers of Africa, please take note and be aware.

    • 11 months ago
  • CalgarC
  • GRC54
    • +3
      GRC54  

    • I have no use for GMO seeds or young plants. Where I get my veggie plants the only seeds he uses are the ones from his last crop which are organic.
      I grow my own veggies organically and they are good. Good for you Hungary.
      You did the right thing.

    • 11 months ago
  • warman1138
    • +5
      warman1138  

    • WOW! Smart move by Hungary.In the future Hungary might be one of the few places left with untainted crop genes.Good for them and thanx JanforGore.

    • 11 months ago
  • Jakaro
    • +1
      Jakaro  

    • Very good. Except for this part:
      "the money will be paid primarily to that company's creditors, rather than the farmers."

    • 11 months ago
  • JanforGore
  • cmc101
    • 0
      cmc101  
    • Jakaro:

      Conagra does that here in Mo to their share croppers
      any Disaster related funds from insurance or Government goes to Conagra to be disperse
      not to the farmer

    • 11 months ago
  • alexsmith01
  • mickyjon420
  • JanforGore
  • mickyjon420
    • +1
      mickyjon420  
    • JanforGore:

      Well yeah, but it is a little late in their season to replant. sounds like Monsanto planned this for someone to profit from the loss maybe? oh yeah Hi Jan and great article, (sorry about the paranoia)

    • 11 months ago
  • JanforGore
    • +2
      JanforGore  
    • mickyjon420:

      Yes I guess they will forego having it this season. And I agree it is very possible Monsanto planned it and made a profit from it. That's not paranoia.Their track record speaks for itself.

    • 11 months ago
  • mickyjon420
  • PigFarmington
  • KeithdaSneith
  • Wyley_Wombat
    • 0
      Wyley_Wombat  

    • "The GMO maize has been ploughed under, said Lajos Bognar, but pollen has not spread from the maize, he added. Unlike several EU members, GMO seeds are banned in Hungary."

      Well if the picture posted with the article is actually the corn in question, the above quote is untrue. The corn in the picture is in tassle, and that means it spreading pollen into the wind.

      None the less, a good thing has been done.

    • 11 months ago
  • chew_chew
  • JanforGore
  • JanforGore
    • +5
      JanforGore  

    • These are the lengths these companies will go to in order to force these seeds in places where they are banned, through trickery and deception and by buying out the organic seed market. Good to see that the government of Hungary took the right steps but there is no telling now where the contamination has spread or how many will be affected.

    • 11 months ago
  • queenofit
    • +4
      queenofit  
    • JanforGore:

      I agree, the way these companies try and bulldoze their products is absolutely beyond belief. They seem to be mafia style in that they just ignore the laws and do as they please. So happy to read that Hungary is not falling for these strong-arm tactics, if only our own country would follow suit. I just wish there was a faster way for us to proceed. Thanks for the good info, Hungary is doing the safe and morally right thing.

    • 11 months ago
  • JanforGore
    • +7
      JanforGore  
    • queenofit:

      Absolutely. Monsanto is more than capable of corporate espionage considering they have already been convicted of bribery and false advertising. And I'm sure they aren't alone. If I didn't know any better I would think they deliberately contaminate organic farrmers right here in the US so they can then sue them and put them out of business. Evil doesn't even begin to describe them. So when you see countries like Hungary standing up to them then look at the US which always touts itself to be so mighty and to stand up for truth and justice while supporting them it is a huge letdown.

    • 11 months ago
  • cmc101
  • JanforGore
    • +4
      JanforGore  
    • cmc101:

      I believe it has already begun. And when the USDA realizes we have no countries to trade with because none of them will allow GMOs in their countries, then you will see a turnaround. We must boycott and make them unviable in the global markets. Spreading awareness is then key.

    • 11 months ago
  • queenofit
    • +1
      queenofit  
    • JanforGore:

      Good point Jan, and certainly explains their willingness to resort to any tactics to spread their evil seeds, (as they tried to in Hungary) if they cannot legally contaminate the lands, they will do it unlawfully, just proves how sinister their efforts are and how dangerous this company and their products can be. We must be diligent and if we cannot beat them by stopping them in their tracks, at least we can nip at their tails by continuing to educate the masses. Thanks so much for all your work.

    • 11 months ago
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