GM Grains Bring Less Money to Growers
Japan Pays Premium for Pure, non-GM Crops
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The Progress Report has always favored a true free market, not a market laced with favoritism, soaked in special privilege and weighted down with taxes on people. We have reported frequently on the scientific studies that question the genetic engineering of foods. The makers of such foods use political lobbying instead of science to ensure their profits. Now, the corporations favoring genetically-manipulated crops have run head-first into a brick wall -- the marketplace. Their tainted crops are selling poorly compared to the pure varieties. What will the corporate response be? Perhaps they will seek to have the free market removed, and require all consumers to buy tainted food with no choice? Here are a few excerpts from an article by Reuters correspondent Aya Takada. |
TOKYO -- Japanese have recently bought corn and soybeans grown exclusively from non genetically modified (GM) seeds, at premiums roughly 40-50 percent higher than those for mixed GM and non-GM crops, traders said.
As for soybeans grown in the U.S. states of Indiana, Ohio and Michigan (IOM) that contain higher protein and are suitable for food use, non-GM soybeans were purchased at premiums of 50-60 cents a bushel over unsegregated IOM soybeans.
"Japanese food companies will start receiving non-GM corn deliveries from the U.S. this month. The volume of imports (of non-GM U.S. corn to Japan) will likely reach 70,000-80,000 tonnes by the end of this year," said a trader at a grain trading house.
"The imports are mainly for use in beer production. Premiums are 50 percent higher (than unsegregated U.S. corn prices)," he added.
"Japanese are buying non-GM soybeans with high premiums. This will probably be taken as an incentive for U.S. farmers to increase planting of non-GM soybean varieties next year," said a trader at a major Japanese trading house.
According to results published Monday of a survey conducted by Japan's leading economic daily, 66 percent of food companies polled by the paper had decided or were considering switching to non-GM ingredients.
Will the genetic manipulators learn from the free market, or will they attack it? Tell your opinion to The Progress Report:
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