[compost_tea] Re: BIG MONEY FOODWEB?

From: Kirk Leonard (kirk@oregonatural.com)
Date: Mon Dec 02 2002 - 16:20:05 EST


I agree with Merla, and I am concerned. In the middle of a good rap on soil
biology, this appears:
>The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
>(CGIAR), an association of public and private members supporting a
>system of 16 Future Harvest Centers, works in more than 100
>countries, mobilizing the "cutting-edge science" that CGIAR says
>aims to reduce hunger and poverty, improve human nutrition and
>health, and protect the environment.
>
>Increasingly, bioengineering and genetic modification of crops
>underpins CGIAR's approach to those issues. Still, CIAT has other
>offerings, among them a new climate database tool based on 20 years
>of climate data....
Huh? In the middle of a talk about soil organisms, this GE thing is
announced? Have I read this wrong?

Then I read on, ok good story. Aha, they quote Doc E, ending with 'before
moving on to its next victim," though. What kind of a quote is that?
Elaine is looking for victims? I don't think so.

I didn't really think a lot more about it until I got to the "Soil Biology
Primer" reference at the end. The link led to a page that "cannot be
found." And two people who were associated with but not responsible for the
USDA Primer in 1999 are cited now as "editors" and Elaine is not attributed,
though in the original she was responsible for nearly all of it. Hmmm?

Is this the reach of big money? I do believe it could be. Anyone who has
seen the new Tugel & Lewandowski version of the USDA Soil Biology Primer
should tell us about it.

-- Kirk

----- Original Message -----
From: <compost_tea@yahoogroups.com>
To: <compost_tea@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 6:29 AM
Subject: [compost_tea] Digest Number 124

Message: 25
   Date: Mon, 02 Dec 2002 06:16:45 -0800
   From: Merla Barberie <herbnmerla@supersat2.net>
Subject: Re: BIG MONEY COMING TO A FOODWEB NEAR YOU

This is the first time I have ever contributed to this list. I am in the
first stages of CT experience and don't have much money to buy inputs to add
to my BD compost. We've had excellent results just making CT in a 5 gallon
bucket...just the improved quality of the plants and their drought
resistance.

You people are mostly professionals and some experienced farmers. Although
I have been doing BD gardening for a long time and sell herbs on the local
farmer's market, I have a lot to learn about CT. Thank you all for the
information that I am getting by reading your emails.

I am answering Allan's submission because I am elated that microorganisms in
rainforest are getting noticed, but I remember that the first patent on life
was for a bacteria. I'm afraid that the interest will be slanted toward
making a big profit and toward keeping anyone else from using a particular
microbe. This would be stopping the whole CT movement in its tracks before
it has even begun.

Shouldn't we start making noises about this to the UN?

Best,

Merla Barberie
Sandpoint, Idaho







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