Monsanto Offered $10M to Prove GMO Safety: Monsanto Never Shows…
Monsanto can't prove GMO safety standards
On Monday December 21, students from Livingston High School joined Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai, an American scientist with a PhD in systems biology from MIT, to debate the ‘safety’ of GMO crops. Monsanto was invited to come and prove that there are indeed GMO safety assessment standards, and was even offered a $10 million enticement to send representatives to argue its side. But the company was entirely absent from the event. [1]
Dr. Ayyadurai had offered Monsanto a healthy prize for proving their GM crops such as soy, corn, or cotton had adequate safety standards.
“If Monsanto can disprove the fact that there are no safety assessment standards for GMOs, the conclusion of our fourth paper, then I will give them my $10 million building,” Ayyadurai had told the press. [2]
Dr. Ayyadurai is the lead author of four papers that used a computational systems biology approach to analyze the effects of the genetic engineering process on key biochemical pathways affecting plant physiology. The results predicted that the carcinogen formaldehyde could accumulate in the GM soybean plants, with concomitant depletion of the antioxidant glutathione, but not in the non-GM plants. [3]
“This is not a pro- or anti-GMO question,” Ayyadurai wrote in his abstract. “But [rather], are we following the scientific method to ensure the safety of our food supply? Right now, the answer is no. But we need to, and we can if we engage in open, transparent and collaborative scientific discourse, based on a systems approach.”
With $10 million on the line, Dr. Ayyadurai said, “prove me wrong.” Does Monsanto’s absence mean it can’t?
I’ll give my $10 million building to Monsanto if they prove that GMOs have Standards for Safety Assessment https://t.co/ieGntIJx7k
— Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai (@va_shiva) November 6, 2015
The debate had a good turnout, with many hearing Ayyadurai’s points about the need for more safety testing for GMOs. He and his colleagues, including LHS students and Science Supervisor Brian Carey, shared what they have learned through their research on GMOs. Too bad Monsanto didn’t RSVP.
Here is an interview held by GMWatch in November:
“GMW: You said “there are no safety assessment standards for GMOs”. But here in Europe we do have safety assessments for GMOs, albeit they are weak.
Dr. Ayyadurai: I’m talking about standards for testing the material difference or equivalence of GMO vs. non-GMO. A claimed lack of difference is used to assert that GMOs are “substantially equivalent” to non-GMOs and therefore safe. But objective standards to measure equivalence or difference do not exist. This is explained in the conclusion of my paper, “Do GMOs accumulate formaldehyde and disrupt molecular systems equilibria? Systems biology may provide answers.”
GMW: Do you think you need to clarify your meaning to Monsanto? Otherwise they could cite safety assessment requirements in one country to prove that they exist – and claim your $10 million building!
Dr. Ayyadurai: I think in the context of the research we just completed, it’s quite clear what we mean. We are talking about standards, not “requirements”. A standard provides rigorous protocols, processes and procedures: for example, what ingredients should be in the soil and what kind of chemical assay should be done to measure whether that GMO is “materially different” from, or “substantially equivalent” to, its non-GMO counterpart. More importantly, any independent lab should be able to execute those standards, so the results would be reproducible, not just behind closed doors at Monsanto or by a university professor they have funded.
GMW: Your papers use computational systems biology to predict that formaldehyde could accumulate in GM soy plants. Why didn’t you test some to see if the prediction was true?
Dr. Ayyadurai: An important point related to this question is that our predictions are not “just a model” we made up using mathematics. The research is based on amalgamating the molecular pathway interactions derived from 6,497 actual wet lab tests, conducted across 184 institutions in 23 countries. The systems biology method integrates those pathway interactions to develop a whole systems understanding of the effects of genetic modification.
We definitely want to do testing to validate the predictions, but it’s difficult. First, as we explain in our paper, it is difficult to obtain the research materials – the GM and non-GM crops grown side-by-side in the same conditions – in an objective and independent manner, while ensuring legal compliance. We are actually in the midst of trying to get samples. The second reason is that, given the current environment, any testing done by either proponents or opponents of GMOs will be contested since there are no agreed standards for conducting such testing to compare a GMO with its non-GMO counterpart.
GMW: Isn’t your challenge to Monsanto just a publicity stunt?
Dr. Ayyadurai: The difference or equivalence between GMOs and their non-GMO counterparts goes to the heart of the GMO safety issue. This challenge aims to bring the issue forward in a manner that helps the public and scientists to see it clearly. If anything, Monsanto has been doing publicity stunts by paying off academics, while spending tens of millions in advertising to brainwash us with beautiful images of African and Indian children frolicking in open fields of flowers, etc., to make us believe that GMOs are safe, while manipulating mainstream media to claim that safety standards for GMOs exist and that the organizations such as the US FDA have determined and assessed the safety of GMOs in the market. This is not true; thus, the challenge.” [3]
Source:
[1] Livingston
[2] RT
[3] GMWatch
 | Christina Sarich is a humanitarian and freelance writer helping you to Wake up Your Sleepy Little Head, and See the Big Picture. Her blog is Yoga for the New World. Her latest book is Pharma Sutra: Healing the Body And Mind Through the Art of Yoga. |
It’s happening but not fast enough .Also, the “Federal” guidelines have to be truthful, comprehensive, and all encompassing in getting rid of all GMO’s and their dangling bits like “additives”, “Natural flavoring,” bits of GMO ‘s with teh wrong labeling like High Fructose Corn Syrup, Aspartame, “Sugar substitutes”, etc…. Our kids, the elderly and all in between have been fooled too long. Throw out of Congress those weaklings, both from the House and teh Senate, who went for the money instead of the good health of all. Criminal, it is! Good for Campbell’s, Hershey, etc for taking the must needed plunge…I wonder how this will all play out…in terms of health,, health costs, and a reduction in obesity and serious diseases? Hope all for the best! It can’t get worse. Wait! Vaccines are next without a doubt!
Mandated vaccines to get more lucre for sickness-profiteering Big Pharma are already here. Nurses who refuse are being fired. Parents who refuse to expose their children to that crap are having children TAKEN from them by the state. In other cases, non-vaccinated children are refused public schooling or even medical treatment, as pharma-BOUGHT doctors turn them away.
There is no such thing as organic anything anymore since they’ve been spraying most of the upper atmosphere in Western Europe and North America with aluminum, barium, strontium, dihyrdrogen monoxide nano-particulates, and god knows what else very heavily for over the past decade. Why do you think Monsanto acquired a patent for aluminum-resistant seed sometime during the late 2000’s? Monsanto and FDA should both be called MF for MOTHERPHUCKER! Whatever we’re eating and breathing I believe they’re altering our DNA to make us weaker…With the war on White America on the TV shows, commercials, movies there is a strong probability they’re using race based weapons against Whites.
Chemtrails are a fact.
War on whites is not.
It’s CLASS WAR.
War on the non-rich.
1: an average of $60M is spent on safety assessment of each GM trait – so saying no testing is deceptive.
2: The WHO doesn’t regulate GM crops so they have no safety testing of 60 days etc – another lie and deception.
3. No-one has been hospitalized in 20 years of GM crops and people have died from eating organic food (due to bacterial contamination from manure) so it is a lie to say GM is harmful and organic is safer.
4. the ~80% of Gm crops not tested properly – I thought the anti-GM organic industrialists that are funding the anti-Gm campaign thought no Gm crop s adequately tested…why the 20% that is?
5. The “scientist” has written theoretical papers this is versus actual data on biochemistry. A scientist (and I am a PhD) can imagine anything and a model is only as good as the data going in. This is no need for theoretical ideas when the actual safety assessment involves actual data. The analysis of the biochemistry requires very precise experiments to be done. Any plants grown in separate parts of at the same field can have dramatic differences in biochemistry – much more than the difference from organic vs conventional vs GM. This is a fact. The environment where it is grown has more of an effect of biochemistry than where there are a few differences (Gm vs conventional) or the much bigger differences between genetic non-Gm bred varieties. Breeding can change 10,000’s of genes a a time vs a few with GM.
The writer is an ill-informed arts educated writer (who may have great writing skills but is not qualified to make any scientific judgement.
Oh and those millionaire, industralist, organic people who are funding anti-Gm – e.g,Mercola 0 look him up – sells untested supplements and UV tanning beds and has been cited by the FDA for wrongly marketing supplements – he has paid a few million dollars to the labeling GM campaign. Others include major organic food owners who can’t justify their higher food prices without scaring people about GM. It makes perfect commercial sense to them. Just look at the FDA food recall list and see how many organic foods that have to be recalled.
Just look at the state of Chipotle- said they were going non-GM for higher safety and they have been sickening people over the country with at least a bacterial and one virus related problem. This si why the ante Gm stuff is stupid – it distracts us from real safety issues – primarily microbes in food.
On a scale residual pesticides and even lower GM is way down the list versus bacterial contamination as safety issues. #1 and 2 environmental hazards are smoking and radon gas but sonic there is no activist campaign against them they are ignored.
This is just like people freaking about about 100 people dying from terrorists but 30,000 dying from guns and another 30,000 from cars. Totally stupid. Its like working more about a plane than a car crash.
get smart
And Monsanto has a 100 year recorded history of recorded lies and environmental disasters?
Make a valid point.
I did in one sentence.
Its like claiming U.S.GMO regulations are challenging when actively participating as a Citizen United to create hidden GMO policies.
Is that all you can do is insult? Obviously very low iq on your part. A more in depth look would prove that this is only a poorly designed scam by a proven liar.
The first thing you did here was call me a moron, that is how we will communicate there turd. That is also indicative of your iq, your kind of twisting the reaity a bit there, aren’t ya turd.
Again Monsanto has over 100 years of deliberate lies and crimes, get a grip there moron.
Dr, Ayyadurai’s reputation is based on hearsay and childish allegations, Monsanto’s is based on recorded history.
Your really stupid.
Your a fascist and, fascist’s don’t live in reality. They live in some distorted utopia that is virtually non-existent.
Your an idiot, I have seen your interactions here with other people, insult is your forte. You called me a moron on my second post here, seems like you don’t like to be treated as you treat others. You do it but I have a low iq, talk about stupid comments there moron.
Quit your whining there little man, your just getting what you dish out.
Hilarious, your a basher of the worst type.
It is a shame that tater can’t carry on a civil conversation. He uses insults in EVERY post to my one? LOL, obviously he is the one covering up lack of real information.
An insult in every sentence.
Typical of a paid Monsanto shill.
Then you must be one thank you for admitting it.
This is no surprise, Monsanto can’t prove there are adequate safety standards for GE crops, that’s why they didn’t show up.
And once again Chrissy has proved nothing with her trash articles about a known fraud.
the criminals are monsatan shill boy
Only in your fantasy world.
10 million free dollars, just for proving that GMO’s are safe.
Obviously they can’t prove it, otherwise the greedy bastards would have done it.
Take about living in a fantasy world there moron!!
wtf are you calling her Chrissy like that name is even written anywhere on this page. And wtf said she had to prove something? She is giving useful information to her readers. Get a life bully!
Since when are lies useful information? You really need to get your head out of the sand.
He always calls her “Chrissy.” He thinks uses belittling names and words will ‘persuade’ people that GMOs are safe and that he’s right. But no. He’s not right. He’s merely reich.
Oh yeah, and Monsanto’s past is sparkling clean, over 100 years of sparkly clean.
Your a total Idiot.
Not to mention (which I will) “sparkling clean” drinking water in Vietnam or, heck, right in the good ol’ USA in Anniston, AL.
Common now, leave him be, why waste breath on anyone that believes GMOs or anything Monsanto is safe!
Yes why believe in science? After all your world is still flat.
I don’t call anything Monsanto does or creates science! They are deceptive and liars! The only loyalty they have is to the almighty dollar.
Not a huge fan of Monsanto myself, but I do respect what they have accomplished. Not to call their advancements science is just wrong. You might not agree with it, you might not agree with the safety, but nonetheless it is science.
When science takes on a political stance, it is no longer science.
Since your just a failure here to act like you have succeeded in your failure life making comparisons to your invented fantasy life, your opinions are in support of fantasy’s.
You have no valid points to make.
Yes record crops and the best farm income in history for five out of the last six years are all fantasies. The few things that tater says that aren’t insults are easily proven false.
Bull. Normal (non-GMO R) people recall:
“Brazil suffered massive environmental and financial costs when GM “Bt”
corn proved to be defenseless against the same, destructive caterpillars
it was engineered to protect against.”
Monsanto lies and lies and lies, and so do its paid shills.
Not talking about Brazil, could really care less about them. The U.S. Has seen record yields and good profits from gmo crops in the past few years and even your lies can’t change that.
Of course you don’t care about Brazil – or the US – or anyone. You’re sociopathic.
Now go flagellate yourself and then look up what’s been happening in Brazil with Bt corn.
Now you assume again and that makes you look very stupid as usual. I care deeply for my country, and could really care less if bt corn works or not for Brazil. That is between Monsanto and them. It does however work in this part of the world and it works amazingly well. It allows the American farmer to replace millions of pounds of insecticides each year that are dangerous to everyone. Of course maybe you own stock in a chemical company and would like to see us return to those days no matter what the health risks just as long as you make a profit.
Hey GMO Roberts, IF YOU LOVE GMOS:
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
SO YOU CAN MAKE SURE YOU ONLY EAT GMOs AND GET SICK AND DIE, IDIOT!
Better idea, if you love non gmos so much then:
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
LABEL IT
Oh and by the way I have eaten gmos for almost twenty years now and very healthy!!!!
No, its not science, its capitalism greediness.
Its pollution, destruction and sterilization of the planet, not science!
Its copyrighting nature for world food monopoly, not science!
Yup, real science is when you need an app or two to sell your toxic product!
Physics and mathematics support nature, therefore your science has an agenda and it doesn’t support science, it seems more political in nature with profit as a bottom line.
Your retarded, shut up.
Silence is consent, this gmo turd needs to be beat up.