Food And Travel Nation has learned the drought that has wiped out much of the nation’s corn crop has had possible contributing factors, according to Professor Don Huber, Professor Emeritus and Plant Pathology Specialist at Perdue University. In addition to the persistent heat, the overuse of Roundup in genetically modified corn crops may be causing what is known as “crop wilt”. In fact, Mr. Huber says that Roundup use in crops requires twice as much water to maintain crop existence. In a drought situation, the need for twice as much water to keep crops alive can mean a difference in crop survival rate.
Listen to the interview:
This is a complete reversal from statements made by the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack and the man responsible for food safety at the FDA, Michael Taylor. Both of these men were appointed by President Obama and both men have maintained that genetically modified crops have more yield and require less water. Both men have worked closely during their respective careers with Monsanto, a GMO seed developer and manufacturer of Roundup. Many anti-GMO activists believe the association with Monsanto, a company they now regulate in their high-level positions, is a conflict of interest.
President Obama promised during his 2007 campaign to label GMO foods if elected. He has not done so. Calls to the White House made by Food And Travel Nation for comment by the President on the labeling issue over the last several months have not been returned.
There’s more.
Professor Huber wrote a letter to Tom Vilsack a little more than a year ago requesting independent studies be done on genetically modified crops including GMO alfalfa that was in the process of being approved at that time. Alfalfa is used in many food applications, most notably to feed grass-fed cattle. Huber talks about the issues of infertility among livestock fed GMO foods and the possibility these modified foods like corn, soy, sugar beets, alfalfa and more could be causing an infertility trend among humans.
He identified a new pathogen he believes is causing reproductive failure. It is unclear without further study whether the genetic modification of the corn is causing this new pathogen implicated in birth defects, infertility and more in livestock and humans or if it is the active ingredient in Roundup, glyphosate. He believes it may be a combination of both factors.
Farmers throughout America had already been complaining about GMO corn that caused their livestock to become infertile and also spontaneously abort, wiping out their entire operations, in some cases. GMO corn is modified in several ways, one of which is to be sterile, so that farmers must buy new seed stock from companies like Monsanto every year. In the past, farmers were able to grow crops again without buying new seed stock. Is there a connection between the sterility modification in corn and infertility among livestock and humans? Is a new, emerging pathogen the cause? Here’s the exclusive, compelling interview we had with Professor Huber:
