Thread by @GMWatch

Heard the one about how we must deregulate #GMOs so the world's biggest pesticide corporations can use them to cut pesticide use?

#GMO crops are helping drive pesticide use, especially herbicide use, not reducing it. And new GMOs are set to do exactly the same.

https://twitter.com/SlowFoodEurope/status/1541445739330641922

1st-generation #GMO crops were introduced over 20 years ago with the same promises of pesticide reductions now being made for #newGMO crops. Due to the adoption of GMO herbicide-tolerant crops in the US herbicide use from 1996-2011 INCREASED by an estimated 239M kg—239000 tonnes!

In Argentina🇦🇷after #GMO herbicide-tolerant soy was authorised in 1996, they saw a 60% increase in herbicide use (figures 2000-2014) with accompanying reports of increased rates of cancers and birth defects friendsoftheearth.eu/wp-content/upl… #GMOs

Brazil🇧🇷: GMO herbicide-tolerant soy authorised 2003. Overall pesticide use went up 1.6-fold 2000-2012 & use on soybeans increased 3-fold (i.e. 300%!!). Brazil’s National Cancer Institute condemned #GMO crops for helping make 🇧🇷 the largest consumer of agrochemicals in the world!

Don't get fooled again: #GMO promoters claim that new (gene-edited) GMOs are different from 1st-generation #GMOs and they will reduce pesticide use. But many #newGMO crops currently in the commercialisation pipeline are designed to increase herbicide use☠️ friendsoftheearth.eu/wp-content/upl…

CIBUS is a leader in the development of new #GMOs. They say, "Our goal is a whole new generation of herbicide traits across the major crop platforms" and "the approval of gene editing techs will open up one of the biggest opportunities in agriculture"—new markets for these crops.

CIBUS says the approval of gene-edited crops will open the door to:
☠️The large number of countries that haven't previously allowed #GMO traits for herbicide tolerance;
☠️The large number of crops that haven't had GMO traits for herbicide tolerance before.
#DontGetFooledAgain

CIBUS also says, "The impact of these new herbicide tolerance traits is expected to mirror the dramatic impact #GMO crop protection traits for herbicide tolerance had on farming."

Remember: that "dramatic impact" included MASSIVE INCREASES in herbicide use.
#DontGetFooledAgain

It doesn't matter whether it's old-fashioned GMOs or gene-edited #GMOs that are creating herbicide-tolerant crops, they will both end in greater pesticide use, a pesticide treadmill for farmers, and a further deepening of the biodiversity crisis that threatens our food security.