Stop Domestic Cultivation of Genetically Modified Soybeans!

Invitation to the Fifth National Gathering for the Soy Bean Field Trust Movement

Stop Domestic Cultivation of Genetically Modified Soybeans!


National Secretariat of the Soybean Field Trust Movement


Now in its sixth year, the Soybean Field Trust Movement began in 1998 with the slogan "We don't need GM soybeans! We want to eat safe, domestically grown soybeans!"
This unique movement has called for an increase in self-sufficiency for domestic soybeans through the cooperation of consumers and producers. The movement has had a large influence and the amount of planted domestic soybean crops increased-resulting in a self-sufficiency rate increase from 3% to 5%.
However, in other countries in the world, including the United States, GMO crops proliferated. About 75% of the American soybeans imported into Japan are in the form of GMO food products. Our food supply is being threatened daily.
In addition, Monsanto, which has a monopoly on GM soybean seeds and expertise, is pushing for the cultivation of herbicide-resistant soybeans in Japan. Monsanto is encouraging this setting by creating the "Bio Produce Gathering" (Katsutoshi Nagatomo, representative) and also began experimental cultivations in 9 areas during 2001 and in 6 areas - Hokkaido, Fukui, Tottori, Shiga, and Ibaraki (2 areas) - during 2002.
The seeds and materials for the experimental cultivations are provided by Monsanto. Technical cooperation is provided by researchers from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and reports are made to MAFF's Agricultural Product Promotion Section of the Production Bureau. Monsanto and MAFF have joined forces for these experimental cultivations. These cultivations also have a hidden agenda: to decrease rice production and replace rice with low-cost, labor-saving, herbicide-resistant soybean crops in the paddies.
The experimental cultivation of GM soybeans in these areas is the first step toward standard cultivation nation-wide. If commercial GM soybeans are permitted in Japan, contamination by wind-borne or insect-borne pollen will likely occur. If this does occur, non-GM soybean fields will be affected and there will be no limit on the spread of genetic contamination.
This situation will obstruct organic cultivation because the goal of organic cultivation is to remain free of genetically modified organisms.
Moreover, the belief that domestic soybeans are safe will be jeopardized.
There are very serious doubts about the safety of GM foods: there is a danger that the number of bacteria resistant to antibiotics may increase in the human body and that allergies or damage to internal organs may occur due to unknown toxins in GM foods.
Throughout the world, a movement to resist the spread of GM foods is growing. In African nations such as Zimbabwe and Zambia, the inclusion of GM foods in food assistance programs has been rejected. The EU has intensified regulations that call for the strict labeling of all GM foods. In Japan, the joint research on GM rice by Aichi Prefecture and Monsanto was brought to a halt.
Soybean Field Trust Movement is inviting you to participate in our movement. We aim to not only produce safe, domestically-grown soybeans to eat, but also to prevent the cultivation of herbicide-resistant GM soybeans sought by Monsanto and MAFF.
We need the promise of JA Zennoh, JA Keizai Ren, agricultural cooperatives, agricultural committees and local authorities to "disallow the experimental cultivation or regular cultivation of GM crops," because the cultivation of GM soybeans will damage the image of locally grown soybeans and work against regional promotion. We must also work together to prevent the experimental cultivation and the regular cultivation of GM soybeans in Hokkaido, the nation's largest soybean producing region.

January 30, 2003

[ March 18, 2003 | NGO's_infomation ]