Franken Food: Biotech arrogance is losing U.S. exports - AMERICAN CORN GROWERS

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GMW: Biotech arrogance is losing U.S. exports - AMERICAN CORN

GROWERS

" GM WATCH " <info

Tue, 10 May 2005 19:48:56 +0100

 

 

 

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http://www.gmwatch.org

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" Biotech arrogance is losing U.S. exports. Maybe those same biotech

companies should be

sent the bill for lost corn markets, low corn prices and the resulting

high cost of the farm program. "

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ACGA Raises Concerns About Lost Corn Gluten Market Low Corn Prices Due

to Biotech Blundering

 

For Immediate Release

 

Contact:

 

Dan McGuire (402) 489-1346

Larry Mitchell (202) 835-0331

 

AMERICAN CORN GROWERS FOUNDATION RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT LOST CORN GLUTEN

MARKET-LOW CORN PRICES DUE TO BIOTECH BLUNDERING

 

Washington, D.C., May 9, 2005-The American Corn Growers Foundation

(ACGF) and the American Corn Growers Association (ACGA) are warning U.S.

corn farmers that key U.S. corn gluten exports are being lost due to

unapproved biotech, specifically GMO (genetically modified organisms)

varieties that are unacceptable in various markets.

 

" Blundering biotech companies and their arrogance toward world buyers

and consumers cost the U.S. the valuable, cash paying European Union

(EU-25) corn market since 1996, and caused substantial corn export

reductions to Japan. Now, adding insult to economic injury, some biotech

companies and their carelessness is putting the EU-25 import market

for U.S.

corn gluten feed and meal in serious jeopardy, with the EU-25 now

testing every cargo, " says Dan McGuire, CEO of the American Corn Growers

Foundation and project director of the ACGF Farmer Choice-Customer First

program. " Foreign demand for U.S. corn gluten is extremely important for

the economic future of corn processing ethanol plants. The EU bought

5 million metric tons (MMT) with an export value of $403,726,000 as

recently as the 1999-00 marketing year. But in the most recent 2004

marketing year, the EU-25's imports of U.S. corn gluten had dropped to

3.6

MMT with a value of only $377,636,000. In the current 2005 marketing

ar (September through February) EU-25 imports are only 1.2 MMT compared

to 1.9 MMT the year earlier, " added McGuire.

 

" Last Friday corn prices were only $1.63 per bu. in both Utica, S.D.

and Wayne, Neb., a disastrous price, due largely to the failure of the

current 'export oriented' farm policy to deliver on corn exports as

promised, " said Larry Mitchell, ACGA CEO. " If the crafters of the current

U.S. farm policy still believe it is 'export oriented' they should

require the biotech companies to get onboard. Biotech arrogance is losing

U.S. exports. Maybe those same biotech companies should be

sent the bill for lost corn markets, low corn prices and the resulting

high cost of the farm program. "

 

 

 

 

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