A Group of Attendees to the
2014 Beijing Food Safety & Sustainable Agriculture Forum

Open Letter to the Chinese People and Government

There is a great opportunity for the Chinese government to lead nations to greater health and prosperity.

A group of genetic researchers, university professors, medical doctors,veterinarians, animal and crop farmers, agriculture consultants, food safety activists, moms of children, from China, U.S.A, Russia, U.K., France, Denmark, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil and Peru, who attended the Food Safety and Sustainable Agriculture Conference, July 25 - 26 in Beijing, shared our experience and concerns regarding the serious harm caused by glyphosate/Roundup, GMs, and hexane residues (the solvent in chemical extracted food oil) to the environment, ecology, biodiversity, animals and human health and safety. 

We express thanks to our Chinese hosts who invited us and enabled us to visit beautiful and impressive Beijing, and to the Chinese people who extended their warm welcome wherever we visited. 

We take this opportunity to convey a series of suggestions to the Chinese people and the Chinese government: 

The damage caused by toxins in foods is creating a significant global problem of epic proportions. In particular, genetically-modified (GM) corn and soy crops designed to tolerate glyphosate are laden with this powerful chemical toxin.  

There are striking correlations between the steady rise in the amount of glyphosate used on corn and soy crops in the US over the past fifteen years and the corresponding rise in the rates of autism, Parkinson's disease, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, kidney failure, intestinal diseases, autoimmune diseases, infertility, birth defects and cancer. 

As these GM foods are now being distributed from the Americas to all parts of the world, we are likewise facing a rise in these debilitating conditions worldwide.  

This might well explain the rise in Parkinson’s disease, dementia, autism and infertility in China in recent years, in step with the increased imports of GM corn and soy products contaminated with glyphosate.  

While the agrochemical companies have stated that glyphosate is low in toxicity, many recent studies have shown that this is not true. Glyphosate’s known biological effects align with the known pathologies of these diseases. 

Glyphosate residue has been detected in human bodies, urine, blood, and breast milk in the USA and Europe. 

A key issue is the introduction of GM “Roundup Ready” crops that are tolerant to glyphosate and the subsequent development of glyphosate-resistant weeds -- an escalating disaster that cannot be solved. 

We have unfortunately learned that China is the largest producer of glyphosate, and the largest exporter of glyphosate in the world, including the supply of glyphosate to Monsanto, who formulate it into Roundup and distribute it all over the world, including to China. 

Roundup now accounts for about 80% or more of the Chinese herbicide market. 

Non-GM soybeans, corn, wheat, barley etc. normally should not contain any glyphosate residues. However, the spraying of glyphosate as a desiccant ("uniform ripening agent") before harvesting is being promoted in China to result in these non-GM food grains to now also contain "hidden" glyphosate residues, as consumers do not know that these non-GM food grains are also being sprayed with glyphosate. 

The top three ingredients in most infant formula are corn syrup, soy oil and soy protein solids.  Thus it comes as no surprise that an infant formula tested had 170 ppb of glyphosate residues. Furthermore, the soybean oil is extracted using hexane solvent, a known neurotoxin.  Both the oil and especially soy protein solids contain residues of glyphosate and hexane and both are endocrine disruptors.  

Most corn is a stacked-trait containing both Bt toxins and glyphosate residues. Bt toxins have been found in the blood of pregnant women in Canada, and glyphosate is present in the breast milk of mothers in the US. 

Given wholesome, nutritious food and clean water, our bodies stay healthy.  In contrast, given food containing residues from multiple chemicals, our bodies can become debilitated.  Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable.  

From a planetary perspective, we are on the brink of destruction if these disastrous trends are not stopped in the near future.  What crops can grow in barren soil?  What crops can be pollinated without bees and butterflies? 

History has shown that, when confronted with an emergency (e.g., SARS), the Chinese government can be proactive and decisive in solving the problem. The current situation with glyphosate is an emergency. 

China can and should play a leadership role in banning the use of glyphosate on food crops and the use of hexane in food processing.  

A moratorium on glyphosate and hexane will protect China’s children and elderly from costly and debilitating diseases. 

Simultaneously, the Chinese government should direct substantial research funds towards finding safe, efficient and cost-effective approaches to sustainable farming and chemical-free food processing to preserve soil quality and food safety. At this critical juncture in human history, China has a golden opportunity to inspire other countries to follow their lead and allow the earth and humanity to finally begin to heal. 

Accordingly, we propose the following concrete suggestions to the Chinese government: 

(Click on the image below  for details about each of the Eight Proposed Points regarding GMOs and Glyphosate.)

Print and/or download full letter

A group of attendees to the FOOD SAFETY & SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FORUM 2014, July 25- 26, Beijing:

(USA) Zen Honeycutt, Founder & Director, Moms Across America, Moms Across the World

(USA) Dr. Don M. Huber, Professor Emeritus of Plant Pathology, Purdue University

(USA) Howard Vlieger – Family Farmer / Crop and Livestock Nutrition Adviser

(USA) Dr. Stephanie Seneff, Senior Research Scientist, MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

(UK) Chen I-wan, Advisor, Committee of Disaster History to China Disaster Prevention Association

(UK) Dr Eva Sirinathsinghji, PhD Neurogenetics, Staff Researcher/Writer at Institute of Science in Society, UK.

(Germany) Gottfried Glöckner, Master of Agriculture, http://gut-gemacht.123webseite.de

(Switzerland) Dr Hans R Herren, President and Founder Biovision Foundation, Zurich, Switzerland, Right Livelihood Award Laureate 2013

(Peru) Roberto Ugas, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Peru

(Danmark) Ib Borup Pedersen – Conventional pig farmer, Denmark

Dr. Medardo Avila Vazquez: Medical Neonatologist and Pediatrician, Physicians Network fumigated Peoples, Chair of Pediatric Clinic, National University of Cordoba

Worldwide Supporters to this Open Letter:

(USA) Dr. Nancy Swanson, Physicist

(UK) Rosemary Mason, MB ChB FRCA Consultant Anaesthetist (UK National Health Service; retired)

(USA) Anthony Samsel, Scientist / Consultant

(UK) Dr Scott Thomson, PhD Molecular Immunology, Royal Veterinary School, University of London, UK.

(Argentina）François Soulard, Social Communicator, Citizens Assembly of the Southern Cone, Argentina. 

(Argentina）Adriana Monzón, Professor, Argentine Network of Environmental Educators, Argentina, 

The Open Letter in Spanish is now published in this 2 websites:
 - http://sobalimentaria.patria-grande.net/
 - http://rio20.net/propuestas/carta-abierta-al-pueblo-y-al-gobierno-chino/ 

Thank you for reading our proposal and for supporting health and prosperity in China and around the world!
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