Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance

Fair food for all Australians

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GMO

Genetic modification (GM) is defined as the mutation, insertion, or erasing of genes.

While almost anything can be modified genetically, the modification of agricultural crops in laboratory settings which are then patented by big agricultural corporations are what raises the most concern for food sovereignty.

Genetically modified crops are plants used in farming, that have had their DNA modified by genetic engineering techniques. This is often done with the aim of adding a trait to a plant that it does not naturally exhibit. Plants can be engineered to have resistance to some pests, diseases, or environmental conditions, and others with resistance to chemical treatments (for example, resistance to the herbicide Roundup), or changing the nutrient content of the crop.

Modifying crops by genetic engineering is meant to increase yields and improve nutrition, but proof that GM crops do that are ambiguous and some research suggest that farming GM crops with its associated high chemical input is harmful to the environment and that the consumption of GM crops could be carcinogenic to humans.

On the issue of GMOs and their impact on people, animals and the environment more broadly, AFSA therefore advocates the precautionary principle.

AFSA supports thorough and transparent labelling of products containing or deriving from GMOs. We maintain that people have a right to choose or not to choose to consume GM food or other products relying on a GM source.

Violating the concepts of food sovereignty, the application of genetic modification technology has been appropriated in the interest of corporate profit and creates further dependencies for farmers. GM crops have generally failed to deliver on promises of increased yields, and has instead delivered super-pests and super-weeds. AFSA also asserts the need to protect non-GM farms from GM contamination.

A Food Sovereignty Approach to Preserving Biodiversity

The following presentation was delivered by AFSA President Tammi Jonas on 18 June 2020 in a webinar hosted by the ...
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2019 President’s Report

What a delicious year of growing and eating and winning and celebrating it’s been for AFSA! And yet while the ...
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Statement from the National Committee of the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance

Over the past two days the National Committee of the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) met for our annual mid-year ...
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STOP the sale of GM Golden Rice in Australia

Recently, Food Standards of Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) approved an application (A1138) to permit products containing GM golden rice to be ...
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The way to a healthy and sustainable food supply and where does GM2 fit in?

By Fran Murrell This blog post was originally published on MADGE. It is essential to have a sustainable food system; ...
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GM News

Greens MP Mark Parnell's bill to extend the moratorium on growing GM crops in South Australia until 2025 has passed ...
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Civil Society Calls for Agroecology not GMOs at FAO Meeting in KL

Following is the final statement made by civil society organisations at the recent FAO meeting in Kuala Lumpur: FAO Regional ...
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Farmer Profile: Neil from The Atherton Farms

Photos by Nick Lawrence Where and what do you farm? We’re from South Australia, and have two small properties. One ...
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Both inspiring and instructive: Vandana Shiva in Sydney

Story by Russ Grayson, February 2015 I ATTENDED two of global food sovereignty advocate, Vandana Shiva's appearances in Sydney this ...
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The strange world of GM-free fast food potatoes, GM cow feed and a global coffee corporation

Story by Russ Grayson, November 2014 STRANGE is not an adjective commonly used to describe food and food processing, however ...
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Recent Posts

  • Book review: Everything You Need to Know About the Uluru Statement From The Heart
  • Submission to the possible establishment of an independent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Queensland
  • Take our survey to help shape your Peoples’ Food Plan!
  • AFSA responds to an Inquiry on Australian Government’s application of the UNDRIP in Australia
  • AFSA Values & Theory of Change

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Latest submissions

Fair food for all: AFSA response to the NSW Inquiry into Food Production and Supply

Since we first published the People’s Food Plan in 2013, AFSA has continued to gather democratically to listen to the views of farmers and allies across the country and around the world to continue to deepen and strengthen our positions on what constitutes the most socially just and ecologically sound food and agriculture systems.  AFSA […]

AFSA categorically rejects proposals to expand intensive aquaculture into Commonwealth waters

  The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) categorically rejects proposals to expand intensive aquaculture into Commonwealth waters. We need a radical paradigm shift away from Blue Economy to Blue Justice in fisheries, which is crucial for climate justice, encompassing economic, social, and environmental justice. The 2019 Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services reported […]

AFSA responds to the ACT Capital Food and Fibre Strategy

  AFSA recently responded to the call for submissions to the ACT Capital Food and Fibre Strategy, which will “be a roadmap to delivering social, environmental and economic benefits based on secure, climate-resilient food and fibre production across in the ACT; and respond to the need to mitigate climate challenges via adaptation and diversification. It […]

A Licence to Sell Lettuce? ASFA Submission to FSANZ Proposal

  For three years FSANZ has been working on a proposal to more tightly regulate the production and sale of berries, leafy vegetables, and melons after several outbreaks of listeria, e coli, and salmonella from large monocultures. AFSA has provided feedback from the beginning on the need to approach any changes with a scale-appropriate lens […]

Protecting farmers and preserving farm land: Submission on the Protections within the Victorian Planning Framework

In October 2021 the Victorian Legislative Council tasked the Environment and Planning Committee to inquire into and report on: “the adequacy of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and Victorian planning framework in relation to planning and heritage protection”. Particular terms of reference were outlined for the Committee to address and AFSA provides its submission […]

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Recent posts

  • Book review: Everything You Need to Know About the Uluru Statement From The Heart August 3, 2022
  • Submission to the possible establishment of an independent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Queensland July 28, 2022
  • Take our survey to help shape your Peoples’ Food Plan! June 3, 2022
  • AFSA responds to an Inquiry on Australian Government’s application of the UNDRIP in Australia June 2, 2022
  • AFSA Values & Theory of Change May 26, 2022

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