Fake sensation

The news about the GMO plant turned out to be a "duck"

Kirovskaya Pravda, 03.03.2017

Sensational reports that genetically modified seeds would be grown in Vyatka fields, as expected, were fake. Who is the author?

"The transnational biochemical concern Monsanto has solemnly opened its plant for the production of GMO seeds in the Kirov region." This news, which appeared in the last days of February on several Internet resources at once, shocked not only Kirov residents, but also residents of other Russian regions. Of course! The Monsanto plant in Russia, more precisely – in the Zuyevsky district of the Kirov region! All this initially looked very strange, considering that back in June 2016, the State Duma adopted a law prohibiting the cultivation and breeding of genetically modified plants and animals in Russia, with the exception of scientific work.

However, there were also those who bought into the "duck", believing that seeds of genetically modified plants would really be grown in the Zuevsky district. The news was immediately overgrown with details: the plant of the American company Monsanto, specializing in the production of seeds of genetically modified agricultural cereals and vegetables, allegedly opened near the village of Oktyabrsky in the Zuevsky district, and the regional administration allegedly allocated 63 thousand hectares of land for the fruitful work of the enterprise, and on preferential terms. Further – more: "We have been waiting for Monsanto on the Kirov lands for a long time and have been working systematically for several years. Nikita Yuryevich Belykh played a very important role in negotiations with a strategic investor, and I have already successfully completed this work," quotes the words allegedly said by the acting governor of the Kirov region, the original source of the "duck" – the site "Current News", which, by the way, has no registration and contact details.

Also, a note on a dubious website says that the head of Monsanto Russia, Isaac Levenstein, expressed hope for a long and successful cooperation.

"We wanted to settle in the Russian market earlier, but national legislation prevented us. However, the other day we received pleasant news from the Academy of Sciences about the lifting of the ban on GMOs in the country. We have big ambitions. We plan to feed a huge number of people with our products. We hope to provide retail chains, catering establishments, as well as schools and kindergartens," he allegedly said.

The information bomb turned out to be false. The government of the Kirov region, as well as the regional Ministry of Agriculture and Food, have not heard anything about the opening of the plant. Monsanto itself also denied this information. A statement on its official website states that the company is not building seed plants in the Russian Federation.

– Federal Law No. 358-FZ of July 3, 2016 "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation regarding the improvement of state regulation in the field of genetic engineering" continues to operate, prohibiting the cultivation of genetically modified plants on the territory of Russia... Monsanto strictly follows Russian legislation and offers corn seeds to agricultural producers in Russia, vegetable crops exclusively of traditional selection, – explained in the company.

It is noteworthy that the news about the opening of a plant for the production of GMO seeds in the Kirov region appeared on the same day when the Commission of the Russian Academy of Sciences on combating pseudoscience and falsification of scientific research announced the preparation of a memorandum refuting information about the dangers of genetically modified products. Recall that in early February, the same commission recognized homeopathy as a pseudoscience.

What can I add? Except to sum up: there is no plant for the production of GMOs by Monsanto in the Kirov region. And it can't be.

P.S. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are food products, as well as living organisms created with the help of genetic engineering. Gene modification technologies are widely used in agriculture. Plants with gene modification have increased yields and are resistant to pests. Currently, the production of GMOs is prohibited in Russia, but the import of food products containing genetically modified components is allowed. The leading position in both the production and consumption of GMOs is occupied by America: up to 80% of food products in the United States contain GMOs.

P.P.S. Monsanto is a company founded more than 100 years ago in the USA. It is included in the list of 500 leading companies according to Fortune magazine. Its main business includes the production of seeds of agricultural cereals and vegetable crops, as well as chemical plant protection products. Monsanto employs more than 20 thousand employees worldwide. In Russia, the company offers agricultural producers seeds of traditional, natural, selection of corn, vegetable crops and plant protection products.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  03.03.2017