In a message dated 01/11/2008 03:33:51 GMT Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: most people in the world are fed by farmers who save seed for next years crop. Try saving GMO seed and watch the corporate lawyers descend. A message was circulated some weeks ago, I think from the BBKA, that HRH's office was totally overwhelmed with all the donated honey and they had no easy way of passing it on to the needy and so people were asked to send no more. He has bees of his own anyway! I know far too little about GMOs to comment sensibly on whether or not they will save the World; however, there is much concern that patent laws are being applied to living organisms, or parts of them, that have been used as food or medicine by indigenous people for generations and this is reportedly being made illegal. Also, as Bob will know in Canada, Monsanto has pursued in the Courts farmers who have been the unwitting and unwilling recipients of GM pollen which contaminated their own cherished seed-lines. One problem with the 'Round up ready' gene is that after sowing seeds containing it, the farmer's next action is to treat the field with Round up, a broad leaved herbicide. This means that ONLY the desired crop will crow in that f ield for that year at least. If it is a crop that is of benefit to insect life, including honeybees, then there will be a local boom and bust as a desert is created when the brief flowering period is over. I understand from a lecture delivered yesterday by Dewey Caron at the National Honey Show that there is much concern in N. America at the decline in native pollinators and the 'round up ready' gene was cited as one of the causes. Chris **************************************************** * General Information About BEE-L is available at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm * ****************************************************