Skip navigation.

Victory: Monsanto drops GE Wheat

Greenpeace marks a maize field with signs showing corn with a 'question mark' indicating that 1 in 200 maize crops can be genetically contaminated if the draft EU seed directive is passed . Enlarge Image

Monsanto: heading for disaster?

Monsanto, the company that gave us PCBs, Agent Orange, pesticides and beef growth hormones, is desperate to get us to plant their genetically engineered (GE) seeds, spray them with their herbicides and eat GE foods. Will they get away with it? Not according to a new study done by Innovest Strategic Value Advisors.

Greenpeace activists occupy the Monsanto’s European/African Enlarge Image

Monsanto challenged

Monsanto's European/African Headquarters in Brussels were occupied by activists who want the world's leading producer of genetically modified crops held responsible for spreading genetic contamination.

We protested against GE maize in 1999 - 5 years later Bayer withdraws the crop from the UK. Enlarge Image

GM setback in UK

Following the controversial UK government approval of genetically engineered (GE) maize for commercial planting, the only company authorized to grow GE maize has withdrawn its application. It now appears unlikely the UK will see any commercialised GE crops before 2008.

Gene detectives in action. Enlarge Image

European consumers mobilise against GE

Ge campaigners and activists were out in force throughout Europe over the week end as the EU rules on labelling products with genetically engineered (GE) ingredients came into effect.

Ronald McDonald quits in protest when he learns that his hens are fed on GE chicken feed Enlarge Image

Ronald McDonald resigns

Ronald McDonald entered the Queen Street branch of McDonald's in Auckland, New Zealand, today and handed in his resignation. The dramatic action was taken by the infamous fast food clown in protest at McDonalds' use of chicken fed on genetically engineered (GE) soy meal.

Derek Nicholls, (left) captain of Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior, was arrested when the ship anchored to prevent the departure of the MV Rhein carrying genetically engineered soya. Enlarge Image

Rainbow Warrior captain arrested

It took eight hours, a powerful tugboat and the specialist division of the water police to end the Rainbow Warrior's blockade of the The Rhein, a ship transporting Genetically Engineered (GE) soya in Port Kembla Harbour. Despite the arrest of the Warrior's captain, our campaign against GE soya didn't slow down.

Greenpeace activists today occupy the cranes of the "Winner" to prevent its cargo of GMO soya from Argentina, reaching Spain. In the foreground Hungarian activist Atilla Soos. Enlarge Image

Esperanza takes action in Spain

This morning our 'Gene Detectives' from the Esperanza intercepted and boarded the 'Winner' a ship carrying thousands of tons of GE soya where it is anchored just off Malaga in southern Spain.

A Greenpeace activist chains himself to the anchor chain of bulk carrier 'Global Wind', a ship carrying GM Soya from Argentina planning to "top-load" with GM-Free soya from the state of Parana, which has declared itself a GM-Free state. Enlarge Image

Greenpeace defends Brazil's right to remain GE free

Greenpeace activists from the Arctic Sunrise have prevented the entrance of the 'Global Wind' ship into the port of Paranagua, Brazil. The ship is carrying 30 000 tons of Genetically Engineered (GE) soya from Argentina.

GE camaigners target warehouses in Ravenna, Italy Enlarge Image

GE soya importers targeted in Italy

This morning 70 international Greenpeace activists uncovered thousands of tonnes of Genetically Engineered (GE) soya in warehouses in the Italian port of Ravenna. Recent samples taken from one of the warehouses have proven to be GE positive. Activists are currently preventing any GE soya from leaving the facility and are taking further samples.

Greenpeace canoeist arrested by the Guadia di Finanza during an action to prevent the offloading of 40,000 tonnes of Argentian GE Soya from the bulk carrier Keoyang Majesty. Enlarge Image

Italian Job Ends

Our marathon action in Chioggia, Italy came to an end last night after three days of protest when Italian police intervened to end our blockade of the Panama-registered bulk carrier, Keoyang Majesty, which is carrying 40,000 thousands tons of Argentine Genetically Engineered (GE) Soya.

Monsanto has been fined for bribing senior Indonesian environment ministry official to try and avoid an environmental assessment on its GE cotton. Enlarge Image

Monsanto pays fine for bribery

What do you do if you're trying to plant genetically engineered cotton in a hurry, but the government wants to make sure there won't be any environmental damage from doing so? If you're the giant Monsanto corporation, one answer might be: bribe somebody to skip over that pesky environmental assessment. Who knows how many times this tried and true practice has worked before? This time, they've been caught red-handed in Indonesia, and fined US$1.5 million.

Ripening soya beans in field near Harbin. Enlarge Image

Invasion of the forest snatchers

In the science-fiction classic, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, alien plants with destructive clone-manufacturing world-domination plans threatened the future of humanity. Bad news: the pods have arrived, disguised as soybeans.

Go to your national site

World websites

GREENPEACE EMAIL

Sign up for international email updates
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Related news stories

Related campaigns

Latest Update

Monsanto retreat continues in Australia According to the Grains Council of Australia the controversial biotech giant Monsanto is to announce that it will shelve plans to introduce GE canola in Australia. The news comes just one day after Monsanto announced it would delay their Roundup Ready wheat program by several years. Our GE campaigner in Australia, Jeremy Tager said: "GE canola has been the heart of Monsanto's commercial ambitions in Australia. In the last few months they have abandoned GE crops in the UK, abandoned research into GE pharmaceutical crops, yesterday abandoned GE wheat and now are abandoning GE canola in Australia. The writing is on the wall - no one wants GE." The death of the program is a very clear message to the separate Bayer GE canola program in Australia that this technology is embraced by neither markets nor consumers. Increasing opposition from consumers and farmers has been instrumental in achieving temporary bans on GE crops in several Australian states, most recently the state of Victoria decided in March 2004 to ban all GE food crops. Find Out More - Read Monsanto's announcement at www.monsanto.com - Read about Monsanto withdrawing its European cereal and seed business - Read our story: Monsanto Investors Face Catastrophic Risk - Read our brief on: Monsanto & Genetic Engineering - Risks for Investors (Exec summary) - Learn more about the Network of Concerned Farmers