top of page

Search Results

3333 items found for ""

  • Tall Climate Tales from the BBC Corrected

    https://expose-news.com/2024/11/02/tall-climate-tales-from-the-bbc-corrected/ Paul Homewood’s annual review of the BBC’s climate output sets out more than 30 of the most egregious misrepresentations of the facts, with climate change spuriously blamed for everything from hot weather in Spain to rare birds in England to potholes in the roads. Paul Homewood had a career as an accountant in industry. He has been writing on climate and energy issues since 2011.  His report titled ‘ Tall Climate Tales from the BBC (2023) ’ was published in August 2024 by Net Zero Watch , a campaign group that highlights the serious implications of expensive and poorly considered climate change policies in the UK and internationally.  His report examines the BBC’s coverage of climate change over the last year and, as can be expected, found it to be one-sided, full of misinformation, and lacking in alternative views and inconvenient facts. “We have detailed many such examples during recent years in two previous papers. This latest assessment covers the last year. It includes many examples showing how the public have been misled, but these are no doubt just the tip of the iceberg,” the report stated . You can read the 2022 report HERE and the 2021 report HERE . In his latest report, Homewood includes numerous examples of how the public has been misled by the BBC’s climate change coverage, which often presents normal weather events as extreme and caused by climate change.  “One BBC report began ‘Heat. Wildfires. Torrential rain. Typhoons and hurricanes. Much of the northern hemisphere has been battered by extreme weather this summer’. There was no evidence presented that any of this was anything other than the sort of normal weather which we get every year,” Homewood wrote.  “Typhoons and hurricanes were not above normal for the year, while the Mediterranean wildfire season, which the BBC had been spreading alarm about all summer, turned out to be no worse than average either.” The BBC’s reporting on climate change is often based on unproven claims and lacks actual data to support its assertions.  Homewood explained, “We were warned about a future without beer and bananas, and even a crocodile that bit a woman in Indonesia was, we were told, the result of climate change!” The report also highlights the BBC’s bias in favour of renewable energy, citing an example where the BBC’s Climate Editor, Justin Rowlatt, claimed that solar and wind power are cheaper than gas generation, despite official government data showing the opposite. “Where climate change is concerned, the BBC is now little more than a lobby group,” Homewood said. Specific Examples of BBC’s Misinformation Homewood’s report describes specific examples of BBC’s misinformation.  It contains links to all the offending articles as well as the resources he has used to disprove the BBC’s claims. We have noted brief descriptions, without the hyperlinks Homewood provided, of the examples he described and reorganised them into our own subheadings.  Each paragraph is a false claim made by the BBC on separate occasions. Table of Contents Extreme Weather Claims Chaos for Nature Claims “Fossil Fuel” and Renewable Energy Claims Heatwave Claims Claims That Make You Want To Laugh Claims That Make You Want To Cry Conclusion Extreme Weather Claims In one video, the BBC claimed that US tornadoes are getting worse due to climate change but data from the US Storm Prediction Centre shows a decline in the frequency of tornadoes. In another report, the BBC said wildfires in Portugal were being fuelled by climate change, but temperatures in the region were not abnormally high and the area burnt by wildfires was below average. The BBC reported on China’s summer of “climate destruction” but conflated weather with climate. “It’s a common con trick used by the BBC, to conflate weather with climate” Homewood said. And “the BBC’s claim of the number of floods increasing in China was debunked in their own report by Dr Zhao Li from Greenpeace East Asia.” The BBC’s weathergirl, Louise Lear, falsely claimed that there is evidence that hurricanes are getting more powerful, when in fact, this is not supported by the data.  The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s latest report found no evidence that Atlantic hurricanes are becoming more frequent or powerful, contradicting claims often made by the BBC. The BBC reported that Tropical Storm Hilary, which hit California in August 2023, was “record-breaking” and made worse by climate change, but this claim was disputed as another tropical storm, El Cordonazo, hit the same area in 1939, and Hurricane Kathleen in 1976 brought more rain and caused greater flooding. Chris Fawkes, BBC’s weatherman, claimed that half the annual rainfall in the Bologna region of Italy fell in 36 hours, leading to catastrophic floods, but this claim was later admitted to be false. The BBC reported that Scotland’s climate is changing faster than expected, citing rising temperatures and unprecedented storms, but these claims were disputed as average February temperatures in Scotland are around 3°C, and 100-mph winds are not unusual in the country. The BBC reported that the Amazon rainforest experienced its worst drought on record in 2023, but data shows that average rainfall in the region has been increasing since 1960. The BBC exaggerated the impact of Storm Henk, which brought typical winter gales to the UK but was reported as causing huge damage with winds of over 90 mph.  Homewood noted that the BBC’s report on Storm Henk was misleading, as the 90 mph winds were only recorded at The Needles, a cliff top location that is not representative of the rest of the UK, and other locations experienced much lower wind speeds. The BBC blamed climate change for the severity of wildfires around the Mediterranean in the summer of 2023, but EU data showed that the area burnt was not unusual and has actually been declining since the 1980s. Chaos for Nature Claims The BBC attributed the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in Europe to climate change but experts from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control say it is actually due to the explosion in international trade. The BBC attributed the appearance of the black-winged stilt in Britain to climate change but the bird has been spotted in Britain for hundreds of years, with a recorded sighting dating back to 1684. The BBC has also exaggerated the impact of climate change on coastal erosion at Happisburgh, Norfolk, when in fact, the erosion has been occurring for thousands of years at a steady rate. The BBC’s ‘ Planet Earth 3 ’, presented by Sir David Attenborough, featured scenes of animals struggling due to climate change but experts pointed out that the species featured were actually thriving. [Related: David Attenborough isn’t a knight in shining armour; he’s a salesman peddling depopulation dressed up as climate change ] “A common tactic used by the BBC is to give credence to any study that shows climate change in a bad light. At the end of last year, they reported on the National Trust’s‘ Weather and Wildlife 2023 Review ’,” Homewood said.  The BBC reported, “The loss of predictable weather patterns is ‘causing chaos’ for nature, according to the National Trust.“  “As usual, the BBC did not attempt to challenge any of the assertions in the review, nor bother to do any fact-checking. In particular, their claim that we used to have ‘predictable weather patterns’ is utterly ridiculous. As was the National Trust’s claim that there had been significant changes in our seasonal climate in the last decade,” Homewood said. The BBC has also been spreading misinformation by claiming that coral bleaching is a result of human-induced climate change, when in fact it is a natural process where coral expels algae to adapt to new conditions.  Coral scientists have stated that coral is doing fine, contradicting the BBC’s claims of coral dying out around the world. “Fossil Fuel” and Renewable Energy Claims “A common way for the BBC to promote their climate change agenda is to fill their articles with comments by like-minded ‘experts’,” Homewood said. The BBC did this in an article in response to the then Prime Minister that the UK needed to build a few new gas-fired power plants to provide electricity on days when wind and solar power did not deliver.  Instead of including comments from energy experts, the BBC “filled the page with critical comments from the Green Alliance, the Energy and Climate Information Unit, Ed Miliband, the Lib Dems and Greenpeace.  None of them were asked how they would avoid blackouts in such circumstances,” Homewood wrote. The BBC’s Verify team wrote a hit piece on a young Kenyan farmer who campaigned for Africa to have full access to fossil fuels, labelling him a “climate denier,” revealing the BBC’s bias towards climate change as a religion rather than a topic to be reported on. [Related: Message from an African small-scale farmer to COP28: “Africa needs fossil fuels” ] The BBC’s Climate Editor, Justin Rowlatt, falsely claimed that the cost of power from new solar or wind projects is lower than from new gas generators, when in fact electricity from wind and solar farms is much more expensive than gas power, according to the Government’s own Strike Prices. Heatwave Claims The BBC reported Beijing’s hottest day on record in June 2023 even though it was only a tiny 0.5°C hotter than in 1961.  And it failed to mention the Urban Heat Island effect, which can make cities four or five degrees hotter than rural areas due to urbanisation. The BBC’s Climate Editor, Justin Rowlatt, reported on the heat in Spain but did not mention that temperatures of 36°C are normal in that region. Unsurprisingly, “What Rowlatt’s sister Cordelia, an Insulate Britain activist, thought of her brother’s gas-guzzling flight was not reported!” Homewood said. The BBC’s article on the extreme summer weather that “scorched and soaked the world” also presented a misleading narrative.  “As usual with the BBC, no actual data was proffered to support their claims,” Homewood said. “On the contrary, the data confirmed that none of the events they wrote about were anything other than the sort of weather we see every year.” The BBC’s weatherman, Simon King, falsely claimed that last year’s heatwave in Texas was record-breaking and used it as an example of how extreme weather could affect the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when in fact, temperatures had been even higher in Dallas, Los Angeles and Miami during the 1994 World Cup. A BBC report on the 2022 UK heatwave claimed that it killed over 4,500 people but failed to mention that according to the Office for National Statistics (“ONS”), the deaths were merely a short-term displacement and the number of deaths over the summer as a whole was no higher than usual. In March 2024, the BBC reported on a heatwave in South Sudan, claiming it was exceptionally early but failed to note that March is actually the hottest month of the year in the region and temperatures of 41°C are common. The BBC also claimed that Mali never had heatwaves before human-induced climate change, despite the country being one of the hottest in the world, with temperatures reaching 43°C in the capital Bamako. The BBC reported on an “unprecedented heatwave” in Delhi in June 2023, where temperatures over 40°C persisted since the end of May, but failed to mention that such temperatures are normal in Delhi at that time of year. The BBC also claimed that a heatwave in the US South West in late May/early June was made 35 times more likely due to climate change, despite the temperatures recorded being perfectly normal for the time of year. In Phoenix, Arizona, temperatures during the heatwave reached 113°F, which is well below the record of 122°F for June set in 1990. Claims That Make You Want To Laugh In one of its most farcical claims about climate change, the BBC was blaming a drought in Indonesia for a crocodile attack on a woman, when in fact, droughts in the region are driven by natural cycles and there is no evidence that last year’s drought was any worse than normal. And the BBC wasn’t going to let a pothole crisis go to waste either.  “According to the BBC, reports of potholes reached a 5-year high in 2023, and naturally it was all because of climate change,” Homewood wrote.  The BBC cited a report by Roger Harding, the director of the climate change campaigning organisation ‘Round Our Way’.  Meanwhile, another BBC report on the same day revealed that potholes are actually caused by a lack of cash for repairs and water freezing in road cracks. In another shocking display of misinformation, the BBC’s Environment Correspondent, Matt McGrath, reported that climate change would make bananas more expensive, despite the world output of bananas having risen sixfold since the 1960s. The BBC warned that climate change threatens the British beer industry, claiming it will soon be too hot to grow hops in Kent, but this claim is disputed by hop growers in warmer climates in Central Europe. The BBC claimed that global warming is making flight turbulence worse but this claim is based on worthless computer modelling, and a US National Transportation Safety Board study found no increase in severe turbulence accidents since 1989. Claims That Make You Want To Cry The BBC has also misrepresented facts and blamed climate change for various tragic incidents, including the Stonehaven train crash, which was actually caused by the incorrect installation of a drainage system and lack of proper inspection by Network Rail. Four years ago, three people sadly lost their lives when a train to Aberdeen crashed into a landslide following heavy rain. Last September, the High Court in Aberdeen found that the landslide had been caused by the incorrect installation of a drainage system, exacerbated by the lack of proper inspection by Network Rail, who were fined £6.7m for their failures. Nevertheless, in another article on the same day, the BBC were still determined to lay the blame for the accident on climate change. ‘ Tall Climate Tales from the BBC (2023) ’ by Paul Homewood, Net Zero Watch, 14 August 2024 Conclusion Homewood concluded his report as he had concluded his previous report: The sheer weight of evidence presented in this paper suggests that bias is now endemic in the BBC’s climate reporting. All of the factual errors noted could easily have been avoided with a bit of basic research. Is this carried out and the results ignored if they don’t agree with the BBC’s agenda? Or is the corporation’s output just made up and printed anyway without checks? Either way, this is journalism at its shoddy worst. And who is editing this fake reporting? Why are they not insisting on accurate reporting? Where are the highly-paid executives, who let all of this continue? You can read the ‘ Tall Climate Tales from the BBC (2023) ’ report HERE .  It’s surprisingly light reading and it is far shorter than the 7-8 pages of text seems due to the layout and inclusion of graphs.

  • Child Eradication Program

    SPAIN "They" are planning it worldwide! DNA nasal spray is being "shot" into children. It hurts less than an injection, but the effects are just as unpredictable, the contents are identical.

  • Kuwait forces 1 million citizens to hand over their biometric data for digital ID

    https://cairnsnews.org/2024/10/30/kuwait-forces-1-million-citizens-to-hand-over-their-biometric-data-for-digital-id/ From Armstrong Economics Kuwait has forced over one million citizens to hand over their biometric data in one of the most extreme pushes for digital ID. Kuwait introduced a national electronic ID (eID) that they say will assist with identification verification, digital signatures, E-government access, and the secure exchange of data. The deadline to file for this mandatory program was September 30 and the consequences for failing to comply were swift. On October 1, the Ministry of Interior announced that those who failed to submit their data would be prohibited from all electronic services such as withdrawals, transfers, and account transfers. One cannot even withdraw cash. Around 35,000 people have been blocked out of their bank accounts and are unable to even view the balance. A few weeks later, those in noncompliance has their electronic bank cards deactivated. Visa, MasterCard, and K-Net all abided by the government’s rule. Beginning on November 1, The Kuwait Banking Association stated it will implement a “complete block” on all accounts, which means one cannot even withdraw funds if they go to the bank in person. Expatriates have until December 31 to submit their biometric registration. The government has reported an uptick of 6,000 new registrants per day compared to 600 since they began blocking citizens from accessing their own bank accounts. The government called this a “phased approach,” believing they’ve offered leniency to the public. The issue here is that governments globally are strapped for funds and believe that they can increase revenues by at least 35% if they hunt down their citizens for taxes. Then we have the layer of the Great Reset put forth by Klaus Schwab and the World Economic Forum that is aiming to create a One World Government complete with a global database to track absolutely everyone. Australian journalist Maria Zaric has called it a “digital prison.” Once you’re locked in, you’re locked in. People will be less likely to speak out against the government, protest, or refuse vaccinations if they know their government can immediately exile them from society. This is more than a mere identification as it provides the government with instant access to all of your information and they will track your every movement. This is only the beginning of a massive wave of tyranny. Our computer has been warning that we have been entering into a more authoritarian mode that will reach a head in 2032.

  • Can You Stand on One Leg for 10 Seconds? Your Answer May Predict How Long You'll Live

    https://greenmedinfo.com/content/can-you-stand-one-leg-10-seconds-your-answer-may-predict-how-long-youll-live A new study found that middle-aged and older adults who could successfully stand on one leg for 10 seconds had a significantly lower risk of dying over the next 7 years compared to those who failed the simple balance test. This quick assessment may capture overall body strength and control that predicts longevity. A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine assessed whether the simple ability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds predicts risk of early death (Araujo et al., 2023).1 Called the flamingo test because it resembles a pink bird balancing perfectly still on one spindly leg, this quick assessment of static balance captured overall muscle strength and joint flexibility that foretold longevity over a 7-year period. Out of 1,702 Brazilian adults aged 51-75 years, nearly 80% succeeded while 20% failed, waving arms or hopping to regain control. Just under 5% of flamingo test passers died during follow-up versus over 17% of failers. The one-legged stance remained strongly linked to survival even after considering age, sex, weight, diseases like diabetes , and medications. Failing at midlife more than doubled later mortality hazard. Balance steadily deteriorates starting around age 50, raising risks of falls and fractures linked to earlier death and poorer quality of life.2 Yet many adults do not receive standard balance assessments during routine exams.3 This study confirms the value of incorporating a simple 10-second one-legged flamingo stance into checkups for middle-aged and older patients. Beyond signaling current fall risk, it may provide a snapshot of overall muscle and neurological health that predicts longevity as effectively as blood pressure and cholesterol scores. People who cannot balance for 10 seconds may require interventions like strength training, tai chi , medication adjustment, or home safety modifications to prevent future falls and prolong survival. For the study, a trained instructor demonstrated proper one-legged standing technique with eyes open and bare foot lifted behind the body without touching the standing leg.4 Participants then attempted to balance steadily for 10 seconds with each reminder to resume the initial stance if foot position changed or arms waved. Most subjects chose their dominant leg and three attempts were allowed. Just over 80% passed on the first try and nearly 97% eventually met the 10-second benchmark before completing surveys on lifestyle, medical history and medications.5 Researchers tracked electronic medical records over the next 7 years to record deaths from any cause. Failing the flamingo test more than doubled the risk of dying during follow-up after factoring in effects of age, sex, weight, diseases like cancer and heart conditions, and use of drugs influencing balance like sedatives.6 Adding the flamingo variable significantly improved a statistical model’s ability to predict individual risk of death based on age and health alone. Study authors speculate that inability to balance for 10 seconds signals bodily decline - like muscle loss, joint degeneration, and neurological problems - that foretells earlier mortality.7 They call for incorporating the simple flamingo stance into routine patient exams to screen for elevated risks prompting preventive measures. The study relied on balance tests at one point in time, so cannot determine if intervening to improve stability might modify expected lifespans.8 Other limitations include the mostly male sample not generalizable to all populations and survival tracking based solely on electronic records.9 Still this well-designed study controlled key variables known to influence mortality like obesity and diabetes, so strongly suggests balance ability provides independent insight into expected longevity. This study does, however, indicate how important intentional movement and exercise is for overall health and longevity.  Our research database on exercise , based on nearly 1,000 studies, shows that exercise can prevent or improve over 240 different health conditions. This indicates, as does the study featured in this report, that moving your body, regularly, has profound benefits that can not be over-emphasized. Move it or lose it is saying that is becoming truer every day, as the science accumulates proving it continues to expand. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ References 1. Araujo, C. G., de Souza e Silva, C. G., Laukkanen, J. A., Singh, M. F., Kunutsor, S. K., Myers, J., Franca, J. F., & Castro, C. L. (2023). Successful 10-second one-legged stance performance predicts survival in middle-aged and older individuals. British Journal of Sports Medicine , 57(3), 181-186.  https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2021-105063 2. Pijnappels, M., Delbaere, K., Sturnieks, D. L., & Lord, S. R. (2010). The association between choice stepping reaction time and falls in older adults--a path analysis model. Age and ageing , 39(1), 99-104.  https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afp224 3. Tinetti, M. E., Speechley, M., & Ginter, S. F. (1988). Risk factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community. New England Journal of Medicine , 319(26), 1701-1707.  https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm198812293192604 4. Araujo, C. G., de Souza e Silva, C. G., Laukkanen, J. A., Singh, M. F., Kunutsor, S. K., Myers, J., Franca, J. F., & Castro, C. L. (2023). 5. Ibid. 6. Ibid. 7. Ibid. 8. Ibid. 9. Ibid.

  • A Nutrient Crisis in Every Bite – What's Behind the Decline?

    https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2024/11/02/food-nutrient-loss.aspx Once packed with essential vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables are now shadows of their former selves. Driven by the pursuit of bigger yields, longer shelf lives, and visual appeal, food industry practices may be robbing us of the nutrients critical for long-term health. Uncover the hidden costs behind this alarming trend. Industry Scandal: The Loss of Nutrients Story at-a-glance Modern farming practices and seed hybridization have significantly reduced the nutritional content of fruits and vegetables over the past 60 years, with average declines of 16% for calcium, 27% for vitamin C and 50% for iron The focus on higher yields, longer shelf life and visual appeal in crop development has led to a trade-off in nutrient density, particularly evident in hybrid tomatoes compared to heirloom varieties Four multinational corporations control two-thirds of the global seed market, leading to loss of biodiversity, farmer dependence on hybrid seeds and exploitative labor practices in seed production The nutrient decline in produce contributes to increased risk of deficiencies, reduced antioxidant intake and rising chronic diseases, leading to greater reliance on dietary supplements Solutions include supporting seed banks, practicing regenerative agriculture, increasing consumer awareness and implementing policies that prioritize soil health, protect farmers' rights and enforce fair labor practices in seed production ____________________________________________________________________________________________ The documentary "Industry Scandal: The Loss of Nutrients" exposes how modern farming practices and seed hybridization have dramatically reduced the nutritional content of our fruits and vegetables over the past 60 years. The evidence is clear: the food on our plates today is a shadow of what our grandparents ate. Not only has flavor been sacrificed on the altar of productivity and shelf-life, but critical vitamins and minerals have plummeted as well. This nutrient collapse has profound implications for public health that we're only beginning to understand. The Ghost of Vegetables Past The filmmakers begin their investigation at an unlikely location — the French Academy of Agriculture. Hidden away in this venerable institution, they discover a food composition table from 60 years ago detailing the exact nutrient content of fruits and vegetables at that time. Armed with this historical data, they set out to compare it to modern nutrient levels. The results are striking: 1 "We discovered a little-known fact: fruit and vegetables have lost some of their vitamins and minerals. Take green beans for example: in 1960 they contained 65 milligrams (mg) of calcium for every 100 grams. In 2017 they contain no more than 48.5 milligrams. That's a quarter less calcium. The same thing for vitamin C — 19 mg at the time versus 13.6 mg." This wasn't an isolated case. Examining data for the 70 most consumed fruits and vegetables revealed an alarming trend. According to the film, which is also known as "Seeds of Profit": 2 "The results show a dramatic deterioration in the space of 60 years. All 70 fruit and vegetables have lost an average of 16% of their calcium, 27% of their vitamin C, and almost less than half of their iron levels." These findings align with research conducted in the U.S. and U.K. American biochemist Donald Davis analyzed nutrient changes in 43 vegetables between 1950 and 1999, reaching similar conclusions. 3 Davis’ study found statistically significant declines in six nutrients: protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, riboflavin and vitamin C. The median declines ranged from 6% for protein to 38% for riboflavin (vitamin B2), and the researchers suggest that these declines are most likely explained by changes in cultivated varieties between 1950 and 1999. Specifically, they said there may be "trade-offs between crop yield and nutrient content" in the newer varieties. The Culprit: Agricultural ‘Progress’ What's behind this nutrient collapse? The documentary points to several factors, all stemming from the industrialization of agriculture: • Hybridization for higher yields — Over the past 50 years, seed companies have focused on developing hybrid varieties that maximize yield and visual appeal. As Davis explains, "I think that most of these declines are caused by increases in yield. When yields go up, there's less nutrients per weight of the food. A lot of agricultural scientists may not know about how big these effects are. This is kind of embarrassing. They're always wanting to increase yield." 4 This focus on quantity over quality has come at a steep nutritional cost. The tomato, for instance, has seen some of the largest nutrient declines — losing a quarter of its calcium and more than half of its vitamins. • The quest for eternal shelf life — Perhaps the most egregious example of sacrificing nutrition for commercial gain is the development of the "long shelf life" tomato. In the 1970s and 1980s, Israeli researchers created a hybrid tomato that decays much more slowly after being picked. While this innovation reduced waste and revolutionized the global tomato market, it came with serious downsides. As Haim Rabinowitch, professor emeritus at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, one of the developers, admits: 5 "The genes for ripening inhibition carry with them some negative traits. For instance, flavor deteriorates and we [have] less nutrients. But I didn't know because we never measured it. Only later in the '90s and the early 2000s, we started looking into the quality traits. I offered a project like that to many seed companies. I even gave it a name. I called it ‘ACE’ tomato. Why ACE? Vitamins A, C and E, and I said it will be much healthier tomato. We don't have it in supermarkets, this variety. The industries, they don't care." The Nutrient Gap: Heirloom vs Hybrid In a revealing experiment, the filmmakers compared a modern hybrid tomato to an heirloom variety. The results were stark: After one week, the heirloom tomato showed signs of decay and was no longer fit for sale. The hybrid looked unchanged. After two weeks, the heirloom was moldy. The hybrid still appeared fresh. It took 25 days for the hybrid to become unsellable — extending shelf life from three days to over three weeks. But this longevity comes at a steep price. When tasted, the hybrid was described as "tasteless" compared to the flavorful heirloom. To quantify the nutrient differences, the documentary team had both tomatoes analyzed in an accredited laboratory. The results were eye-opening: 6 "The hybrid tomato contains a significantly lower level of the five nutrients analyzed. It contains 63% less calcium, 29% less magnesium, and 72% less vitamin C. The levels of lycopene and polyphenols, two antioxidants that help fight cardiovascular diseases, are two times lower in the hybrid than in the farmer's variety tomato." This data provides clear evidence that the push for longer shelf life and higher yields has dramatically reduced the nutritional value of our produce. The Global Seed Oligopoly As the documentary reveals, the push for hybrid seeds is being driven by a handful of multinational corporations that dominate the global seed market. Just four companies — Bayer (formerly Monsanto), Corteva (formerly DuPont), Syngenta and Limagrain — control two-thirds of all seeds sold worldwide. 7 , 8 This concentration of power has serious implications: Loss of biodiversity — As uniform hybrid varieties replace traditional seeds, we're losing genetic diversity at an alarming rate. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations reports that 75% of global agrobiodiversity has been lost due to the adoption of "improved" varieties. 9 Farmer dependence — Hybrid seeds don't reproduce true-to-type, forcing farmers to buy new seeds each year. This creates a cycle of dependence on seed companies. Skyrocketing seed prices — The documentary reveals that some tomato seed varieties now sell for up to $450,000 per kilogram — more than double the price of gold. 10 Exploitative labor practices — To keep costs down, seed production is often outsourced to developing countries where child labor and below-minimum wage payments are common. The Dark Side of Seed Production The widespread use of child labor in hybrid seed production is featured in the documentary. In India's Karnataka state, a major hub for vegetable seed production, researchers found that 10% of workers in seed fields are children under 14 — despite laws prohibiting child labor. 11 Why are children employed? As Davuluri Venkateswarlu, author of "Soiled Seeds," a report on the issue, explains: 12 "The hybridization activity is very, very delicate. It requires a lot of skills. The children are preferred because they can do these repetitive activities very faster than adults, and also they are more obedient. Two children can do the work of three adults. That is the kind of calculation farmers have." Even adult workers face exploitation. Women working in tomato seed fields earn just $2.80 per day — 40% below India's legal minimum wage. Yet these seeds will sell for tens of thousands of dollars per kilogram in Europe and North America. This exploitation persists because multinational seed companies turn a blind eye to the practices of their local subcontractors. When confronted, they hide behind vague statements about "promoting decent working conditions" without taking concrete action. The Health Implications The health implications of this nutrient collapse in our food supply are immense. While the full impact is still being studied, we can draw some alarming conclusions: Increased risk of nutrient deficiencies — As fruits and vegetables contain fewer vitamins and minerals, it becomes harder to meet your nutritional needs through diet alone. This may contribute to the rise in deficiencies we're seeing, particularly in minerals like magnesium and trace elements. Reduced antioxidant intake — The dramatic drop in vitamin C, lycopene and polyphenols means we're getting far fewer protective antioxidants from our produce. This could increase vulnerability to oxidative stress and related chronic diseases. Link to rising chronic disease — While many factors contribute to the increase in chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes, the depletion of protective nutrients in our food supply plays a role. Hidden hunger — Even people eating what appears to be a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables are getting far fewer nutrients than they realize. This "hidden hunger" has wide-ranging health effects. Increased reliance on supplements — As food becomes less nutritious, more people will turn to dietary supplements to meet their nutritional needs. While supplements have their place, they're not a perfect replacement for nutrients obtained from whole foods. The Path Forward: Reclaiming Our Food The situation seems dire, but there are rays of hope. Around the world, farmers, researchers and citizens are working to preserve agricultural biodiversity and promote more nutritious food production. Here are some key initiatives: • Seed banks and exchanges — Organizations like Kokopelli in France are working to preserve heirloom and traditional seed varieties. Their "Seeds Without Borders" program distributes these seeds to farmers and gardeners worldwide, helping to maintain genetic diversity. As noted in the documentary, "By conserving these endangered seeds, we are taking back the choice to plant or eat non-standardized fruit and vegetables which are the best produce for both our planet and our health." 13 Supporting these seed preservation efforts is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and giving farmers alternatives to hybrid seeds. • Regenerative agriculture — Farming practices that focus on building healthy soils increase the nutrient content of crops. By moving away from chemical-intensive methods and embracing techniques like cover cropping, composting and diverse crop rotations, we can produce more nutritious food while improving environmental health. • Consumer awareness and demand — As consumers become more aware of the nutrient issue, they can drive change through their purchasing decisions. Choosing heirloom varieties, supporting local farmers using diverse seed stocks and demanding more transparent labeling all make a difference. • Policy changes — At a broader level, we need policies that incentivize farming practices that enhance soil health and nutrient uptake, protect farmers' rights to save and exchange seeds, and enforce fair labor practices in seed production globally. How to Protect Your Nutrient Intake and Support a More Nutritious Food System The loss of nutrients in our food supply is a silent crisis that demands urgent attention. By understanding the problem and taking action — both in our personal choices and by advocating for systemic change — we can work toward a future where our food nourishes us as nature intended. The path to truly healthy food isn't through further industrialization or genetic modification. Instead, we must look to the wisdom of traditional farming methods, embrace biodiversity and prioritize nutrient density. Our health, and the health of future generations, depends on it. To protect your health and support a more nutritious food system, consider: Choosing heirloom and open-pollinated varieties when possible — These often have higher nutrient levels and better flavor than hybrid varieties. Supporting local farmers and farmers markets — Small-scale producers are more likely to grow diverse, nutrient-dense crops. Grow your own — Even a small garden or a few containers provide incredibly nutritious produce. Opt for organic — While not a guarantee of higher nutrients, organic produce is less likely to contain harmful pesticide residues. Eat a diverse diet — Don't rely on just a few fruits and vegetables — incorporate a wide variety to ensure you're getting a broad spectrum of nutrients. Consider targeted supplementation — While whole foods should be the foundation of your diet, high-quality supplements can help fill nutrient gaps. Support organizations working to preserve seed diversity and promote sustainable agriculture . Stay informed and spread awareness — Share this information with friends and family to help drive change.

bottom of page