Beatrice helped the GM-Free Australia Alliance organise Dr Vandana Shiva's visit to Sydney from 20-22 February 2015. Dr Shiva is an inspirational scientist, eco-feminist and author. She was awarded Sydney Peace Prize and promotes Food Security and Seed Freedom. Videos produced by Digital Storytellers.

22 February 2015, Pasta Emilia, Sydney

20 February 2015, NSW Teachers Federation Union Conference Centre, Sydney

20 February 2015, NSW Teachers Federation Union Conference Centre, Sydney

In Part 1 of her talk, Fran Murrell introduces MADGE - Mothers Are Demystifying Genetic Engineering, an Australian Not for Profit Organisation that is concerned about GMOs. 

Fran also talks about the negative health effects of GM crops.

In Part 2 of her talk, Fran Murrell answers the following questions:

• How does Australia authorise GM food?
• What is SmartStax GM Corn?
• What does 2,4,D, and ingredient of Agent Orange, have to do with GMOs?
• Traces of GM soy were found in infant formula!
• Are GM ingredients labelled in Australia?

In Part 3 of her talk, Fran Murrell answers the following questions:

• Why were GM crops developed?
• Why did chemical companies buy seed companies?
• GM crops are commodity crops!
• What is the Government's involvement with GM Wheat?

In Part 4 of her talk, Fran Murrell talks about GMOs and patents.

In Part 5 of her talk, Fran Murrell talks about:

• GM farmers and food security
• Western Australian farmer Steve Marsh
• Permaculture and other sustainable alternatives to GMO industrial agriculture

On 3 July 2011, Beatrice, together with the Transition Bondi, organised the event "What's the Future of Food - GM Awareness Evening of Costa". The trigger for organising this event was watching the US documentary "The Future of Food" by Deborah Koons Garcia which shows all the different problems related to Genetically Engineered Organisms (GMOs), GM food and GM crops.

In the documentary, reference is made to the plight of the Canadian farmer Percy Schmeiser whose conventional canola crop was contaminated with GM canola with the consequence that he was sued by Monsanto for breach of Monsanto's patent on GM canola. Incredibly, the appeal court held that Percy Schmeiser was indeed in breach of Monsanto's patent on GM canola despite the appeal court's finding that there was no evidence, and it did not matter, as to how the GM canola came to be on Percy Schmeiser's canola fields. With all due respect, the court decision is unjust and nonsensical, and the writer would argue, incorrect. 

The terrible plight of Percy Schmeiser, a farmer who had been minding his own business but who was drawn into lengthy, costly and stressful court proceedings by the greed of Monsanto, is the writer's inspiration for her vision for an Australia with a Sustainable Agriculture - without GMOs and pesticides.

The event "What's the Future of Food" was created to "translate" the content of the US documentary "The Future of Food" to Australia, to find out whether the Australian legal landscape is similar to the the one in the United States. Watch the speakers, below, to find out more.