Agriculture Conference Begins, Protesters Arrested

“No Frankenfood” read one of the signs carried by protesters ahead of a conference of world agriculture secretaries beginning today in Sacramento.

Chanting and banging drums, hundreds of demonstrators swarmed the streets yesterday around the state capitol. Some blocked traffic and overturned a trash bin near a hotel where some of the ministers are staying.

Police say they made at least 11 arrests for unlawful assembly, vandalism and weapons possession.

Officials from more than 100 nations are expected to attend the biotech conference. It´s designed to help developing countries reduce hunger and improve nutrition through use of advanced technology.

Activists fear the conference is an attempt by corporate farming and biotech interests to push into new markets.