American Corn Growers Association GMO position
Donna Fezler (gcr@rhealiving.com)
Fri, 27 Aug 1999 22:37:26 -0500
This was part of the eharvest.com email that was sent to the list. Easy to
miss with global implications.
Corn Growers Call on Farmers to Consider Alternatives to Planting GMOs If
Questions Are Not Answered
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- To ease the dilemma over the uncertainly
caused by genetically modified organisms (GMO), the American Corn Growers
Association (ACGA) is proposing that farmers should look at the option of
planting non-GMO crops if certain questions are not answered.
This is not an issue over the health or scientific effects of GMOs. It's an
issue over production agriculture's inability to answer the many questions
that surround this controversial issue.
``GMOs have become the albatross around the neck of farmers on issues of
trade, labeling, testing, certification, segregation, market availability
and agribusiness concentration. Until all these issues are answered, it is
best for production agriculture to examine alternatives to planting GMOs,''
said Gary Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer of the ACGA.
There are many uncertainties facing farmers. Historically low prices brought
about by overproduction have made the future unclear. Adding to this
uncertainty is unfair to producers. Therefore, the ACGA is calling on the
following questions to be addressed:
-- How do we export GMO grains to unwilling foreign customers and will
the
USDA encourage the sale of GMO free crops?
-- Who will be responsible for maintaining separate channels for GMO
crops
and assuring the integrity of non-GMO crops? Will farmers who plant
traditional (non-GMO) varieties be burdened with testing and other
costs associated with segregation or identity preservation?
-- If testing is needed, who will do the testing, can the testing be
done
in the field, and how much will the tests costs?
-- How far do GMO and GMO free grains have to be planted from each other
to prevent cross-pollination?
-- Since GMO fields can cross-pollinate with non-GMO fields, will GMO
growers be required to plant buffer zones? How large should the
buffer
zones be?
-- Will biotech companies be liable for contamination of non-GMO crops
caused by cross-pollination?
-- Will there be the need for liability waivers between neighbors to
prevent legal ramifications in the event of one neighbor not knowing
what another neighbor is planting?
-- How does a grain elevator plan to segregate GMO from GMO free and
will
there be a price differential?
-- What kind of certification procedure will be needed for the elevator
and will each elevator have its own certification form?
-- Should USDA come forward with a universal certification process that
would be accepted by all grain elevators?
-- How does the monopolistic practice of a handful of companies
controlling the entire GMO process effect the future of U.S. food
production?
-- How would labeling of GMO products fall within the GATT framework?
-- Are the supposedly higher yields of GMOs marketable in a climate that
already has overproduction and oversupply?
``Farmers are caught in the middle of this dispute between grain exporters,
foreign buyers, seed companies, local grain elevators and different
governments. The ACGA feels it is best for producers to consider
alternatives for this upcoming planting season until these many questions
are answered,'' concluded Goldberg.
The ACGA calls on seed companies to make sure that an adequate supply of GMO
free seed is available to farmers for the 2000 planting season and that no
undue pressure to plant GMOs is placed upon a producer by his or her seed
company.
SOURCE: American Corn Growers Association
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