Over Two Hundred Thousand demand USDA ban GE alfalfa once and for all

(www.Borganic.org) A few weeks ago, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) began accepting comments concerning the legality of planting Monsanto's genetically-engineered (GE), "RoundUp Ready" alfalfa. Over 200,000 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), farmers, organic producers, and regular citizens have flooded the dockets of the USDA, opposing the use of the dangerous GMO crop.

After first approving GE alfalfa, the Center for Food Safety sued the USDA for illegally approving the crop without proving that it was safe and providing a proper environmental impact statement (EIS). Federal courts agreed - outlawing the crop until the USDA provided the proper information.

Recently, the USDA submitted an EIS that claims GE alfalfa is safe and that organic farmers are not really all that concerned about the contamination of their crops. In reality, farmers are greatly concerned about GE alfalfa and GE crops in general. They are difficult to control and have the potential to destroy not only the integrity of organic food but also the entire food supply.

More than 75 percent of consumer respondents have also indicated that they do not want to eat GE foods. Among those who purchase organic food, the threat of GE contamination is one of the top five reasons why they purchase organic food in the first place.

The resounding opposition to GE alfalfa should send shock waves to the USDA which seems unconcerned about real food safety and the preferences of the people it is supposed to be protecting. By planting GE crops, particularly alfalfa, the integrity of the entire food supply is at risk from cross pollination and contamination.

According to records, there have been over 200 cases of GE contamination within the past ten years. According to the Center for Food Safety, the most serious contamination problem involves canola, also known as rapeseed, crops. There has been so much cross contamination among canola fields that canola oil can no longer be verified as being truly organic or even non-GE in all of Western Canada.

GE crops threaten the livelihoods of farmers, the integrity of all crops, and the environment itself. They promote the growth of "superweeds", deadly pathogens, and harmful fungi. The pesticides that accompany their use also end up in nearby fields, rivers and streams, and local groundwater supplies.

Concerned citizens need to stay informed and continually oppose any and all attempts to unleash GE crops into the food supply.

Sources:

More Than 200,000 NGOs, Farmers, Consumers, and Organic Producers Call for USDA to Prohibit Genetically Engineered Alfalfa - The Center for Food Safety

Court says USDA violated law in approving GE alfalfa - The Organic & Non-GMO Report

Re: Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Recommending the Deregulation of Genetically-Engineered Alfalfa, Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044 - National Organic Coalition

By Ethan Huff
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