----- forwarded message -----
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2003 21:30:11 -0600
From: Teresa Binstock <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Genetic Pollution Taking Toll on Organic Farmers
June 3, 2003
Biotech revolution costing organic farmers;
Genetic Pollution Taking Toll on Organic Farmers
An AP California Farming feature By PAUL ELIAS,
http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/biotech_ge.cfm
Fig Newmans cost more today than a year ago. That's because the organic
cookie maker Newman's Own now buys its corn syrup from Austria, since it
no longer trusts domestic corn syrup to be free of genetically modified
organisms. The corn syrup from Austria, which bans the planting of
genetically modified crops, costs the Santa Cruz company more and has
forced it to hike its prices. It's not alone. The biotechnology revolution has
always given organic farmers and their customers pause for concern. Now,
it's actually costing them money.
The Organic Farming Research Foundation said about 11 percent of the
farmers responding to a recent survey said they have been DNA-testing
crops for the presence of genetically modified organisms. Others said they've
undertaken more costly planting processes or have lost sales over concerns
their organic crops were corrupted by genetically modified organisms. It's all
adding up to cost increases for organic foods, which command premium
prices because of their promise to be free of biotechnology, pesticides and
other unnatural tinkering.
Worse, some U.S. farmers are losing sales to European competitors who
can better ensure their crops are free of genetically engineered organisms.
"It's the bane of the organic industry," said Nell Newman of Newman's Own. A
tiny fraction of farmers, including the Rosmann Family Farm in Harlan, Iowa,
said they've discovered trace amounts of genetically modified organisms
cross-pollinated or otherwise mingled in with their organically grown crops.
Those are potentially devastating discoveries, because organic consumers
generally demand that the higher-priced food they buy be grown free of any
biotechnological influence. "We will be in trouble if we can't differentiate our
product from the rest of the market," said Ron Rosmann. "It's a major
concern." Rosmann said an organic tortilla maker complained last year that
about 1 percent of the farm's corn shipment was genetically modified. The
tortilla maker used the corn, but wants the farm to do a better job this year of
ensuring biotech-free shipments. So Rosmann will harvest his corn later this
year in hopes of avoiding cross-pollination with biotech varieties, which are
being planted in increasing amounts in the United States. Last year, U.S.
farmers planted genetically modified crops - mostly soy and corn - on 92
million acres. In 1996, the first year genetically modified crops were
commercially available, about 4.3 million acres were under biotechnology
cultivation worldwide.
Most crops are engineered to be resistant to weed-killing chemicals like
Roundup. Farmers who plant genetically engineered plants argue that their
crops help reduce the amount of herbicides used in their fields, saving them
money and better protecting the environment. Organic farmers and their
consumers argue the long-term health and environmental risks of
biotechnology haven't been properly studied. As more biotech crops get
planted, more consumers are turning to organic produce.
But Mother Nature and the way food gets to market are creating fundamental
problems for organic farmers. Nearly half the organic farmers polled by the
Organic Farming Research Foundation said they fear the seeds they are
buying are tainted with genetically modified organisms. Another 42 percent of
responding farmers said they fear "pollen drift" from genetically modified
crops will contaminate their harvests. Rosmann's corn contamination
highlights a growing and little publicized problem for organic farmers. Some
of their crops have indeed been contaminated with genetically modified
organisms, something only the most savvy consumer knows.
That's because new federal rules on food labeling allow products to contain
up to 2 percent of genetically modified ingredients unintentionally mixed in
with organic crops. Without genetic tests that cost more than $300 each,
consumers can't be completely assured their organic products are 100
percent GMO free. Meanwhile, the $10 billion-a-year U.S. organic food
industry faces increasingly skeptical European customers who won't tolerate
any percentage of genetically engineered crops. "There's a lot of mental
anguish," said Erica Walz of the Organic Farming Research Foundation.
