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CALIFORNIANS FOR GE-FREE AGRICULTURE NEWSLETTER No. 21, OCTOBER 2006
IN THIS ISSUE
NEWS:
- Rice contamination – impacts on California
- Switzerland the most GE-Free Country in the World
- B.C. considering labeling of GE foods
RESEARCH:
TAKE ACTION:
NEWS
Rice contamination – impacts on California
In September we informed you about the contamination of US long-grain rice supplies with a genetically engineered variety not approved for human consumption (LL601). The contamination has continued to have serious repercussions for farmers across the country, and is now affecting rice farmers in California. Early in October, the Japanese announced that they had begun testing all California rice for LL601 contamination. Shortly afterwards, a large and powerful California mill, Sunwest, sent a letter to their growers in which, they state that the current variety control mechanisms (i.e., AB2622) are inadequate for protecting the industry, and they call for a moratorium on GE rice in California.
John Hasbrook of Sunwest Foods was quoted in an Associated Press article as saying: “There are political forces in Japan that would very much like to see California rice no longer shipped there, it's pretty much economic suicide to let genetic engineered rice creep into California and pose a contamination threat." Greg Massa, a California rice farmer who has spent the last three years publicly protesting the growth of genetically engineered rice agrees, saying that if contamination happens, “the California industry will evaporate.”
To read the full AP article go to: http://www.calgefree.org/news/2006/101606.shtml
Switzerland the most GE-Free Country in the World
While the rest of the world wrestles with a biotech industry determined to own and contaminate the world's food and fields, tiny Switzerland in its quiet, efficient and pragmatic way is eliminating GE from its fields, its food and its society.
11% of Swiss farmers are now organic. Domestically labeled animal products have been produced with GE free feed for a while, but more recently, the Coop and the biggest retailer Migros have agreed to undertake the process of ensuring that all imported meat is raised on GE free feed, too. Smaller supermarket chains Denner and Spar have now done the same.
In November 2005 the public supported a 5-year ban on the growing of GE crops. The referendum vote was unprecedented in Swiss history as it is the first time ever that a referendum has passed in every canton. These recent moves make Switzerland officially the most GE-Free country in the world. And no one would accuse the Swiss of being anti-technology!
B.C. considers labeling of GE foods
The Provincial Health Officer (PHO) of British Columbia, Canada released his 2005 annual report on October 4th, 2006. This annual report has never focused on food and nutrition, but this year’ the PHO calls for consideration to be given to the issue of GE foods and includes a call for labeling of GE foods. If this call is endorsed, B.C. would become the first region in North America to institute a GE-food labeling law.
See the B.C. Provincial Health Officer’s full report at:
http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/pho/pdf/phoannual2005.pdf
RESEARCH AND INFORMATION
New Report Available From Pew Initiative on “Peaceful Coexistence” Among Growers of GE, Conventional and Organic Crops
The idea that that GE crops can be planted next to organic and conventional fields and that each group will be able to maintain their genetic integrity and identity has been dubbed ‘peaceful coexistence’. It is a concept frequently used to defend the release of GE crops into the environment and has become central to the debate around GE in agriculture. In March 2006, the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) held a workshop that examined how growers of conventional, genetically engineered (GE), and organic crops can “peacefully coexist” in our ever-evolving marketplace.
The workshop, which included representatives from government, farming, industry and business, acknowledged that growers and processors have experienced market losses due to difficulties in keeping conventional, organic and GE crops separated but nevertheless shored up the notion that ‘peaceful coexistence’ is a realistic possibility. This framing of the debate sidesteps the reality for farmers who are faced with genetic contamination from neighbors fields and industry’s GE crop experiments. It is hard to imagine any other industry where a competitor could pollute your product, make it unsellable and then call for “peaceful coexistance” when you complain!
At the Pew meeting, one biotech industry representative admitted that GE crops could make it impossible to grow natural foods that are GE-Free. A finding backed up by a recent academic study examining incidents of transgenic movement between GE crops and non-GE crops or wild relatives, which concluded that: “the movement of transgenes beyond their intended destination is a virtual certainty.” Yet the Pew Initiative's report reflects the current laissez-faire attitude towards GE and underscores the need for strong policies that ensure farmers are protected from financial harms in the event of contamination, and that protects consumers’ rights to GE-Free food.
An overview of the conference agenda and the full paper from the Pew workshop can be viewed at: http://pewagbiotech.org/events/0301.
To read the academic report on coexistence, see: Marvier M, vanAcker R.C. Can crop transgenes be kept on a leash? Frontiers Ecol. Environ. 2005;3:99-106.
TAKE ACTION
Promote Local Food Systems!
Cal GE-Free ally Environmental Commons, has produced a series of posters about the shaping of local food systems and how to protect local control over food and agriculture. To order a set, please visit their website at www.environmentalcommons.org.
Help Build the California GE-Free Network
As one of the largest agricultural economies in the world, California has the opportunity to become a leader in safeguarding our public and private lands, fisheries, forests, schools, gardens, and nurseries, from GE contamination. If GE is an issue that you are concerned about and you want to get involved in local action:
- If you are not already a member, sign-on to the Cal GE-Free list serve www.calgefree.org to receive this newsletter and action alerts.
- Consider a donation to Californians for GE-Free Agriculture.
To make make a tax-deductible donation, send a check payable to Cal GE-Free at: 15290 Coleman Valley Rd., Occidental, CA 95465