Organic Agriculture's Last Days?

[Guest guest]

Comments?

Misty

http://www..com

 

Serious Threat to Organic Agriculture

 

The wheat industry is having their annual meeting this week. The

news coming out of the wheat industry conference is not good for

supporters of organic agriculture.

 

It had previously appeared that the wheat industry was fairly united

in opposing the introduction of genetically engineered wheat. Now

that opposition seems to be eroding rapidly.

 

If the U.S. government approves genetically engineered wheat and the

wheat industry supports its introduction, there will soon be

millions of acres of genetically engineered wheat planted in the

United States. And if genetically engineered wheat gets approved,

genetically engineered rice will likely be next.

 

Although wheat and rice pollen does not travel as far as corn pollen,

the potential for contamination of organic wheat and rice from the

genetically engineered varieties is practically inevitable if

millions of acres get planted.

 

And make no mistake about it, there will be millions of acres of

genetically engineered wheat and rice planted in the United States

in this decade unless supporters of organic agriculture are

successful in opposing it.

 

When Jeremy Rifkin spoke about the threat of genetically engineered

crops at the Natural Products Expo East meeting in Washington, DC

last October, he stated, " This is a life and death issue for your

industry. " He went on to say that if we don't stop it in the next

five years, it will likely be to late to save organic agriculture.

 

The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods hopes the organic

and natural food industries are paying close attention to what is

developing in the battle to bring genetically engineered wheat to

market.

 

As the article posted below states, " While two years ago, the wheat

farmers viewed Monsanto's GM wheat proposal with some suspicion and

fear of losing markets, this week's annual gathering found firm

support for Monsanto and eagerness to obtain the potential benefits

the technology might offer. "

 

For further information on the threat genetically engineered crops

pose to organic agriculture, you may want to read the book " Saving

Organic Rice " by Alex Jack. It features a forward by Michael Potter,

President of Eden Foods, and is available through The Campaign's

online store at:

 

http://www.thecampaign.org/store.php

 

Craig Winters

Executive Director

The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods

 

The Campaign

PO Box 55699

Seattle, WA 98155

Tel: 425-771-4049

Fax: 603-825-5841

E-mail: label

Web Site: http://www.thecampaign.org

 

Mission Statement: " To create a national grassroots consumer campaign

for the purpose of lobbying Congress and the President to pass

legislation that will require the labeling of genetically engineered

foods in the United States. "