GE Alfalfa

From the Centers for Food Safety

Tell Sec. of Agriculture Vilsack to Adopt a Moratorium on the Planting of GE Alfalfa.  USDA’s Environmental Impact Statement Does Not Justify Approval

In a precedent-setting final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the planting of Monsanto’s genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) acknowledges for the first time that GE contamination of organic and conventionally grown crops presents a huge problem in the U.S. Yet, the document falls woefully short of proving that GE alfalfa is safe for the environment or that it will afford all farmers their fair share of the US agricultural economy.  In fact, the EIS sorely lacks the type of rigorous scientific data and analysis that the public expects from the Agency to justify going forward with any type of deregulation of GE alfalfa. 

That is why we are calling on our supporters to urge USDA to adopt a moratorium on the planting of GE alfalfa.

As we all know, once released into the environment GE crops, pollen or seeds cannot be recalled.  This presents a serious problem for organic and conventional farmers whose livelihood and reputation depends upon the ability to grow non-GE crops. It also raises important concerns for consumers who want to eat foods grown without using GE technology.  CFS believes that the only option that will protect organic and conventional alfalfa growers and dairies that rely upon non-GE alfalfa hay to feed its livestock is for the USDA to deny any approval of GE alfalfa and to establish a moratorium.

The modified alfalfa seed at the heart of the dispute has been engineered to be resistant to Monsanto’s flagship herbicide, Roundup. Alfalfa is the fourth most widely grown crop in the U.S. and a key source of dairy hay forage. As the first perennial crop proposed to be genetically engineered, alfalfa is open-pollinated by bees, which can cross-pollinate at distances of several miles, spreading the patented, foreign DNA to conventional and organic crops. Such biological contamination threatens the livelihood of organic farmers and dairies, since U.S. Organic standards prohibit genetic engineering, and threaten conventional alfalfa exports, since most overseas governments and alfalfa importers reject GE-contaminated crops.

Tell U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack that the science doesn’t support the agency’s proposed measures to prevent GMO contamination.  The only way to fully protect farmers, consumers and the environment is to deny approval of GE alfalfa and adopt a moratorium.

You can sign the petition here.