Press Release | November 23, 1999 | Contact: Brenda K. Foster (202) 331-4323
Washington, DC - Family farm groups from across the country today warned that the use of genetically-altered seed could be the ruination of an already tenuous farm economy.
In a ten-point Farmers' Declaration on Genetic Engineering in Agriculture released today, family farm groups caution that farmers who plant genetically altered seed are risking their livelihoods on a product that consumers in the United States and around the world have overwhelmingly rejected.
The declaration was crafted during a first-ever Farmers' Summit Conference on Genetic Engineering in Agriculture convened by Farm Aid on the eve of its annual concert in Virginia last September. More than 30 farm groups including the National Family Farm Coalition and the American Corn Growers Association signed the declaration.
Already many critical foreign markets have closed their doors to GMOs, limiting trade opportunities for farmers that are struggling against low prices and bad farm policy. Gary Goldberg, CEO of the American Corn Growers Association, urged all farmers to weigh the pros and cons of planting genetically engineered seed before deciding what crops to plant this coming spring.
"Export markets in Europe and Asia are saying 'no' to foods produced from genetically engineered crops. Farmers know that they have to respond to consumer demand if they are to survive. Right now, farmers may decide it is best for them to also say 'no' to GMO seed," said Goldberg.
The declaration also says that inadequate testing of genetically engineered crops could open the door to massive liability from damage caused by genetic drift, increased weed and pest resistance and the destruction of wildlife and beneficial insects.
"Consumers are right to question the safety and viability of GE crops. There hasn't been enough research on how these products will behave once they're released. If corporate agribusiness continues to flood the marketplace with these untested products, the companies should be held liable for the damage caused by seeds approved without adequate assessment of risks to farmers, human health and the environment," said Bill Christison, president of the National Family Farm Coalition.
The farmers called on called on Monsanto, DuPont, Novartis and other seed companies to promote the sale of non-genetically engineered over GMO seed to farmers for the coming crop year until an independent and comprehensive assessment of the social, environmental, health and economic impacts of genetically engineered seed is available.
Farm Aid Executive Director Carolyn Mugar said the summit conference and declaration mark a historic moment in the rising debate over genetic engineering in agriculture.
"Like the rest of us, family farmers are learning more every day about the potential for problems caused by genetically engineered seed. Their worries about these products should cause our country and the world to take a critical look at any proposed use of this untested new technology," said Mugar.
