No Demand Shows Buyers Do Not Want Genetically Modified Crops
NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION
Contact: Gary Goldberg, 918-488-1829, David Senter, 202-835-0330, [email protected]
APRIL 2, 2000. TULSA.OK---United States Department of Agriculture results
showing a 25% drop in genetically modified (GMO) planted acres for 2000
planting season upholds the prediction made by the American Corn Growers
Association (ACGA) last August. At that time, the ACGA forecast a 20% to
25% drop in acres planted to GMOs.
"From the beginning, the ACGA believed that when final planting decisions
were made, farmers would look at the uncertainty surrounding the
marketability, segregation and liability of GMOs and plant convention
seeds," said Gary Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer of the ACGA. "The USDA
survey shows we are right."
Through a special effort called the Farmer Choice-Customer First Program,
the ACGA has provided and continues to provide unbiased, straightforward,
objective and honest information about biotechnology. The ACGA trusts
farmers to make their own decisions on what seeds to purchase and plant
based on what works for their individual operation. Clearly, more and more
farmers believe that non-GMO, conventional seed will work best.
"America's farmers understand that under this current farm program we are
told to grow for the marketplace. Nowhere is the marketplace requested
GMOs." added Goldberg.
With over 75% of this coming year's corn crop being planted to non-GMO,
convention seeds, that is the product the U.S. needs to advocate for export
markets. Instead of pushing the small percentage planted to GMOs, it will be convention crops
that feed a hungry world and meet our customer demands. The ACGA encourages
USDA, USTR,
US Grains Council and grain exporters to heed the call for convention
products and stop pushing GMOs which are making up a shrinking minority of
total US production.
At no time has foreign or domestic customers demanded GMO crops. In fact,
the biotechnology companies never asked our customers if they wanted GMOs,
they just tried to force it upon them. That move has had severe negative
effects on US grain exports. Now farmers are seeing that there continues to
be no demand for GMOs and that foreign and domestic customers want to buy
what they are used to - conventional, non-GMO products.
"The customer is always right. Production agriculture understands that
simple premise and is planning to grow more convention seed to meet the
customer's preference. After all, it's not whether farmers like or dislike
genetically modified seeds that count; it's whether there is a market for
them. With clearly no market demand, farmers are going back to non-GMOs,
convention seeds to protect their investment, their farms and their
futures," concluded Goldberg.
(posted without permission)
