It's a fact: farmers' crops have been contaminated with genetically engineered crops, also known as GMOs. And as long as the U.S. allows GMOs to be planted, this will continue and likely increase.
Farmers who don't want to grow GMO crops face significant burdens. To protect their crops, farmers must establish wide buffer zones, losing the use of significant amounts of land. They spend time and extra money to find non-GMO seeds. And if they are contaminated despite their efforts, they lose sales in organic and non-GMO markets.
Who is responsible for GMO contamination?
In 2011, the USDA convened an advisory committee to discuss the issue. The topic was labeled "coexistence," based on the assumption that GMO and non-GMO crops can coexist in the same area. But that's already been proven false: non-GMO farmers are inevitably harmed by pollen that is blown or carried onto their farms, GMO material caught in harvesting and cleaning equipment, and the numerous other ways that contamination occurs.
The advisory committee recommended that farmers buy crop insurance to cover the costs of unwanted GMO contamination. How is this fair? Organic and other non-GMO producers would have to spend even more money to protect themselves, while the companies that profit from GMOs would continue to escape their responsibility for GMO contamination prevention and compensation.
USDA is now asking for comments from the public on the issue of coexistence. Tell them it's time to take steps to prevent contamination and put the costs where they belong!
See more info and talking points.
Submit comments to USDA by midnight Tuesday, March 4 (11:59 p.m. Eastern)
