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How do GE, Conventional, and Organic Foods Co-exist?
How do GE. Conventional, and Organic Foods Co-exist?
I asked this of Rayne Pegg, the Marketing Director for
the USDA when she spoke at the California Small Food
Conference March 1. 2010. She said she would ask
her allies at the FDA and get back to me.
Date: 3/5/2010 9:16:23 AM ( 14 y ) ... viewed 1383 times
Rayne Pegg, Administrator for the
agricultura marketing Services
for the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) fielded my question at the recent
California Small Farm 2010 Conference
In San DIego, She was a keynote speaker
at the very inspiring gathering of more than
500, that met February 28-March 1-March 2, 2010.
at the Del Mar Marriott.
"How do Genetically Engineered,
Conventoinional, and Organic Foods Co-exist?"
The position expressed in the
1500-Page Environmental Impact Report (EIS)
issued by the USDA is that they can.
The EIP was requested by the Supreme Court
during a comment period that ended March 3, 2009.
The case goes before the court before long.
You can read the comments here:
Rayne listened to my question,
as well as questions from numbers of hurting
farmers who were concerned they could not
make ends meet. She took a lot of notes.
She said she would get back to us.
She did not have the answer to my question.
She said she would take it to the the FDA
and then get back to me. I would think,
the USDA, that made the statement in the EIP
would have the answer. They better.
There are many farmers on the organic side
who are convinced that Genetically Engineered
Alfalfa and Organic Alfalfa cannot co-exist.
Field experience on the ground indicates
that the pollen drift from GE crops are carried
by wind and bees. The recipient seeds,
and their genes--are no longer purebreds.
The Organic Rule, passed by the USDA,
clearly states that for the Organic Standard to be
upheld, and for food to be certified Organic,
it must be free of Genetically Engineered--
Genetically Modified Organism--presence.
The case that goes before the Supreme Court
is an appeal from the Monsanto Company.
They have been pushed back in previous attempts
to get GMO, i,e,, Genetically Engineered Alfalfa
approved.
The decision will be considered a landmark
and set the tone for the deregulation of other
GE Seeds in America.
From an Organic Industry standpoint,
GMO presence in Organic supplies would represent
a significant economic blow to the burgeoning industry
that has a growth rate that may very well challenge
the growth of the Biotech Industry.
One of the largest indicators of Natural Product
growth is the Natural Product Expo West, that
kicks off next Thursday March 11, 2010
in Anaheim. California, right next door
to where Mickey Mouse, the popular-organically
grown Rodent, resides.
A recent issue from the Fresh Ideas Group
reports:
Natural Products Expo West 2010
is currently tracking 5 percent ahead in registered buyers.
Last year's record breaking event attracted
53,000 professional industry members to Anaheim. According
to Nutrition Business Journal,
U.S. nutrition industry sales totaled approximately
$110 billion in 2009.
The Natural Product Expo features some of the
most success members in the Organic Trade,
including George Siemon's of Organic Valley,
an outspoken critic of GMO's in foods.
On the other side of the dialogue is the
Monsanto Company itself. Robert T. Fraley, PhD,
The father of Agricultural Biotechnology, was
a recent speaker at the American Association
for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 176th
Annual Meeting. Dr Fraley, the winner of
the Heritage Chemical Award in 2009, spoke
on "Sustainable Solutions for Doubling Crop
Productivity by 2030."
http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1576502
RELATED PLANT YOUR DREAM BLOGS
AND LINKS
JASON MITCHELL, of AVEN, recorded
many sessions at the recent AAAS CONFERENCE
WHERE ROBERT T. FRALEY AND OTHER INSIGHTFUL
WORKSHOPS ON THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTIVITY WERE FEATURED
CONTACT INFO FOR ORDERING TAPES
FROM the AAAS 2010 ANNUAL MEETING
IN SAN DIEGO
Http://www.aven.com
800.810.8273
RELATED BLOGS AND LINKS
Glyphosate-Tolerant Alfalfa Events J101 and J163: Request for Nonregulated Status -- Draft Environmental Impact Statement(November 2009)
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