Once again an organic crop has been contaminated by a genetically engineered crop. This time the European Commission’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed found the GE traits in German flax seed that came out of Canada. The Organic Trade Association of Canada reports that “the GE flax in question, called ‘Triffid,’ was designed specifically to withstand applications of synthetic chemical pesticides.”
When will the organic community say ENOUGH! BASTA! GENUG! ASSEZ! In the US alone organic sales are over $25 Billion dollars annually. We are no longer a marginal voice, but we must be a unified voice. It’s time to put pressure on our politicians to protect our basic freedom to operate an organic farm or business.
The Biotech community has been granted the freedom to operate without accountability, and yet we lack the basic rights of protection of private property (which agriculture products are) that are the foundation of western law. This goes against the basic conventions of good and bad neighbor agreements in which a neighbor who damage the private property of another neighbor, either by direct or indirect actions of their person or property (including biological entities such as animals and plants) is responsible for those damages. There is an immense historical record in common law and tort law that backs this position.
Organic Seed Alliance will be hosting a meeting of the organic community to discuss contamination issues this winter at our State or Organic Seed Symposium. We will discuss how to work as a community to address the contamination in organic systems, and develop action plans for maintaining the integrity of organic seed and food systems. Look for updates on the State of Organic Seed Report and Symposium on our web site soon on the Advocacy Page.
Hmmmm, My opinion is that there is a lot of politicians out there who are just puppets to the mighty & financially powerful food corporations. According to the website of the UK’s food standards agency (FSA), “organic food is not safer or posses more nutrients than conventionally produced produce”. The view of the FSA is not the view of “The Organic Centre” in the USA and many pieces of research that has been done. Food is a ticket to huge financial gains and kick backs could go to all major players who played pivotal roles in its making. I feel politicians will only change their ways if they could lose votes if they don’t. The only way of getting GM to stay out of the large supermarkets is if they feel customer loyality could drop and take their profits with them. What is the common thread? – us the people. Keep peoples awareness of what is going on constantly fresh and they will vote with their feet. The law changes and supermarkets will follow.
This is something people need to be aware of . We all need to protect our food from Monsanto and other corporations who obviously put profits above our collective well being .