Congratulations to everyone who survived the elections. This year it seemed like all sorts of very controversial things were up for vote across the nation, from gay marriage to medicinal marijuana to giving farmed chickens some extra leg room. But here’s one you might have missed in all the excitement. Voters in Lake County California elected a local rancher to the Board of Supervisors, and this particular guy is expected to tip the board’s majority toward repealing a county ban on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Proponents of the ban argue that it would protect organic farmers from potential contamination by GMO crops, which they also say have not been proven safe to consume. Supporters of GMOs argue that there is no proof that the modified crops are harmful and a ban would hurt farmers economically.
If you haven’t lived in an area where this issue has reared its ugly head then you probably don’t see what all the fuss is about. If you have voted on the GMO issue in the past then you’ve probably witnessed the incredible money, time and effort spent by both sides pushing their agendas. Believe me, this issue is HUGE.
Several years ago Sonoma County took a GMO ban to the voters. And lost. At the time this issue was of particular interest to me as I was running a small organic farm (Sonoma Heritage Farms) in the county. My great friend (and bass player in the band) Jason Saling and I grew all sorts of delectable veggies and sold them at a local Farmer’s Market as well as supplying around a dozen local folks with weekly CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) food baskets. From our point of view, GMO crops were a direct threat to our crops. And to our health.
But the people producing these GMOs have a different point of view. Mega-corporations Dow and Monsanto, for example, claim they are being vilified by a few paranoid extremists. They claim to be “developing products and technologies to feed a starving world.” That sounds very nice and altruistic and all that but — wait just a minute… Dow and Monsanto are CORPORATIONS, not NON-PROFITS. By it’s own admission, Monsanto (producer of the herbicide Roundup, by the way) currently invests over $2.6 million per day to develop and bring new products to market. Are they spending all that money because they have an intense desire to save the world? What do you think their shareholders would say about that as a business model? I’m not necessarily saying that wealth is evil and we should all go off the grid and join hands and sing songs and share the world in peace. I’m simply saying that Monsanto and Dow, like any other corporation, are in it for the money. And when I go to their web sites and see read the rhetoric and see the shiny pictures of well-fed smiling farmers all over the world it makes me feel a bit sick.
But here’s the bottom line. This issue is extremely complex, involving very complicated arguments in subjects as diverse as genetics, agriculture, food safety, economics, and, of course, politics. If you are seriously interested in learning more then I highly recommend checking out The Botany of Desire and The Omnivore’s Dilemma, both by author Michael Pollen. These are very readable and entertaining books on how and what we grow and eat. If you don’t have the time or desire to do the research then I would urge you to consider one simple question with regard to the issue:
Who do you trust more to make a sound judgement on the issue of GMOs – your friend and neighbor the local organic farmer or Monsanto Corporation?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I have read both books you recommend, and agree with you entirely. A Canadian friend told me that Monsanto sued a farmer who complained that his crops were being contaminated. Monsanto won. We can be grateful we don’t have more of the Bush administration. Perhaps sanity will prevail (at least for 4 years) and these monster corporations will be restrained.
It is very hard to believe but absolutely true — Monsanto has successfully sued at least several farmers in the U.S. mid-west because their crops were contaminated with pollen from a neighbor’s GMO crop. Because the resulant seeds from the contaminated crop are now GMO they are technically owned by Monsanto and the farmer must pay for those seeds he saved. Is that insane or what? There’s a good video out called The Future of Food which documents the whole evil thing. Check it out…
tony
I believe in Tony’s passion. Leadership requires it and leadership is the only way to hack our way through the GMO threat to our food sources and the sources of food for all animals currently on the earth - a population that is dwindling as I key this comment. Pollen, like Tony, is a leader of the human pack and he deserves to be read.
As a long time member of Slow Food and apprecitative of what its international membership has accomplished in just a few years, I encourage anyone interested in the GMO threat to also visit Slowfoodusa.org; read about the RAFT (renewing america’s food traditions) and visit a few of the sponsors’s websites - American Livestock Breeds Conservancy and Seed Savers are two to savor.
Food diversity is our heathy future.
Thank you, Tony, for reminding us about this important issue - one that trancends politics and wealth. Jer
Excellent!
t
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