Todd and I just returned from the Upper Midwest Organic Conference. I can’t write too lengthy of a report here, because my head is swimming with so many other things. All of the workshops I went to were highly charged and emotional. The most heart-palpitating session had to do with the state of organic seed and the slippery slope of allowing genetically modified alfalfa and sugar beets into our food system. These seeds are already out there, but efforts by organizations such as The Center for Food Safety and others are trying to spread awareness to the public and to our government. A lawyer spoke at the convention about his involvement with a current battle to reverse the “okay” already given to GM alfalfa. Please read more about this by the group that seems to know most: www.centerforfoodsafety.org and stay tuned. The result of GM alfalfa could lead to the disappearance of this crop as organic, because it is hard to control the spread of pollen. If an organic alfalfa field is next to a GM alfalfa field, one would contaminate the other. Since alfalfa is used as pasture for cows, milk that is now certified organic may ultimately lose their label. This is how I understand it.
We use alfalfa as a perennial green manure crop.
Since GM sugar beets are currently allowed, organic table beets and organic chard are endangered.
If you want to know even more about this topic, you can do what our friends do: 1) rent one of two films: Food, Inc and/or The Future of Food, 2) inadvertently consume an entire bottle of wine (per person), and then 3) make a hysterical call to us asking us what to do next. What to do next? Keep informed by visiting www.centerforfoodsafety.org from time to time and tell your friends about what you learn. Support organic products whenever you can.
No comments:
Post a Comment