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Secretary Vilsack: Support Organics, Not Genetic Engineering

While the Obama Administration has certainly made several positive inroads during the first 100 days of office, from appointing organic champion Kathleen Merrigan to Undersecretary of Agriculture and planting organic gardens at both the White House and USDA headquarters, the Administration has chosen to champion genetically engineered crops at home and abroad.

Upon returning from his recent visit to the G8 summit in Italy, Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack pledged to promote Big Biotech abroad as part of President Obama's foreign policy. Vilsack's comments came on the heels of President Obama's announcement that the United States would "double support for agricultural development to over $1 billion so that we are giving people the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty. ... This is not just charity though. These are future markets for all countries, and future drivers of growth." "Agriculture development," from the Administration's perspective, means exporting the US' toxic industrial agriculture model, with genetically engineered crops at the center. President Obama's announcement coincided with the passage in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of S. 384, the Global Food Security Act, which forces genetic engineering upon the world's 1 billion subsistance farmers.

Take Action! Send Secretary Vilsack a letter and urge him to:

-Require mandatory labeling of all genetically engineered plants and animals,

-Promote truly sustainable and organic agriculture abroad, and

-Protect non-GE and organic farmers by assigning liability for injury caused by genetically engineered organisms.

Go further: Call Secretary Vilsack's office 202-720-3631 or 202-720-2796 and let them know how you feel about YOUR Department of Agriculture supporting Big Biotech!

November 21, 2009

Subject:

Dear Secretary Vilsack,

Genetically Engineered (GE) foods and products are currently not labeled, pose a threat to organic and natural foods, and have been approved without adequate safety testing. As a consumer, I have the right to know what’s in my food. Further, the FDA is not testing these products itself. The agency is relying on edited summaries provided by the very companies that have a financial interest in bringing these biotech crops to market. And under current FDA law, the companies are not even required to provide summaries!

The UN recently released a report saying that Africa's best hope for the future is organic agriculture. Yet the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has passed S.384, the Global Food Security Act, that would require "research on biotechnological advances appropriate to local ecological conditions, including genetically modified technology" as a condition of US aid.

A new survey by the UN Conference on Trade and the Environment and UNEP in East Africa found that over 90 per cent of studies show that organic or near organic agriculture had benefits for soil fertility, water control, improved water tables, carbon sequestration and biodiversity.

This allows farmers to extend the growing season in marginal areas. The research in East Africa was among 1.6 million organic or near organic farmers from seven countries working on 1.4 million hectares.

Other findings include an increase in crop yields of 128 per cent since switching. Incomes are higher as a result of not having to buy fertilizers and pesticides. Organics result in more food availability, and higher prices are paid through certification schemes for both export and domestic markets - which addresses poverty in an environmentally friendly way.

Close to 90 per cent of cases showed an increase in farm and household incomes and because organic agriculture is more knowledge intensive it has lead to improvements in education; community bonds and cooperation on market access.

Additionally, mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods is essential for me to choose whether or not I want to consume genetically engineered foods. Genetically engineered foods are required to be labeled in the European Union nations, plus Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries around the world. As an American, I firmly believe I should also have that right to know if my foods have been genetically engineered.

A poll released July 15, 2003 by ABC News found that 92 percent of the American public wants the federal government to require mandatory labeling on genetically modified foods. The figure was 93 percent in a poll ABC News conducted in 2001, so support for mandatory labeling is strong and consistent. As ABC News stated, "Such near-unanimity in public opinion is rare."

I urge you to please require mandatory labeling of all genetically engineered plants and animals, promote truly sustainable and organic agriculture abroad, and protect non-GE and organic farmers by assigning liability for injury caused by genetically engineered organisms.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

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Secretary Vilsack: Support Organics, Not Genetic Engineering