UPDATE FROM NCGA ON USDA'S POSSIBLE DEREGULATION OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ALFALFA
| |
The following is excerpted from a message from Robynn Schraeder, the Chief Executive Officer of National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA):
"We will hear USDA's record of decision on how they plan to de-regulate GE alfalfa seed later this month. Unfortunately, the USDA has made it clear that the continued full regulation (or non-production) of GE alfalfa is not an option and that they will either fully deregulate or conditionally deregulate this crop.
USDA is facing a lot of political pressure by big ag on this issue, and
we feel the organic community should be heard as loudly as those pushing for full deregulation. I would hate to see a last-minute flip by USDA to full deregulation because they have not heard from the public, having provided a forum for working groups from conventional and sustainable agriculture to form and inform a program of conditions.
Although there is no official public comment period, we think it is
important to let consumers know about this issue and encourage them to contact USDA and show support for conditional deregulation. The timeline is SHORT. Even though it is far from our preferred option of continued full regulation of GE alfalfa, faced with the choice between full deregulation and conditional deregulation, our best chance at preserving the future of organic agriculture now is to fight for every protection available under conditional deregulation. I also realize there will be some members and consumers who will not want to support any form of deregulation, and that is of course an option. USDA can also be contacted with that message.
We have posted my editorial on this issue on the strongertogether.coop website along with background information, and a link to a petition that will focus on supporting conditional deregulation over full deregulation. We have also created a Co+op, stronger together Facebook page and will be launching it with posts on this issue."
|
