Friday, April 27, 2007
Organic farmers have a need, and a right, to protect the integrity of their crops, which must adhere to standards to be certified as "organic."
It is also important that Maine assist organic farmers in a reasonable fashion. Organic farming is not a major part of the state's economy, but it does represent an economic niche in a state that depends on piecing many niches together to create a solid economic foundation.
A bill aimed at the manufacturers of genetically modified seed, however, is a measure that steps beyond reasonable bounds. Part of the bill, sponsored by Rep. James Schatz, D-Blue Hill, would hold seed makers financially liable if cross-pollination occurs between genetically modified crops and organic crops growing in nearby, or not so nearby, fields.
The danger of that cross-pollination to organic farmers is that they could lose their certification, and thus that crop, if testing reveals cross-pollination with genetically modified plants has occurred.
The risk for seed makers is that an organic farmer could sue them for the cost of replanting and the loss in profit because of any contaminated crop.
Some supporters of the bill have argued that seed makers, who are typically large, deep-pocketed corporations such as Monsanto, can better afford to pay for losses if cross-pollination occurs.
It's important to note that cross-pollination can happen for reasons under no one's control -- seeds blown by wind or dropped off a truck, for instance -- or by misuse in planting methods or failure to follow protocols in using the seed. Just because a business can afford a loss, however, doesn't make it fair to hold it liable.
In many areas, organic farms and those using modified seeds exist side by side, with allowances for a buffer zone. Buffer zones, however, don't always provide adequate protection.
Perhaps some long-range planning can hash out a strategy to create organic growing zones in Maine -- zones that would provide ample buffering distance from crops grown with modified seed -- thus helping to eliminate the proximity that creates problems.
Modified seed has proved to be a valuable tool for farmers. The possibility of crop damage and liability issues hanging over seed makers' heads could be a disincentive for them to sell their products in Maine. Or, seed makers might elect to charge a premium for their product in this state -- which would unfairly penalize farmers who now depend on such use.
Reader comments
Sort by: Oldest first | Newest First
1-5 of 5 comments:
Actually, cross-pollination can only happen if someone, somewhere plants the franken-seed, so its always under someone's control. If cross-pollination is considered bad, then don't plant GM crops anywhere.
I can fire a gun into the air and, for reasons under no one's control, a bullet can fall from the sky, injuring an innocent victim...report abuse
MOFGA = Moonbats Organized For General Anarchy.
However, Lynn does list some good companies to have in your portfolio in the "gem" that finally got published below.
She must be a barrel of fun to the folks in Lubec.report abuse
It is not "just" the organic "niche" that is threatened by genetically-modified drift; it is the health of us all. Where do we think diseases like cancer, attention deficit disorder, and Austism come from, if not the contaminated environment which we breathe and ingest via our food?
Organo-phosphates used agriculturally that kill "bugs" also attack the developing nervous systems of children. Lawn chemicals like Round-up (also in "Round-up Ready corn) poison the grass in which many children play. A few years ago the EPA warned in a pamphlet that parents should "wash and peel all vegetables and fruit given to children". Ever heard that truth before?
Rather than a "corridor" for organics, the un-tested, unproven-as-safe, genetically-modified "foodstuffs" industry should be consigned to a row so far away from all possible human contamination that its lethality is eliminated. (If it's all so "safe", why does Monsanto so aggressively target so many farmers, consumers and milk companies that have inadvertently 1.) grown (because of drift) its g.m. corn or whatever, and 2.) sought to honestly label milk and other food. What have they got to hide?
Maine lawyer Sharon Tisher for years has covered the Board of Pesticide Control for MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association), investigated and written extensively on these matters. Is it because the mainstream media including MBBN is so owned /supported by these corporations, like Archer-Daniels Midland, Merck, etc. that this crucial -to-our well-being topic is not covered? report abuse
Why the reform that they all promised us if we would defeat TABOR.
What's TABOR?
Auuuugggghhhhhhhhhhhh!report abuse
You must be a registered user of MaineToday.com to post a comment. Register or log in.