Glia
11-03-2011, 09:57 PM
Dear Farm Aid,
I saw your recent action alert about labeling GE foods (and I did it!), but I’m wondering why Farm Aid is involved. How will GE labeling do anything for family farmers?
First: thanks for taking part in our Just Label It! (https://www.farmaid.org/justlabelit) campaign to demand mandatory labeling for all foods containing genetically engineered (GE) ingredients. That means you are (according to a recent ABC News poll) among the 93 percent of American eaters who believe they have the right to know what’s in their food and want to make informed choices.
But you ask a great question, Dan: why is GE labeling important for family farmers?
Food labels—whether in the form of a “Certified Organic” seal or a package of USDA Grade-A ground chuck—don’t just provide eaters with the information they need to make a purchase. They also support farmers seeking new markets and increase transparency in the food system. After all, eaters can only vote with their dollar if they know what they’re voting for!
There’s a lot to the issue of GE labeling, so let’s explore!
Dining in the dark
Genetic engineering starts in a lab—by altering the genetics of a species in order to create traits that can’t occur naturally or through traditional plant breeding. Sometimes this is achieved by transferring genes from one species to another; in other cases, genes that have never before existed are created, as with the development of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready crops, which are modified to resist the application of Roundup herbicide. Some GE crops, such as Bt-corn or Bt-potatoes, have been engineered to produce toxins in their cells as a way to combat pests. ...
read the rest at
https://www.farmaid.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=qlI5IhNVJsE&b=2723877&ct=11450429¬oc=1&msource=oct11news&tr=y&auid=9805415
(https://www.farmaid.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=qlI5IhNVJsE&b=2723877&ct=11450429¬oc=1&msource=oct11news&tr=y&auid=9805415)
I saw your recent action alert about labeling GE foods (and I did it!), but I’m wondering why Farm Aid is involved. How will GE labeling do anything for family farmers?
First: thanks for taking part in our Just Label It! (https://www.farmaid.org/justlabelit) campaign to demand mandatory labeling for all foods containing genetically engineered (GE) ingredients. That means you are (according to a recent ABC News poll) among the 93 percent of American eaters who believe they have the right to know what’s in their food and want to make informed choices.
But you ask a great question, Dan: why is GE labeling important for family farmers?
Food labels—whether in the form of a “Certified Organic” seal or a package of USDA Grade-A ground chuck—don’t just provide eaters with the information they need to make a purchase. They also support farmers seeking new markets and increase transparency in the food system. After all, eaters can only vote with their dollar if they know what they’re voting for!
There’s a lot to the issue of GE labeling, so let’s explore!
Dining in the dark
Genetic engineering starts in a lab—by altering the genetics of a species in order to create traits that can’t occur naturally or through traditional plant breeding. Sometimes this is achieved by transferring genes from one species to another; in other cases, genes that have never before existed are created, as with the development of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready crops, which are modified to resist the application of Roundup herbicide. Some GE crops, such as Bt-corn or Bt-potatoes, have been engineered to produce toxins in their cells as a way to combat pests. ...
read the rest at
https://www.farmaid.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=qlI5IhNVJsE&b=2723877&ct=11450429¬oc=1&msource=oct11news&tr=y&auid=9805415
(https://www.farmaid.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=qlI5IhNVJsE&b=2723877&ct=11450429¬oc=1&msource=oct11news&tr=y&auid=9805415)