Moratorium sought on genetically modified crops

AUGUSTA – Although the bill itself has not been written, support is coming from legislators, state officials and the Maine organic community for a proposed moratorium on growing genetically modified organisms and crops within the state.

“At this point we are still seeking to raise a chorus of voices in favor of this proposal,” said Leslie Cummins of Co-op Voices Unite, a grass-roots, anti-GMO organization. “The idea is to have a moratorium on any outdoor growing of any genetically engineered crop,” she said.

“A moratorium for three years will give the time for both sides to present their points of view and for the government to test these crops for safe consumption, give environmental safety to farmers who are hard-pressed by lawsuits across the country because of pollen drift,” said Cummins.

“More and more evidence is emerging that these products are indeed directly harmful to a person’s health and to the soil,” Cummins continued. “We as a group hope to highlight the religious and philosophical concerns about the unnatural crossing of species boundaries to produce unknown and unlabeled foods. A practicing vegan or Buddhist or Muslim or Jew is going to take issue with a product that is unlabeled which contains substances that their philosophy or religion directly asks them not to consume.”

If it is passed, Maine could be the first state to enact such a moratorium. The proposal comes on the heels of two Midwest university studies that conclude there is no financial benefit to farming GE crops over conventional crops.

In addition, the European Union, Japan and a handful of other countries refuse to accept GE crops from the United States.

Of the approximately 6,200 farmers in Maine, Cummins said many were contacted regarding the issue and urged to write letters to their state representatives and senators as well as attend any legislative hearings to testify in favor of the ban.

“Over the last three-quarters of the year, we have had 400 farmers voluntarily sign a pledge that they would not grow GE crops. This represents more than 400,000 acres in Maine,” said Cummins.

Cummins said there are already moratoriums in place in New York and Massachusetts, and “labeling laws all over the place.” In Maine, labeling laws were sought for four years by anti-biotech activists. Although the proposal gained support each year, it was never passed.

Last year, the Legislature passed two GMO-based laws. One allowed volunteer labeling of products containing genetically engineered ingredients. “No one has any idea of the effect of this at all,” said Cummins.

A separate law, proposed by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, provides that any seed manufacturer or dealer give written instructions to minimize potential cross-contamination from GE crops, including the establishment of buffer zones between conventional or organic crops and GE crops.

Volunteers will be on hand at the Common Ground Country Fair Sept. 20-22 to provide more information about the issue.