A recent report in the Bangor Daily News about an effort by some members of the organic industry, lawmakers and other state officials to write legislation calling for a moratorium on genetically improved crops contained misinformation, misconceptions and propaganda by a politically motivated group. The simple fact is, nearly all crops in existence today have been biologically modified at one time or another throughout history.

First, some facts:

? Genetic improvements have been used to make crops resistant to disease, more plentiful and more consistent.

? Genetically improved crops have helped feed more of the world’s population.

? Foods regularly eaten by most of the world’s population have been genetically modified and improved at some point in time.

? Study after study confirms the safety of biologically improved crops for humans and the environment.

? There are no state-specific labeling laws. Generically improved crops are regulated by three federal agencies.

? Contrary to the article, there are no moratoriums in New York or Massachusetts.

? The article mentions 400,000 acres of land with no genetically improved crops. In fact, that also includes forestlands, not exclusively farmland.

The BDN report mentioned two Midwest university studies, which concluded that crops that have been genetically improved have little or no commercial value. However, those studies, from unnamed universities, fly in the face of a huge body of research. There are hundreds of published, peer-reviewed studies on the safety of crops and foods developed using biotechnology. A recent study concluded that biologically improved crops produce an additional 4 billion pounds of food and fiber and raise farm income by a billion and a half dollars a year.

Critics of biotechnology and genetically improving foods like to mention people who have philosophical conflicts about food that is altered. The fact is, there is choice in the marketplace. These niche markets are generally more expensive recognizing the special handling costs involved. This offers the consumer choice but does not necessarily convey any higher degree of food safety or quality.

This brings us to a key point of organically grown food and the organic food industry. The dark secret of such food is, if you used every available square acre of usable farmland, including cutting down a lot of the world’s forests, you would not be able to grow enough to feed the number of people being fed even today, let alone trying to address the critical problem of world hunger. In addition, every possible source of fertilizer would be required.

Biologically improved crops require less fertilizer and fewer pesticide applications because they are designed to be resistant to insects. That means they are better for the environment. But the most important element of such crops is that farmers can grow more of them at a lower cost. That means we can feed more of the world’s population.

Contrary to the BDN portrayal of the grass-roots support for the acceptance of biotechnology, the majority of the U.S. farmers have adopted this technology faster than any other agricultural innovation in history.

Passing a law in Maine would put our farmers at a cruel disadvantage if they wished to export their crops. Maine is a tough enough place to do business without creating another Maine-specific barrier to commerce, especially when there is no demonstrable benefit. If there is to be any legislation on biologically altered foods, it should clearly be at the federal level to ensure a level playing field across the states.

Cheryl Timberlake is the executive director of the Biotechnology Association of Maine. For more information on biotechnology, you can contact her at cheryltimberlake@aol.com.