| If you enjoy organic dairy, then the impending legalization of GE alfalfa is a big deal. Now, to most people, GE alfalfa does not sound like a big deal. After all, we don't EAT alfalfa... unless of course you count that favorite food of granola-crunching hippies, alfalfa sprouts. But before you dismiss the issue, consider that COWS - including dairy cows - eat alfalfa. As alfalfa is an open-pollinated crop, that means that, if legalized, GE alfalfa will genetically contaminate non-GE alfalfa, even organic alfalfa. Organic alfalfa that organic dairy cows eat.
As the Obama administration moves closer to giving a green light to GE alfalfa, they are talking a lot about "coexistence," i.e. finding ways that both organic and farmers growing GE crops can live peacefully side by side. This is a nice thought, of course, but if there's one rock solid scientific observation about GE crops it is that they cannot be contained. Mistakes happen. A lot. So much so that despite GE corn growing nowhere NEAR the birthplace of corn in Mexico (at least, not legally), landrace corn in Oaxaca was found with contamination from GE corn.
A wonderful backgrounder on this issue can be found on the Food and Water Watch site.
Take action to stop GE alfalfa here |
