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<back | home "Pharming" in SLO County by Mike Zelina and Teresa Campbell In late March, San Luis Obispo County was shocked into action after learning that Ventria’s genetically engineered pharmaceutical rice was at our door and scheduled to be planted this spring. ECOSLO, along with SLO GE Free, posted an alert to several e-mail lists urging members immediately to contact the County Board of Supervisors and the California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary to ask for a delay in approval of the rice both here and in nine other counties. We fortunately got that delay, but that is all it is. We now have some time to learn everything we can about genetic engineering so we can decide whether or not we want it in our county, in our state and on our planet. Genetic Engineering Defined Genetic Engineering (GE) is the insertion of genetic material or DNA into the chromosomes of a living organism using a bacteria or a virus. The artificially inserted DNA may be extracted from an entirely different species of plant, animal, or microbe. Ventria’s pharmaceutical rice is an example of a plant that has been genetically engineered with human genes that produce two proteins found in human breast milk and tears. Humans have been changing plant genetics for hundreds of years, but GE is different. The results of the methods used in transgenic manipulation could never be achieved through traditional cross-pollination or hybridization. Problems with GE Since their introduction in the mid 1990s, scientists, consumers, farmers, insurers, economists, and environmental groups have all raised questions about genetic engineering. The two most common traits engineered into crops — glyphosate (Roundup) resistance and the Bt pesticide — were supposed to save farmers millions in the reduction of labor and pesticide costs. However, the promises of the biotech industry have in many cases proved to be untrue. Some of the concerns about genetically engineered crops are:
The Evolving Science of GE For most of the past 50 years, geneticists believed that all the traits in living organisms could be traced back to about 5% of the genes in a cell’s DNA. The other 95% of the genes were dismissed as "junk" DNA and were assumed to have no function. As recently reported by Scientific American, research in the past several years has contradicted the idea of "junk" DNA, and the theory is now being described as one of the biggest mistakes in the history of molecular biology. Genetic engineering is clearly an evolving science, and any claims of certainty by GE producers should be viewed with skepticism. Education is the Key According to Cornell’s Genetically Engineered Organisms education project, between 60 and 70% of all food in grocery stores contains some GE ingredients. For example, virtually all canola oil is made from genetically engineered seeds. However, some people are still not aware that they are consuming GE foods or that GE foods have even been approved for human consumption. If more people knew all the facts surrounding GE, more people might be concerned. Now What? When we received our "rice scare," local people made all the difference. With Roundup Ready alfalfa scheduled for planting in 2004, action must be taken now to keep GE out of our county. Once planted, these crops will have irreversible effects. The County Board of Supervisors can be convinced to adopt either an ordinance or moratorium prohibiting GE crops, or the citizens can bring the issue to a vote with a ballot initiative similar to the one successfully passed by Mendocino County. Perhaps most importantly, we should buy organic products and always demand to know if a food contains genetically engineered ingredients. Voting with your dollar is how we put GE out of business. The health of future generations is in our hands. m Mike Zelina is an ECOSLO Board Member. He can be reached at mike@ecoslo.org. Teresa Campbell is a local artist working to keep genetically engineered crops out of San Luis Obispo County. Website references: www.calgefree.org, www.ecoslo.org, www.sbgefree.org Mendocino Bans the Growing of GMOs In March of 2004, Mendocino County became the first county to pass an ordinance prohibiting the growing of genetically engineered organisms. The "County ordinance prohibiting growing of genetically modified organisms" ballot initiative won with 57% of the vote, even though the opposition spent over $600,000 to defeat the measure. The ordinance simply stated "The people of Mendocino County wish to protect the county’s agriculture, environment, economy, and private property from genetic pollution by genetically modified organisms." And that "It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to propagate, cultivate, raise, or grow genetically modified organisms in Mendocino County." Following Mendocino’s lead, several other counties are working on similar ordinances. Butte, Marin, and San Luis Obispo County are just a few. All the local efforts are being coordinated through California GE Free – a coalition of concerned groups including California Certified Organic Farmers, The Center for Food Safety, The Center for Environmental Health, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, and the Genetic Engineering Action Network. For more information, visit the state website at: www.calgefree.org or our local website at: www.slogefree.org If you live in Santa Barbara county, please visit: www.sbgefree.org <back | top^ |