A big week for GMOs
News about genetically-engineered crops -- also known as GMOs, for genetically-modified organisms -- seemed to be growing like weeds last week.
On Monday, it was the corn and soybeans grown on national wildlife refuges. Three groups sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, seeking to stop the practice of allowing farmers to plant GMO crops at the Bombay Hook refuge in Delaware.
Wednesday, GMO alfalfa took center stage. It was the final day of a public comment period on a draft assessment by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow unrestricted use of that crop. If so, it would be the first perennial crop to be genetically engineered, which adds to the concern of critics. With crops like corn and soybeans, the plants die every year. But critics worry that perennial GMO alfalfa could take over. Seattle Times reporter Melissa Anderson had an interesting story on the issue earlier this week.
Yesterday, it was the turn of GMO sugar beets. Environmental groups were in U.S. District Court, arguing that planting, production and use of genetically engineered (GE) sugar beets and sugar beet seed should be halted until the federal government completes the environmental review process. They included the Center for Food Safety, High Mowing Organic Seeds, Organic Seed Alliance and the Sierra Club.
Again, the concern was unplanned spread of the GMO crops. The attorneys argued that the beets might cross-pollinate with close relatives, including Swiss chard and table beets. They said that in places like Oregon's Willamette Valley, that would threaten the crops of nearby organic farmers. Sugar beet pollen, evolved to disperse over as wide an area as possible on the wind, is extremely light, according to lawyers for EarthJustice. A recent USDA study found that the pollen may travel more than 12 miles, they said.
However, other court filings contended that a ban could hurt farmers, U.S. sugar supply, seed prices, processors such as American Crystal Sugar Co. and Monsanto, which derives millions of dollars in revenue from licensing the herbicide-resistant technology to seed companies, Bloomberg News reported. Sugar beets, grown on 1.3 million acres in 10 states, provide half the nation's sugar supply, according to the Sugar Industry Biotech Council.
Monsanto has touted the seeds' benefits, saying they help production. The seeds are "Roundup Ready," which means farmers can spray the weedkiller, Roundup, without hurting the plants.
Others argue that the widespread use of Roundup is creating "superweeds" that are resistant to it, leading to the use of more aggressive -- and more hazardous -- substances.