Over 50 members of congress have signed a letter asking USDA to keep genetically engineered alfalfa out of commercial use in light of the United States Supreme Court's ruling in Monsanto Co. v. Geertson Seed Farms. To read the U.S. Ag&Food Law and Policy Blog post on the Supreme Court Ruling, click here.
Reuters reports that while Monsanto Co. v. Geertson Seed Farms, "cleared the way for limited planting pending environmental reviews, an environmental impact statement "still has not been completed, and USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has said it expects to have one done by spring." Monsanto, however, "said this week it wanted the agency to accelerate approval."
The letter voices concerns including cross-contamination of conventional alfalfa fields, loss of export markets, and damage to the organic dairy industry. The letter also states that "[c]ongress enacted legislation in the 2008 Farm Bill to provide the USDA Secretary with the added authority to ensure that GE contamination was minimized or prevented after rice producers lost an estimated $1.25 billion as a result of a contamination event."
To read the Reuters story, click here.
To read the Letter sent by members of congress, click here.
Posted: 06/25/2010
