E-mail this article to
yourself or a friend.
Enter address:





home

Corn Growers endorse Kucinich initiatives on genetically engineered foods and crops

(Tuesday, July 29, 2003 -- CropChoice news) -- From a news release:

Contact: Larry Mitchell (202) 835-0330
Dan McGuire (402) 489-1346

WASHINGTON - July 28, 2003 - The American Corn Growers Association (ACGA) has endorsed several legislative initiatives introduced by Congressman Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, to improve the rights of farmers and consumers in the area of genetically engineered (GE) foods, crops, and livestock. Kucinich recently introduced six bills in the United States House of Representatives (H.R. 2916, H.R. 2917, H.R. 2918, H.R. 2919, H.R. 2920 and H.R 2921).

When passed and enacted, the new laws will

  • Improve protection for farmers and ranchers against powerful biotech companies and restore farmers' traditional right to save seed;
  • Require food companies to label all foods containing ingredients from GE plants or animals;
  • Improve the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) oversight and testing of GE foods;
  • Requires new regulations on the production of pharmaceutical crops to help provide safeguards against contamination of human food;
  • Clarify and reform liability and other legal issues associated with GE crops and foods; and
  • Expand research to help developing nations better feed themselves.

"These initiatives will help family farmers and ranchers through these awkward times as new technologies advance quicker than do the laws protecting those farmers and ranchers," said Larry Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer of ACGA. "It will also provide our customers, both domestic and international, the information and confidence they need in order to remain our customers. I commend Representative Kucinich for his leadership and point out that these issues are why ACGA operates the Farmer Choice-Customer First program. We also urge other members of the House of Representatives support and cosponsor the six bills."

Farmer Choice-Customer First provides unbiased, honest, and objective information to the nation's corn producers. By having access to this information, farmers can make educated decisions about what varieties of seed to plant and how best to market them. Farmer Choice-Customer First understands that American farmers believe our foreign and domestic customers are always right, even if they may not be right for the reasons many in the production sector desire. It is the responsibility of U.S. farmers to grow what the customer demands and what the customer will buy.

American Corn Growers Association represents over 14,000 members in 35 states. See http://www.acga.org