     Organic Library > GMO Position Statement Earthbound Farm's Position on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Food  Since we began as a small farm in 1984, Earthbound Farm has been committed to organic farming as a way bring the benefits of organic food to as many people as possible and serve as a catalyst for positive change. We feel strongly that consumers have the right to know how their food is grown and what it contains, so they can make informed decisions about the foods they purchase and consume. We also believe that it's imperative to understand the potential impacts of new technologies before their use becomes widespread. Genetic modification is a modern technology that involves transferring genes across species to alter or control specific traits. In the United States, many conventionally grown foods are now genetically modified. According to the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, 45 percent of all corn, 85 percent of all soybeans, and 76 percent of all cotton grown in the United States today is genetically modified (August 2004). As of 2002, the Grocery Manufacturers of America estimates that 60 to 70 percent of all processed foods contain genetically modified ingredients. Earthbound Farm believes that genetically modified food has not yet been proved to be safe, and that it presents the possibility of long-term risks to the environment and to humans. Yet there is no legislation that requires the labeling of genetically modified foods. We at Earthbound Farm believe that this lack of labeling denies consumers their basic right to know what is in their food. At this time, consumers' only assurance that their food has not been genetically modified is to buy food that is organically grown and processed. For this reason, we wholeheartedly support the continued prohibition of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in organic foods. Because we believe that agriculture should sustain the health of both people and the environment, we support legislation to require both labeling and extensive testing of GMOs. We also view GMOs as a probable threat to the integrity of organic agriculture, primarily due to the potential for cross-pollination from conventional farms using GMOs and contamination of seed supplies with genetically modified products. In addition, widespread cultivation of some genetically modified crops could disrupt certain natural checks and balances that organic agriculture relies on to control pests and disease. Only if we protect organic food production and require that all foods be accurately labeled, will consumers have confidence in the purity of the foods they buy.
The following organizations provide information consistent with our position on GMOs in the food supply: Union of Concerned Scientists Trespass: Vision for a Sustainable World by Claire Hope Cummings Center for Food Safety Genetically Engineered Food Alert |