Alfalfa Producers are "Consumers" Too

A number of organic farming interest groups and the National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA) are urging popular input to prevent further progress on releasing genetically engineered (Roundup Ready) alfalfa.

Public correspondence from the NCGA is calling on consumers and individuals to enter comments with USDA during a 60-day comment period at the end of which USDA will determine to allow GE alfalfa to be released without restriction or to be maintained as a crop on which a USDA permit would be required.

The NCGA cites the potential for cross pollination of GE alfalfa with traditional varieties, thereby "compromising the integrity of the USDA Organic Seal through uncontrollable contamination of organic foods."

Not many folks eat alfalfa, but I suppose cows consuming GE alfalfa would become a "vector" of "inorganictivity" and thus provide the link to Monsanto's laboratories and the consumer eating dairy products. That's quite convoluted for sure, but it is the basis on which those opposed to Roundup Ready alfalfa will be using in their arguments.

Fortunately, farmers are consumers too, and they can add their opinions just like the "consumers" NCGA is trying to alert.

You can do so by commenting directly to USDA through the Center for Food Safety's online campaign: http://ga3.org/campaign/alfalfaEIS.

Or you can mail two copies of your comments -- postmarked to arrive no later than February 16, 2010 -- to: Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. When commenting, be sure to refer to Docket No. APHIS-2007-004.