My Comment to the USDA about GMO maize

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0046-0001

 

My concerns about planting genetically modified organism (GMO) in the USA are several. First, it is a proven risk to landowners; the plants will hybridize with other nearby strains, disturbing the private crops of organic farmers via the wind. Many consumers choose natural foods. These GMO crops have not been tested for adverse effects on human or other animal.

Secondly, some corporations who are selling these seeds have been disturbing farmers with a notice that they have found such GMO plants on their land; the farmers are then threatened with a suit action on the basis of a patent on the seed. To avoid the suit they sign contracts that obligate them to buy and sew the Monsanto seeds in perpetuity. This has been shown to be true in more than one documentary about the Monsanto Corporation, headquartered in Missouri, where I reside. I deeply resent such actions, which are corrupt, and violate the privacy and ownership rights of affected farmers in this and other States.

Further, “RoundUp Ready” seeds have been lab engineered with genetic changes which make them specifically resistant to some specific herbicide. Those risky chemicals are toxic. They also escape into groundwater, streams and rivers.

Therefore all GMOs ought to be regulated out until proven safe by a board of unprejudiced scientists. The Bradford Research and Extension Center at the University of Missouri is majority opinion in favor of hybridization by natural, timeworn methods which produce much hardier crops with less expense to the farmer. There is no merit to the argument that GMO seeds can “feed the world” any better than ordinary, far less expensive seeds.

Environmental organizations are opposed to genetically modified organisms. The corporations that produce and sell them are not behaving responsibly about the outcomes. Union of Concerned Scientists has studied and written about this issue extensively. Genetic engineering is only a profit driven experiment on us all.

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Friends and concerned citizens, please follow suit in commenting to the USDA about the use of genetically engineered organisms. I had some struggle with the web page because it limits characters of the entire text to 2000. Please pass this along to others as well. 

"Your Comment Tracking Number: 810a68ce" -- specifically your own-- appears at the end of the document submission. You can save this until the comment period is over to see it online among the others.

Meanwhile, be sure to vote and get your friends to the polls in August and November here in Missouri!