Aimed at bringing science into the GMO discussion, rather than letting “activists armed with non-scientific rhetoric” tell the story, AFBF media specialist Kari Barbic says, “[With this website] Farm Bureau is providing farmers and ranchers with tools to share their story of progress and innovation.”
The May 6, 2015, AFBF article notes that consumers have been confused by the push for mandatory GMO labeling initiatives. While consumers have a right to know their food ingredients, the inconsistencies with voluntary labeling laws or regulations and the push for mandatory labeling have created consumer confusion.
The GetaMoveOn website is to assist farmers and ranchers in pushing for congressional support of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (HR 1599), which it says will provide consistent information to consumers about non-GMO, GMO and “natural” food labels.
An action button on the webpage allows farmers and ranchers to submit a state-specific letter to a congressional representative, asking for bipartisan passage of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. The customized letters also contain state-specific information on GMO crops grown within the designed state. For instance, the Missouri letter notes that 91 percent of soybeans ($2 billion value), 93 percent of corn ($1.7 billion value) and 96 percent of cotton ($374 million value) are GMO crops grown within the state.
The website contains quick facts to encourage farmers and ranchers to get involved in the discussion. It states, “To continue these benefits [from genetically modified crops] farmers must stand up for biotechnology.”
Some of the points presented in the website headline include:
- Without GMOs, it would cost $250 per acre more to protect corn from pests.
- Without GMOs, it could cost $125 per acre more to protect cotton from pests.
- More than 25 percent of farmers’ total cash income from commodity sales comes from biotech crops.
- USDA approval of new biotech crop traits has decreased 55 percent since 2002.
Barbic says, “Thanks to advances in biotechnology, farmers and ranchers are growing more food using less water, fuel and pesticides. American farmers are doing their part to reduce their environmental footprint, from decreasing runoff to lowering greenhouse gas emissions. For example, farmers have cut their fuel use from 5 gallons per acre to just 1 gallon per acre, largely because GM crops require little to no tillage. What would this kind of improvement look like off the farm? Well, the environmental benefits of the global use of GMOs in 2012 alone were equivalent to removing 11.9 million cars from the road for one year.” FG
