Farmers suspicious of modified crops
UPI US & World
Sonntag, 19. Dezember 1999 12:17:00
Copyright 2000 United Press International. All rights reserved.@bThe following news report may not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of United Press International.
(UPI Newsfeature)
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By E.W. KIECKHEFER
United Press International
Opposition to the use of genetically modified crops in food supplies
seems to be having an effect on U.S. farmers.
How much effect that opposition will have on plantings will depend on
what happens in Asia, said Richard Feltes, vice president and director
of commodity research for Chicago-based Refco Inc. He spoke recently to
50 grain traders, grain elevator operators, farmers and representatives
of food processing companies at a private briefing held by the
Minneapolis Grain Exchange.
While Europe has made the most noise about such crops, Japan and
other Asian nations are the biggest buyers of grain exports from the
United States, Feltes noted. But regardless of the Asian response, he
said, Midwest farmers will be cutting back on plantings of those
modified crops, despite the higher yields they got this year from such
seeds.
While some grocery chains and food processing companies have refused
to acknowledge demands that they sell only foods that have not been
genetically modified, Feltes said, other companies and even whole
industries are paying attention to the protests from consumer and
environmental organizations.
Processors who make syrup for sweetening soft drinks made inquiries
in Chicago markets recently about buying corn that would permit them to
label cans or bottles of soda GMO-free, he said.
"Nobody has put this on the can yet," he added, "but the first one
that does will force others to do the same thing." He said such
questions weren't being asked a year ago.
Refco clients have begun to opt for non-genetically modified seeds
because "nobody wants to get stuck with corn and soybeans that may be
discounted when they move into future markets," he said.
Not all farmers are concerned about the possibility of product
labeling, of course. The executive committee of the United Soybean Board
has adopted a position advocating "responsible development of plant
biotechnology in a way that provides long-term benefits to consumers,
producers and the environment."
The board, which runs the soybean check-off program supporting
marketing efforts, estimates 50 percent or more of the soybeans grown in
the United States this year were varieties improved by biotechnology.
An Iowa State University study has shown that Midwest farmers who
planted Bt corn from 1996 to 1998 reduced their insecticide usage each
year. Bt corn is genetically engineered to produce a protein toxic to
some insects, including the European corn borer. The insects die after
feeding on Bt corn leaves or stalks.
Of the 75 million acres planted to corn in the Midwest in 1998, 22
million acres were Bt corn, according to Marlin Rice, an Iowa State
University entomologist.
"I believe it is important to put some balance into this argument,"
Rice said. "There are some environmental benefits to be gained from
this technology. It's not all negative about genetic engineering -- this
is on the positive side."
Opponents of crop engineering call the products "Frankenstein food"
and demand the Food and Drug Administration make safety trials mandatory
and order that labels indicate whether foods contain any modified
ingredients.
"The FDA seems more interested in promoting biotechnology than
scrutinizing it," said Charles Margulis, a spokesman for Greenpeace.
The opponents say food labels would allow consumers to decide for
themselves whether to eat the modified foods.
The FDA finished up a round of hearings on the issue Dec. 13.
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Copyright 1999 by United Press International.
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