Agricultural News
'Get a Move on for GMOs' Helps Farmers Stand Up for Biotechnology
Wed, 06 May 2015 14:58:31 CDT
GetaMoveOn.fb.org is Farm Bureau's just-launched advocacy website that gives farmers and ranchers a simple way to "Get a Move On" for GMOs. Through the website, farmers can easily express support for a national, science-based labeling standard, like the approach taken in the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (H.R. 1599).
"Now is the time for farmers and ranchers to take action in support of innovation in agriculture," said American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman. "Access to crop traits that resist pests, diseases and drought stress is helping farmers across the nation grow more food using less land, water, fuel and pesticides," Stallman said. "Biotechnology will offer even more benefits in the future."
From the website, farmers and ranchers can send House members emails encouraging "yea" votes for the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. The bill will clarify the Food and Drug Administration as the nation's foremost authority on food safety and create a voluntary labeling program run by the Agriculture Department's Agricultural Marketing Service, the same agency that administers the USDA Organic Program.
The legislation will provide a federal solution to protect consumers from a confusing patchwork of 50-state GMO labeling policies, and the misinformation and high food costs that would come with them.
Through GetaMoveOn.fb.org, farmers can not only connect with their lawmakers, but find state-by-state fact sheets detailing the value and share of GMO crops in each state. They can then share this information in their emails.
"It's critical that we as farmers help our lawmakers understand that there's a cost associated with discouraging agricultural innovation," Stallman said. "That cost will go well beyond the higher prices consumers will pay at the supermarket if each state passes its own GMO labeling law," he added.
In addition to the advocacy site, Farm Bureau's grassroots toolkit continues to be a helpful resource for farmers and ranchers who want to share the many positives about biotechnology with policymakers, community members and others. Accessible at fb.org/biotech, this free online resource includes an overview of biotechnology; an explanation of biotechnology's benefits to consumers, the environment, farmers, the U.S. economy, and more; links to credible sources for biotech information; and avenues for getting active on social media.
A strong consumer-focused resource is GMOAnswers.com, which allows people to ask any and all questions about GMOs. Responses come from independent experts in leading academic institutions, industry groups and representatives from Biotechnology Industry Organization member companies. The website also features studies, articles and safety data.
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