SALEM—A report issued by an Oregon task force on genetic engineering received some mild rebukes from critics of biotechnology at a sparsely attended meeting on Nov. 13.
Only a handful of people attended the public comment hearing, held in Salem during wintry weather that prevented some task force organizers from attending.
The task force was appointed by Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber to explain the controversies over biotechnology to the Oregon legislature, which may rely on the report in drafting bills.
Cindy Condon, an Oregon resident, said she was concerned because essentially nothing new was included in the report and she’s concerned about what role it will play among lawmakers and state regulators.
“Who’s speaking for us as citizens?” she said.
There hasn’t been enough long-term testing on the health effects of genetically modified organisms, Condon said.
“The research is limited because it’s controlled by industry,” she said.
Pat Williams, a resident, said she generally enjoyed the report but would like certain items removed, like the possibility of genetic engineering plants to withstand drought.
Seed companies can achieve such results without biotechnology, she said.
Also, the report shouldn’t state that genetically engineered sugarbeets can be harmed through cross-pollination with organic or conventional chard, Williams said. “There is no vice versa. The damage is not related to GMO.”
Jan Castle, another resident, said she hadn’t read the report but objected to its underlying premise that biotech crops can coexist with organic and conventional ones.
“I think it’s impossible. The two are mutually exclusive,” she said. “Nature and the wind will not respect the boundaries we put on them.”
Farmers should reject GMOs and embrace the “foodie restaurant” ethic that is often associated with Oregon agriculture, Castle said. “We have become the Provence of the U.S.”
Source: www.capitalpress.com