By Dave Berg
FARGO—In response to the Jan. 16 letter from Ineke Justitz headlined “Monsanto the real problem with sugar”:
Sugarbeet farmers do not view Monsanto as a problem. Monsanto has invested large amounts of intellectual and financial capital to develop technologies that allow farmers to produce high-yielding, nutritionally safe, and environmentally friendly crops.
Farmers have a choice whether they use Monsanto’s seed, herbicides or other products. A large majority of farmers have chosen to use genetically modified seed (from Monsanto and from other companies) because these provide the benefits that I mentioned above.
Just as farmers have choices in what products they purchase, I respect completely Justitz’s decision to purchase cane sugar.
As an American consumer, you have literally millions of grocery products available to you. These products provide you with almost limitless variety in the flavor, the nutritional makeup, and the affordability of what you buy.
Thanks to farmers, and to companies (like Monsanto) that provide crop inputs to these farmers, America’s food supply is safe, nutritious and affordable.
I have been quoted as saying that “anti-GM groups” are a “threat” to sugarbeet farmers. I would like to refine that statement. What I believe is that people who oppose the use of genetic modification are a threat to the productivity of our agricultural system. Farmers have demonstrated that they can utilize this and other forms of technology to provide massive amounts of food that in turn becomes the raw material for our country’s magnificently varied, nutritious and affordable food supply.
The “threat” that I see is the potential that “anti-GM groups” will deny the use of genetic modification and other technologies to farmers. This would logically result in lower crop production, higher prices, and less variety for you and other consumers.
Ms. Justitz, I am happy that you can make a choice between beet sugar and cane sugar. However, I sincerely hope that neither you nor anyone else will work to deny other consumers – in our country or in poorer countries around the world – the right to have the same ability to make a choice in what foods they purchase.
Berg is president, American Crystal Sugar Co.
Source: www.inforum.com