Conservative Congressmen Lobby Hard for GE Alfalfa

Alfalfa is a crop that typically doesn't get too much attention — unless it's genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa, that is. The sustainable food scene has been in full-on panic mode ever since the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its environmental impact statement (EIS) on Monsanto's GE alfalfa, a sign that the agency is poised to approve the Frankenfood for planting this spring. Now there's even more reason for sustainable foodies to lose sleep over the plant.

Republican members of Congress recently sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, asking him to get a move on and give GE alfalfa the green light already. The three scribes were Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), Chair of the House Ag committee; Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), ranking Republican on the Senate Ag committee; and Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS). While it's concerning enough that America's Ag leaders are heading up the Frankenfood Fan Club, the group's letter was a bit off, factually speaking. (To read the full letter, check out the La Vida Locavore blog, where Jill Richardson posted the letter in its entirety).

The three Congressmen wrote that "Since 1996, the innovation and adoption of agricultural biotechnology has not only brought significant environmental benefits, it has likewise contributed to higher yields, greater productivity, and higher profitability for U.S. farmers." Significant environmental benefits and higher profitability? Not sure if you've picked up a newspaper anytime recently, Congressmen, but that's not entirely true.

GE crops like Monsanto's Roundup Ready varieties have wreaked havoc on the environment and many small farmers. Weeds are evolving resistance to the Roundup herbicide, morphing into voracious "superweeds" with an appetite for destruction. These plants choke out farmers' corn, cotton, and soybean crops, resulting in an even greater reliance on chemical herbicides to control superweeds. Crop loss plus the costs of extra herbicides results in fewer profits for farmers, while that increased chemical load can pollute nearby waterways and poison wildlife. So where, exactly, can we find these aforementioned "significant environmental benefits?"

Sen. Chambliss and Representatives Lucas and Roberts also took issue with one of the potential approval scenarios for GE alfalfa. As it stands right now, the USDA has three options: 1) approve GE alfalfa without restrictions 2) don't approve GE alfalfa at all or 3) approve GE alfalfa, but limit where it can be planted geographically to prevent pollen drift. The three Congressmen claim that the USDA has no business even considering option three, and that it's a "poor substitute for existing options available for farmers to amicably resolve the concerns regarding co-existence of agriculture biotechnology, conventional and organic crops." Well, Congressmen, I take issue with option three, too — but certainly not for the same reasons that you do.

Limiting the planting of GE alfalfa to specific geographic regions may be a well-intentioned compromise, but this scenario would fail to protect the livelihoods of organic farmers living and working in these areas. GE crops have a tendency to escape their fields and mix with organic and conventional varieties. That's a huge threat to organic farmers, whose livelihood depends on their crops staying pure and genetically unaltered. Rogue GE alfalfa also run the risk of ruining organic meat operations. Alfalfa serves as a major feed crop for organic dairy and beef cattle — if GE alfalfa gets into these pastures, it would ruin farmers' organic meat businesses.

The only option that would protect the livelihoods of organic farmers throughout the nation is for the USDA to deny approval of GE alfalfa. Vilsack has heard from the Big Ag supporters — now it's time for him to hear from sustainable foodies. You can help prevent GE alfalfa from taking root by signing Food & Water Watch's petition asking President Obama and Secretary Vilsack to deny approval of genetically engineered alfalfa.

Photo credit: Herbolario Allium via Flickr