The Battle for GMO-labelling

David Hoffman Photo Library 

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While sitting in an airport terminal last month a title on the newsstand caught my attention. On the cover of Discover magazine, people in white hazard suits marched through fields with the caption below them reading CROP WARS: how activists are halting genetically modified crop research in Europe—and why they say it’s too late for America.

I was intrigued.

The article talked about the European fields bought by companies like Monsanto, BASF and Syngenta to be used for trials with GMOs. Greenpeace activists have taken to thwarting these companies by destroying the fields and along with it, the research being done. But what interested me was the openness of these efforts and how activists are managing to bring attention to GMOs and the destruction these companies are waging on organic farmers and the public. It was a stark contrast to the feeble efforts US activists have made in trying to legislate more transparency with GMO labeling.

With 90% of soy, cotton and corn grown in the US being genetically modified and our government passing a bill to protect the interestsof groups like Monsanto. As Gary Hirshberg of Just Label It said: 

“An unprecedented agricultural experiment is being conducted at America’s dinner tables.”

I think the US has a much harder battle to fight against GMO products and negligent labeling (there is simply no other way to describe what is going on right now). First, the public needs to know what they are eating and what it means. I feel there is a lot of smoke and mirrors being used by bioengineering companies like Monsanto and perhaps that is why others look at the US as a lost cause in the fight.

It’s true that this company has a lot of money to throw around but I think there is a chance for a change so long as people continue to spread the word and urge their state’s politicians to support reform in FDA studies on genetically modified organisms. We need to be loud about our concerns, if our voices are to be heard. My biggest recommendation to friends and family is to educate yourselves, know what food you are giving your family and support the companies that are GMO-free.

  I, for one, will continue to believe and fight for a GMO-labelled United States.