Our View:

The discussions happening around the use of biotech seeds are important ones; there are many facts and viewpoints to consider. USFRA believes that this article is missing a key viewpoint – those of America’s farmers and ranchers.  It directly claims that foods grown from biotech seeds are unhealthy, a point that many experts dispute but that is repeatedly in the media and promoted by many interest groups.

Consumers benefit from hearing all viewpoints and those of farmers and ranchers are no more, or less, important.  Share your experiences and stories related to biotech seeds by posting a response in this article’s comment section, found here.  The voices and experiences of farmers and ranchers need to be added to this discussion to provide a more accurate and balanced picture. 

Here is one example of information that may be valuable to Americans:

• Biotech seeds undergo significant testing and assessment on a case-by-case basis to ensure their safety. According to the World Health Organization, foods produced from biotech seeds that are currently in the market have no effect on human health (http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/). Studies conducted by the National Research Council support this claim, and add that biotech seeds present no harm to the environment either. (http://www.fb.org/index.php?action=newsroom.focus&year=2011&file=fo0822.html).
• Click here to see USFRA’s point of view on biotech seeds in October 2011.
• If you missed it, here’s our video on biotech seeds with Pamela Ronald and Michael Dimock.
• Here are two articles that recently discussed how biotech seeds could help solve our food challenges: Bill Gates and Crop Protection Association Urge Support for GM and The Real Paranoia over GM Foods.
• Also, here is a link to BestFoodFacts.org and their index of articles on biotech seeds from October 2011.  
• Farmers and ranchers have been sharing their stories and experiences with biotech seeds on our Facebook page - click here to read some of their stories. Be sure to share yours.

If you are a farmer or rancher, please raise your voice and share your experiences with biotech seeds. The buttons below will help you share this with others via Twitter, Facebook and email.