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I decided to do a meta-take on this article. It's the same old (bad) news: the USDA has officially green-lit "Roundup Ready" Alfalfa (Ruby Red - somebody been reading Frank L. Baum in St. Louis again?). The interesting twist is how they ended the story:
After releasing a final EIS in December 2010, USDA took another step to ensure that this issue received the broadest examination before issuing their final decision on Roundup Ready alfalfa. In that process, USDA brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss feasible strategies for coexistence between genetically engineered (GE), organic and other non-GE stakeholders.The stakeholders helped to identify areas of consensus; issues where the group disagreed and opportunities for further dialogue exist; and areas where USDA could - or should - play an important and helpful role.
In response to the request for support from its stakeholders, USDA is taking a number of steps, including:
• Reestablishing two important USDA advisory committees - Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture, and the National Genetic Resources Advisory Committee. These two committees will tackle a broad range of issues, from ensuring the availability of high quality seed, to helping ensure that growers have access to the best tools available to support their production choices, to whether risk management and indemnification options can play a role; • Conducting research into areas such as ensuring the genetic integrity, production and preservation of alfalfa seeds entrusted to the germplasm system; • Refining and extending current models of gene flow in alfalfa; • Requesting proposals through the Small Business Innovation Research program to improve handling of forage seeds and detection of transgenes in alfalfa seeds and hay; and, • Providing voluntary, third-party audits and verification of industry-led stewardship initiatives.
Things that make me go hmmmm.....
