“let’s eat non-gmo: the importance of labeling”
DESCRIPTION
Seeds of Truth & Down to Earth Present a Panel Discussion Mark Fergusson Director & Vice President Hawaii Organic Farmers Association (HOFA) Founding Member Label It Hawaii Chief Vegetarian Officer (CEO/CFO), Down to Earth “Let’s Eat Non-GMO: The Importance of Labeling” Saturday, October 6, 2012TRANSCRIPT
Mark FergussonDirector & Vice President Hawaii Organic Farmers
Association (HOFA)Founding Member Label It Hawaii
Chief Vegetarian Officer (CEO/CFO), Down to Earth
Seeds of Truth & Down to Earth
Present a Panel Discussion
“Let’s Eat Non-GMO: The Importance of Labeling”
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Non-GMO
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Ua Mau ke Ea o ka `Āina i ka Pono
“The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness” • Hawaii’s state motto was first
uttered by Queen Ke'opuolani in 1825 on becoming a Christian convert
• Righteousness can be understood as “right” or “right action”
• GMOs are not “right,” they disrespect and lead to the desecration of the ‘āina, both here in Hawaii and worldwide
• GMO’s are not pono
Non-GMO
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Ua Mau ke Ea o ka `Āina i ka Pono
“The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness” • Hawaii is known as the “Aloha” state
• However, Hawaii is the producer of much of the world’s GMO seed crop and functions as a research lab for GMO
• Instead of spreading aloha, Hawaii is potentially spreading widespread disease and premature death
Non-GMO
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Contents• What are GMOs?• How are GMOs
Regulated?• GMOs In Your Food• GMO Labeling• Down to Earth & GMOs
Non-GMO
Plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology
DNA from one species is injected into another species, creating combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional methods
What are GMOs?
Non-GMO
GMO Traits • Resistance to herbicides - 75% of GMO crops are bred for herbicide tolerance (e.g. “Roundup Ready”)
• Pesticides in the plants themselves - Engineered to produce Bt (pesticide) in their DNA• No GM traits are in commercial
production for increased yields, drought tolerance or nutritional superiority
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Non-GMO
How Are GMOs Regulated?
•FDA says GMOs are non-different from other foods and thus require no special regulation or government testing•There is no requirement for independent testing of biotech crops •USDA & FDA are staffed by many ex- Monsanto and other biotech people
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Non-GMO
Concerns•A myriad of known and unknown consequences have resulted from the release of GMOs into nature (e.g. health, environmental, ecological, increased herbicide use, harm to farmers, etc.)•The eco-system is a complex inter-related system… we disrespect its intricacies at our own peril
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Non-GMO
Concerns
•Cultures that trample over nature do not survive in the long term•Just because scientists have the technical know how to manipulate nature does not mean that they should•We need to respect mother nature and understand our place within her, not play “God”
GMO = God Move Over
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Non-GMO
GMO Production in the U.S. 86%
93%Corn:Soy:
Cotton:Sugar Beet:
Canola:
93%
95%
Other GM crops that are grown commercially include Hawaiian Papaya, zucchini, and summer squash.
+90%
*GMO Production in the U.S. (according to 2010 figures) Recent data for Canola is not available; this percentage was approximated by using 2007 figures (87%) and Canadian figures from 2009 (95%)
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Non-GMO
GMA Estimate
The Grocery Manufacturers Association estimates that GMOs are now present in 75 to 80% of conventional processed food.
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Non-GMO
GMO Labeling• No way to know if
something is GMO unless it is labeled
• If mandatory labeling is introduced that will be the beginning of the end of GMO: Many consumers
likely won’t buy products labeled as GMO 12
Non-GMO
• We are fighting the same corporations that brought us DDT and Agent Orange
• These companies want to deny us our right to know what’s in our food
• The cost of labeling (including testing and processes to prevent contamination) will be passed onto consumers
• The real cost of GMOs are borne by society, not the GMO companies
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GMO Labeling
Non-GMO
“USDA Organic”• The National Organic
Program (NOP) identifies GMOs as an “excluded method”
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Labeling: Labels we do have!
Non-GMO
• “Non-GMO Project Verified” labeled food– As of July 25, 2012, 5,000
products approved
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Labeling: Labels we do have!
• Clear labeling that empowers consumers across the U.S. and Canada to make safe, healthy non-GMO choices for themselves and their families.
• One of the fastest growing categories in the natural products industry
Non-GMO
1. Promote the sale of Non-GMO foods
2. GMO free perishables & whole products
3. Reduce the number of products that potentially contain GMO
4. Limit and control the introduction of any new products that may contain GMOs
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Our aim is to become an all Organic Non-GMO store within 3-5 years
Down to Earth’s GMO Policy
Non-GMO
• Speaking out about GMOs
• Educating customers
• Educating grocery industry members
• Leadership in organizations opposed to GMO
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Down to Earth & GMOs
Non-GMO
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Follow us: www.facebook.com/StopGMOs
Down to Earth’s GMO FB Page
Non-GMO
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Ua Mau ke Ea o ka `Āina i ka Pono
“The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness”