Forum questions future of genetically modified food

February 13, 2005

By Brendan McKenna Staff Writer
SHREWSBURY – With snow covering the state many Vermonters probably aren't thinking about plowing and planting. But about 50 Rutland County residents assembled in a Shrewsbury church basement Friday night to consider "The Future of Food," a documentary critical of genetically engineered crops.

The film scrutinized what it portrayed as the cozy relationship between regulatory agencies and industry officials, and asked whether genetically engineered foods should be labeled and whether farmers benefit from crop subsidies, which the film said enabled them to buy more expensive GM (genetically modified) seeds. One commentator referred to crop subsidies as a "GMO seed rebate."
The movie also examined organic growing methods and local agriculture as alternatives to GM organisms and focused on farmers facing lawsuits from companies like Monsanto over fields found to contain the companies' patented crops.
Those concerns framed a question-and-answer period following the film led by Amy Shollenberger, policy director for Rural Vermont, a farm advocacy group that represents those who oppose "corporate industrial agriculture."
Shollenberger said genetically modified crops – corn, soybeans, cotton and canola – have not yet made much of an inroad in Vermont.
She said most of the farmers who use them are larger dairy farmers in Franklin and Orleans counties who grow genetically modified corn to feed their cows. Shollenberger some smaller farmers have used pesticide resistant crops occasionally – planting them for a year to clean out a problematic field, for example.
And while genetically modified crops have not yet been used extensively in the production of groceries, Shollenberger said that 19 percent of the feed corn grown in the state is genetically engineered.
"If you're not buying organic you're probably drinking it," she said in response to an audience question.
Organizers held the event in Shrewsbury because of three non-binding GMO resolutions on the Town Meeting Day ballot. One calls for a moratorium on genetically engineered crops; the second would hold manufacturers liable for damages and the third supports mandatory labeling of genetically engineered seeds and food. Advocates are hoping that Shrewsbury will join the 79 communities around the state that have already called for a moratorium on genetically engineered crops. Manchester, Barnett, Shrewsbury, Springfield and Waterville have similar resolutions about genetically engineered food on their Town Meeting Day ballots this year.
Other screenings of "The Future of Food" with discussion periods are scheduled next week in Springfield and Vergennes. Manchester will have a panel discussion on genetically modified food Feb. 24.
More immediately Shollenberger, said she hoped to mobilize the audience to influence their local legislators in support of the Farmer Protection Act, which she said could be voted on in the state Senate "very soon."
In particular Shollenberger asked the crowd, which had diminished to about 15 toward the end, to call Sen. Wendy Wilton, R-Rutland, to voice their support for the legislation – which she said would protect farmers from damages caused by GM contamination.
"Wendy Wilton is one senator leading the charge against this," Shollenberger said. "She's told me personally that every person in her district is against it. I'll give you her phone number and encourage you to call this weekend.
"It's absolutely OK to call your representatives and senators at home over the weekend," she said.
Wilton could not be immediately reached for comment Saturday.
Shollenberger said Rep. Harry Chen, D-Mendon, is the only county representative to sign on to the Farmer Protection Act. She said when she asked him to cosponsor the bill Chen agreed because several of his constituents called him about it.
"We've only been collecting signatures for about a week, so some maybe just haven't had a chance yet, so when you call, be encouraging," Shollenberger said.
Lauren Layton, 25 of Shrewsbury, said she came to the screening to watch "The Future of Food" for the second time.
"It's just so important, what we're putting in our bodies," she said. "It's important to have that knowledge about the food we're eating. It's pretty scary what's happening now."
However, she said she wasn't sure whether she would call her legislators.
"I very well might," she said.
Maya Zelkin, 30 of Marlboro, who was visiting friends in the area, said she was very concerned about the issue of genetically modified food, even before she saw the documentary for the first time Friday.
She added she would likely heed Shollenberger's call to participate in the Citizen's Action Day Tuesday. A number of environmental organizations are calling on voters to travel to Montpelier to lobby their legislators face-to-face for the day.
"I have called (my legislators) in the last year," she said. "But they all support it already, so I'll probably go to the Citizen Action Day to say thanks. I think it does make a difference."
Contact Brendan McKenna at brendan.mckenna@rutlandherald.com.