Thursday, May 22, 2014

Josephine County Citizens Vote to Phase Out Genetically Engineered Crops

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2014

Contact: Mary Middleton
541.660.6204

Campaigners for ballot Measure 17-58 declared victory on May 20, 2014, when voters in Josephine County, Oregon approved the measure to restrict genetically engineered crops in the county by 58 percent. Neighboring Jackson County voters passed Measure 15-119, a similar initiative. The two measures passed despite a barrage of negative advertising brought by outside biotech interests in an attempt to defeat them.

These victories build on a growing movement to create GMO-free agricultural “safe zones.” This trend of passing genetically engineered (GE) crop restrictions through local initiative efforts demonstrates that food integrity is becoming an increasing priority for Oregon voters.

On September 30, 2013, members of GMO-Free Josephine County submitted a petition for a county ballot initiative to phase out and prohibit the growing of GE crops in Josephine County to address the risk of genetic contamination to neighboring farms and gardens in the county.

The restrictions also address the risks to humans, pollinators, soil, and water associated with the increased pesticide and herbicide use that GE agriculture typically requires.

Passage and enforcement of Measure 17-58 is critical to the agricultural economy of Josephine County, larger Rogue Valley, and many other regions across Oregon.

The Rogue Valley is a premier seed-growing region for many crops, including beets and chard. GE crops have directly threatened the economic viability of the seed industry in this valley because of the actual and potential cross-contamination from nearby GE plants.

Genetically engineered organisms, (also called “genetically modified organisms” or “GMOs”), are organisms that have undergone laboratory processes to introduce genes from other species to create novel genetics that do not occur in nature, such as splicing fish DNA into tomato, or foreign bacteria into corn.

GMOs are not created using traditional cross-pollination or hybridization techniques. Organic and conventional crops contaminated by GE crops, can no longer be sold and often have to be destroyed by farmers due to consumer expectations, patent infringement liability, and contractual obligations.

When pollen from GE sugar beets, for example, is carried by the wind and pollinates an organic crop of beets or chard, then the owner of that farm will be raising GE crops the next year and will no longer have a truly organic or natural product.

Cross-contamination has cost area businesses money in lost seed production and, under current United States patent law, may place innocent farmers at risk for patent infringement.

This Measure was supported by a great diversity of local business, farm and community supporters who agreed that everyone has a right to grow food free from genetic contamination for themselves and others.

Measure 17-58 prohibits new plantings of GE crops and allows farmers currently growing genetically modified crops a 12-month period to phase out their plantings and transition to non-genetically engineered crops.

The law provides exemptions for certain medical and educational research facilities that use GE organisms in controlled environments that prohibit escape into the open environment.

In early October 2013, shortly after the Josephine County Elections Office approved the proposed ballot title as constitutional, the Oregon legislature passed a bill (SB 863) as part of a controversial special session called by the Governor. SB 863 aims to preempt counties from enacting their own laws regarding all “seeds and seed products.”

The stated objective of the law is to prohibit local regulations regarding genetically engineered crops, effectively relegating all decisions of agriculture to the State, with only Jackson County granted an exemption.

Oregonians for Safe Farms and Families is standing up in good faith for the citizens of Josephine County, and all Oregonians, to assert their rights to self-governance.

"We believe our citizens should have a voice in decisions regarding critical local agricultural matters," says Mary Middleton, chief petitioner for Measure 17-58. "These decisions should be free from undue outside corporate influence and the unnecessary overreaching of state or federal preemption."

Oregonians for Safe Farms and Families intends to continue asserting citizens’ rights to local decision making on matters affecting our local food, farms and future, and will challenge the legality of SB 863.

Oregonians for Safe Farms and Families is a Political Action Committee created by concerned citizens affiliated with GMO Free Josephine County and with the express purpose of supporting and defending Measure 17-58.

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