Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Rural Oregon voters back ban on GMO crops amid U.S. labeling uproar - Yahoo News

Rural Oregon voters back ban on GMO crops amid U.S. labeling uproar - Yahoo News:



Voters in two small Oregon counties on Tuesday approved controversial ballot measures to ban cultivation of genetically engineered crops within their boundaries, though one measure is vulnerable to legal challenge under a new state law.
The measure in Jackson County in southern Oregon, garnering "yes" votes from nearly 66 percent of voters there, has drawn national attention and more than $1 million in campaign funding to the community, which has just 117,650 registered voters.
The results are still unofficial and will likely not be certified for nearly three weeks, according to Jackson County Clerk Chris Walker.
The ban is supported by a coalition of more than 180 farmers and community members, who have been pushing for the vote on the issue for more than two years.
"It's a great day for the people of Oregon who care about sustainability and healthy ecosystems," the group GMO Free Oregon declared on its Facebook page after the results.
Opponents conceded defeat but said the debate would continue.

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