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One of the best (and only) ways to avoid
genetically engineered foods in the United States is to eat
organically grown food. Organic foods are regarded by many
people as more nutritious and delicious than their non-organic
counterparts. Unfortunately, GE foods are creating a number
of problems for organic growers.
1. Genetically
engineered crops may contaminate organic crops.
Organic growers have warned for a long time that is
impossible to avoid seed and pollen  pollution
from genetically engineered crops. After all, wind carries
seeds, and bees can carry contaminated pollen to fields three
miles away.
In 1999, their fears were confirmed when
Terra Prima, a Wisconsin organic chips exporter, was forced
to destroy 87,000 bags of chips at a cost of $147,000. A European
importer discovered that they were contaminated with genetically
engineered corn.
In 2000, Britain's Environment minister,
Michael Meacher, admitted that genetically engineered crops
could contaminate normal crops no matter how far apart they
are.
"Organic agriculture and genetically
modified farming have both been growing rapidly. The collision
of the two is inevitable," says Katherine DiMatteo, head
of the Organic Trade Association. "We will probably as
an industry begin lobbying for more regulations because this
problem is developing so rapidly."
2. GE crops
threaten one of organic farmers' most important tools.
Organic farmers do everything they can to eliminate
pesticide use. But sometimes they use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)
as a last resort. Bt is a naturally occurring pesticide that
is considered to be less harmful than most manmade pesticides.
Biotech companies have created genetically
engineered potatoes and corn that produce Bt in every cell.
Now millions of acres of these crops have been planted. Scientists
fear that the pesticide will lose its effectiveness through
overuse, and that pests will develop resistance to it. Organic
growers will have lost one of their weapons of last resort.
3. Biotech
companies have shown a desire to tap into organic markets.
Organic activists remember 1998 as the year commercial
interests attempted to squeeze genetically engineered foods,
irradiated foods and foods grown in toxic sewage sludge into
the  definition
of "organic." At the time, the U.S. government was
putting together standards for organic food. It was only after
hundreds of thousands of Americans--one of the biggest activist
efforts in years--wrote letters and petitioned the government
to keep organic foods pure that officials dropped GE, irradiated
and sewage sludge foods from the definition.
Many activists believe that biotech companies
wanted to be included in the organic definition so they could
tap into a burgeoning market that is growing at 20 percent
per year.
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