NFU Adopts GMO Policies 

Julianne Johnston / AgWeb News 13mar01

The National Farmers Union (NFU) says control regarding genetically modified crops is needed to ensure a safe food supply and open markets. Celegates to the National Farmers Union's (NFU) convention have adopted policies they say will ensure food safety and protect the farmers from liabilities “due to environmental and health dangers caused by the producers of GMO technology.”

Included in the policy recommendations is a provision that would prohibit government regulatory agencies from licensing genetically modified products that are not acceptable for both human consumption and animal feed. “Regulatory agencies and input suppliers must also ensure that farmers are informed of all potential market risks and segregation requirements associated with planting any GMO crop and they must consider domestic and foreign consumer acceptance of the product when licensing,” adds NFU.

Farmers are not to be held liable for food safety, human health or environmental problems, including cross pollination, when they follow planting and segregation requirements. Both market loss and contamination loss in these instances must be fully reimbursed to the farmer, says NFU.

NFU also adopted a policy position that supports imposing a moratorium on the introduction, certification and commercialization of genetically engineered wheat until issues of cross-pollination, liability, commodity and seed stock segregation, and market acceptance are adequately addressed.

"We support technological developments that improve production and potential income for farmers and ranchers," said NFU president, Leland Swenson. "We know that research is vital to creating a secure, safe and healthy food supply for the world… We must continue to ensure that the consumers in our foreign and domestic markets can be reasonably informed and can make knowledgeable choices about the food they buy."

• National Farmers Union http://www.nfu.org/