Public Input Meeting Focuses On GMOs

BY GENEVIEVE JACOBI

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Officially, the Sept. 1 Boulder County public input meeting was to address an open-ended array of agricultural issues in front of county policy shapers. In reality, the only issue discussed that evening was whether GMO crops should be introduced to Boulder County’s publicly owned land.

More than 100 people filled the meeting room in the headquarters of Boulder County Parks and Open Space (BCPOS) – a building surrounded by open fields.

GMOs, short for genetically modified organisms, have DNA sequences inserted from different sources. These bits of DNA modify the original organism, adding new traits.

The GMOs discussed at the meeting were the patented food crops that are resistant to commercial herbicides.

To catch you up on the GMO debate: Monsanto is a giant agribusiness and the biggest player in the GMO marketplace. Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide capable of killing most plants. Roundup-Ready is the trade name for Monsanto seeds resistant to glyphosate. Roundup Ready crops include soybeans, cotton, canola and corn.

In the last few years, increasing acreage in the U.S. is being planted with GMO crops, in contrast with the European Union which has virtually banned all GMO products.

Currently, GMO corn is grown on some Boulder County open space land. Last year, the Boulder County Commissioners considered a proposal to introduce genetically modified sugar beets on county land, but the proposal was tabled after a large public outcry.

Instead, the decision was made to develop an overriding policy regarding GMO usage rather than handling each crop individually. There are nine individuals on the county’s Cropland Policy Advisory Group (CPAG) who will make a recommendation about this issue along with many other agricultural matters by November.

A final decision to accept, reject or amend these recommendations will be made by the county commissioners in January 2012.
From the meeting’s onset, the proverbial lines were drawn in the sand, with strong opinions expressed by both sides. People spoke at the podium in a pre-determined order for a maximum of three minutes.

Those opposed to GMOs cited the effect on the food supply, the potential reduction on genetic diversity, cross-contamination of organic farming, the health consequences to human beings and other life forms and agribusiness’ monopolistic stranglehold of domestic and foreign food production.

On the other side, local farmers spoke of maximizing production and making a living with a hard economic bottom line.

Shirley Hunsberger, 68, from Erie, talked about how she and her 86-year-old sister believe their exceptional health is directly tied to eating organic and non-GMO foods. “We don’t use any prescriptions and are not a burden for Medicare,” Hunsberger said.

Hunsberger described GMO food as “undemocratic” because it forces people to eat food that is not labeled appropriately. She was referring to the lack of required labeling of GMO foods so consumers have no way to distinguish between GMO and non-GMO foods at the supermarket.

Fameur Rasmussen, Jr., who farms approximately 1,100 acres of Boulder County Open Space land south of Longmont along the 287 corridor, said, “We’ve been doing this for 10 years and there haven’t been any problems. We are good neighbors. My position is that we should be able to do anything permitted by the Federal government. The GMOs help keep us sustainable.“

Seleyn DeYarus, CEO of Best Organics, said Boulder is the home base of many natural and organic businesses. Her company provides gift box collections featuring local, artisan organic foods and wines, personal care products and other eco-friendly items.

“There is a need to protect the sanctity of brand Boulder and support the tax basis. GMO crops are in opposition to those values,” DeYarus said.

Scott Miller, who runs the 1,000-plus-acre spread at Rock Creek Farm in Broomfield, another Boulder County Open Space property, said, “I can come up with 50 research studies to counteract what has been said” against GMOs. Miller believes the anti-GMO sentiment was being fueled by a few farmers who wanted organic subsidies. He doesn’t believe that organic farming is cost effective, and he doesn’t think there is enough of a demand for organic products.

Information about Boulder County’s Parks and Open Space Cropland Plan can be found at www.bouldercounty.org/live/environment/land/pages/croppolicpart.aspx.