GM beet debate beaten in Boulder County
August 1, 2009 by Grace Ibay
Filed under Health
Here’s another GM issue that’s being close followed, and this time it’s a local (US) issue.
Six farmers from the Boulder County in Colorado asked asking permission to plant genetically modified sugar beets on open space land, which are areas of protected or conserved land on which development is indefinitely set aside. The farmers argue that they need to plant GM sugar beets in order to be competitive and stay in business. This year, 95 percent of all sugar beets grown in the US are Roundup Ready, which have been modified to resist the herbicide Roundup. Overspraying with herbicides usually kills both weeds and crops, but the biotech beets can be sprayed with Roundup to kill the weeds and the beets will stay unharmed.
After strong arguments from both sides, the Boulder County Food and Agricultural Policy Council voted on July 30 to recommend against allowing the Roundup Ready beets to be planted. A policy commission will make a final decision on August 25.
Again, I have to say I’m not an expert on the GM technology or debate, and I tend to see both sides of the argument. In this case, I’m not sure planting Roundup ready beets would be good for the environment if it encourages more extensive use of herbicides. But I feel for the farmers who don’t plant the GM crops because they are losing against a market who does.
So I have to agree with this comment by a farmer who volunteers at the Council:
“I do farm and I don’t raise sugar beets,” (Matt) Pierce said. “And I don’t know what to say except to say it – I don’t believe that everybody has the right to take the tool away from the farmers. It’s hard enough to make a living at this.”
“I’m 27 and I’m trying to farm, and I don’t know, I don’t think it’s going to work,” he said. “I think that people need to get educated as far as farming and how it works.”
I think it boils down to that: people need to get educated about the GM technology and have an open mind about the entire issue, whether it’s the economics, science or philosophy.
Image: Newscom
