A 200,000-Strong Coalition Calls on the USDA to Prohibit Genetically Engineered Alfalfa

Hundreds of Friends of the Earth supporters joined a coalition of more than 200,000 NGOs, farmers, consumers, and organic producers in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prohibit genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa. We were also signatories of a letter with over 300 organizations asking USDA to deny approval of Monsanto’s GE alfalfa.

The Center for Food Safety was victorious in its lawsuit against Monstanto that required the USDA to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on GE alfalfa before its approval. The EIS found that GE alfalfa could contaminate conventional and organic alfalfa crops and significantly increase Roundup herbicide use. Even so, the Department was preparing to approve Monsanto’s GE alfalfa for planting. USDA even claimed that consumers were unconcerned about genetic drift contaminating crops that are an important source of animal feed for the organic industry. With over 200,000 public comments demanding that approval for GE alfalfa be denied, we have shown USDA and Monsanto that consumers do care about GE contamination, environmental sustainability, and our nation’s biodiversity.

Monsanto is now bringing the Center for Food Safety to the U.S. Supreme Court over the Environmental Impact Statement for GE alfalfa. While this battle is far from won, our allies have shown that the public be there will fight the genetic engineering of our food supply every step of the way.

To learn more, visit the Center for Food Safety and the National Organic Coalition websites.