USDA Allows GMO Sugar Beet Planting Even After a Landmark Court Decision Says No
Why is the USDA once again putting biotechnology before human safety?
為什麼美國農業部再一次將生物技術放在人類安全之前？
By Sara Novak
Mon Feb 7, 2011 12:54
Translation by Autumnson Blog
In the past few months it has seemed, maybe if only a little bit, that the USDA had begun to see the danger in GMO seeds. Though in the end GMO alfalfa was approved, Tom Vilsack had this to say about it:
在過去的幾個月裡，它看來，也許如果只是一點點，美國農業部已開始看看轉基因種子的危險。雖然最後轉基因苜蓿被批准，關於它維爾薩克有這樣的說法：
"We have an obligation to carefully consider...the potential of cross-fertilization to non-GE alfalfa from GE alfalfa—a significant concern for farmers who produce for non-GE markets at home and abroad."
“我們有義務要認真考慮 ...交叉施肥由基因工程苜蓿至非基因苜蓿的潛質 - 一項對農民重要的關注，他們生產給國內外的非GE市場。”
And then in December, a federal judge ordered that 258 very important acres of genetically modified sugar beets be destroyed. Judge Jeffrey White ruled that the crops be destroyed because the risk of gene contamination in Oregon's Willamette Valley was so great. This was a step in the right direction no matter how small the step.
而接著在12月，一位聯邦法官下令，非常重要的258畝轉基因甜菜要被銷毀。杰弗裡懷特法官裁定農作物被摧毀，因為在俄勒岡州威拉米特河谷的基因污染風險是如此之大。這是正確方向的一步，無論一步是多麼小。
According to Reuters, the USDA has said it would take at least two years to develop new regulations in response to the overall ban issued last month by U.S. District Court Judge White.
據路透社報導，美國農業部已說，至少需要兩年時間去發展新的法規，以回應上個月由美國聯邦地方法院法官懷特發出的整體禁制。
But it seems there was little victory to enjoy because according to Minnesota Public Radio, the USDA most recently announced that farmers will be allowed to grow genetically modified sugar beets this season, "while it finishes work on a full environmental impact statement on the beets' effect on other crops and the environment." What? If you even think there may be a problem, why would you continue to make it worst?
Farmers can continue to grow beets if they get permits and agree to inspections. Farmers have been growing the Roundup Ready herbicide resistant sugar beets for the past five years and today 95 percent of sugar beets are the Roundup Ready variety.
Paige Tomaselli, an attorney for the Center for Food Safety, says the USDA decision is not supported by science:
"We think these measures will not protect farmers from contamination and the other side effects of Roundup Ready sugar beets. We will be filing a lawsuit immediately, addressing this partial deregulation."
And the CEO of Organic Valley had this to say in the wake of the decision:
"The USDA has been using its antiquated regulations as an excuse for not thoroughly reviewing GMOs. We must fight in court to bring accountability to the USDA, and we must also take this fight to rural American farms and the grocery aisles."
One step forward, two steps back or so it seems.
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/usda-allows-gmo-sugar-beet-planting-even-after-a-landmark-court-decision-says-no.html
法院：孟山都轉基因甜菜要被毀滅
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