Late last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the deregulation of "Roundup Ready" Alfalfa, a controversial genetically engineered product that is used as hay for cattle. The move has the potential to challenge the integrity of what can be considered an "organic food"—as well as those who are in the business of producing and selling it.
First, a little history: The decision to deregulate genetically modified alfalfa comes after years of legal battles that began in 2005, when the USDA originally deregulated the use of genetically engineered—sometimes GE as shorthand—alfalfa. Then, as now, the organic community parried back. The argument: that genetically engineered alfalfa necessitates the use of more toxic herbicides, threatens biodiversity, and would be unaffordable to small farmers should they decide they wanted to use it. In 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an injunction to stop the use of genetically engineered alfalfa until the USDA could make a proper assessment of its environmental impact. That assessment was released in December, and presented two options: completely deregulate and allow unrestricted commercial growing of the grass, or restrict growing in order to protect non-genetically engineered crops.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and the USDA, decided on the former last week. In a release last Thursday, Vilsack announced that "there is no question as to the safety of Roundup Ready alfalfa" and said the decision to deregulate will give farmers the choice. "The ability of American farmers and ranchers and growers to continually have a multitude of choices to figure out what is best for their operation is a very important value in American agriculture," Vilsack said. "I think is very important in terms of ensuring that choice is maintained in the future."
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