Thomas G. Chastain
The Willamette Valley is the USA’s only significant sugarbeet seed production area for this important crop. Annual acreage in the region for sugarbeet seed production ranges from 2000 to 6000 acres, but has declined since the 1990s (Fig. 1). Technological advancements in production of sugarbeets has resulted in reduced but stable seed production acreages in the Willamette Valley.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science has recently released a policy statement on mandatory labeling of foods that are produced with GMO crops. Here’s the policy statement from the AAAS, one of the world’s largest scientific organizations:
Statement by the AAAS Board of Directors On Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods
The position that has been adopted by the AAAS is that GMO crops are not a major risk and that the foods produced from them are safe for human consumption, hence there is no need for labeling of GMO foods. I agree with the first part of the statement – the vast majority of the research done to date does indeed suggest that both GMO crops and the foods produced from them are safe. However, I must disagree with the organization’s stance on the labeling of GMO foods. Continue reading