It’s quitely referred to as ‘the War on Seeds’.
We are talking about genetically modified organisms otherwise known as G.M.O.’s.
It’s a controversial topic in southern Oregon.
Organic farmers say their crops are being ruined byGMO crop producers.
ButGMO farmers say they have no plans on leaving.
For nearly 7 years Chris Hardy has been growing organic foods in the Rogue Valley.
But last year was not a successful one.
“It was a bit of a shocker to understand there was a better chance that our seeds had been contaminated with gmo pollens. Unbeknownst to us as a certified organic farm,” Hardy explained.
3 miles away from Hardy’s farm sitsa 4 acre property operated by the company Syengenta. They are one of the largest modified seed producing company’s in the world.
“Its well accepted that we need to double food productivity by the year 2050 due to a demand in population increase and a better diet,” said John Akins, Syngenta.
“GMO’s are created by scientists in laboratories. And GMO’s are not natural. They are not something mother nature would ever create,” said Hardy.
Hardy says it wasGMO sugar beet pollen that not only hurt his crops but also his pocket.
And he worries it could potentially put him out of business.
Syngenta has been producing GMO’s throughout the Rogue Valley for several years.
They even have a research and production office in Grants Pass.
NBC 5 tried contactingtheir local officea number of times but received no response.
After contacting their corporate media relations department, they tell us that they have no plans on leaving the Rogue Valley anytime soon.
That could change next year though, at least forGMO farmers in Jackson County.
This past January the group ‘GMO-free Jackson County’ obtained more than 6,700 signatures to put Measure 15-119 on the ballot.
It could potentially ban any person from growing certain types of genetically engineered plants within Jackson County.
It’s estimated 80% of conventional processed foods have ingredients that have been modified.
From a health standpoint, NBC 5 Medical Contributor Dr. Robin Miller says since human’s started consuming gmo’s, there’s been an increase in health problems.
“I think it’s (GMO’s) manifesting as allergies, intolerances and all kinds of medical conditions. I even think somehow this is related to fiber myalgia and chronic fatigue,” said Dr. Miller.
But officials at the Biotechnology Industry Organization say consumers should not be worried.
“There has been no evidence that food derived from bio-tech ingredients raises any unique food safety concern.There has never been a single documented health incident. Absolutely zero,” said Dr. Cathleen Enright,Executive Vice President, Food and Agriculture atThe Biotechnology Industry Organization.
However, some grocery stores like the Ashland Food Co-Op, believe that there are health risks that come from consuming GMO’s and that’s why they don’t sell them.
“We have a chain of paperwork from the farm, through the distributor to the manufacture, all the way to the retailer like us that shows that the organic chain has not been broken,” said Annie Hoy of the Co-Op.
As for hardy, he hopes next year’s ballot measure will pass, so that his way of life in the Rogue Valley isn’t gone forever.
“If we are going to put our money where are mouth is, it doesn’t begin in Switzerland where some of these biotech-companies are not from around here, not from these lands. Our farmers of from these lands, who have spend their lives here. That’s where we should start with their farms and thier needs.”
The world’s increasing population only stimulates the usage of GMO crops which has generated more than 78 billion dollars since 1996.
The demand will continue to rise with the world’s population projected to pass to 9.1 billion by the year 2050.
Non-GMO farmers say they are able to keep up with the demand, and that currently 30 to 40 percent of the world’s food supply ends up in the landfill.
© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.