Posted: 01.28.2011
The re-introduction of Round-Up Ready alfalfa got the go ahead yesterday from U.S. Ag Secretary, Tom Vilsack.
In a press conference Thursday, Vilsack said that the genetically modified alfalfa had been thoroughly reviewed scientifically - and found completely safe. Sales of Round-Up Ready alfalfa seed can begin as soon as this spring.
Vilsack did note that he's reinstating two advisory boards in lieu of the litigation that followed this subject. He'll bring back the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture, and the National Genetic Resources Advisory Committee. These two committees will tackle a broad range of issues, from ensuring the availability of high quality seed, to helping ensure that growers have access to the best tools available to support their production choices, to whether risk management and indemnification options can play a role.
It wasn't just an issue that alfalfa growers were paying attention to either. Rosendale, Wisconsin grower, Jim Zimmerman, vice chairman of NCGA’s Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team, said this is the right decision. The NCGA leader says - a clean, full deregulation is the best decision for producers and lets farmers plant the kind of alfalfa they choose this spring.
Dr. Dan Undersander, University of Wisconsin Alfalfa Specialist has been monitoring the process right along. In an interview with Pam Jahnke, Undersander said that just because of this affirmative ruling - seed companies will continue to produce - non-GMO varieties too. "In the U.S. seed industry - 30-40 percent of all the seed produced ends up being shipped outside of the United States. Many of the destinations for that seed have policy against genetically modified varieties - so there will always remain a market for those products too. Organic seed production actually makes up less then 1 percent of the entire seed industry's production." Undersander said.
Growers could have the biotech tool back in play by spring planting.
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