Farmer Assurance Provision (Section 733), “Monsanto Protection Act” Section 735 of HR 933

President Obama signed the Farmer Assurance Provision (Section 733), “Monsanto Protection Act”  Section  735 of HR 933, on March 26, 2013

What You Need To Know

The Farmer Assurance Provision prevents activists from forcing farmers to abandon or destroy genetically modified (GM) or genetically engineered (GE) crops that have already received U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

What are GMO’s

 According to the Institute for Responsible Technology, A GMO (genetically modified organism) is the result of a laboratory process of taking genes from one species and inserting them into another in an attempt to obtain a desired trait or characteristic, hence they are also known as transgenic organisms. This process may be called either Genetic Engineering (GE) or Genetic Modification (GM); they are one and the same. Genetic engineering is completely different from traditional breeding and carries unique risks. In traditional breeding it is possible to mate a pig with another pig to get a new variety, but is not possible to mate a pig with a potato or a mouse. Even when species that may seem to be closely related do succeed in breeding, the offspring are usually infertile, ½ a horse, for example, can mate with a donkey, but the offspring (a mule) is sterile. With genetic engineering, scientists can breach species barriers set up by nature. For example, they have spliced fish genes into tomatoes. The results are plants (or animals) with traits that would be virtually impossible to obtain with natural processes, such as crossbreeding or grafting. 

Why This Matters

By approving this Act, President Obama is allowing Monsanto to be protected from any litigation involving health risks.  Many food activists feel very strongly that if Monsanto truly believed there was no inherent safety risks associated with their products, they would not be fighting to be protected from any litigation, involving health risks.  

The passing of the Farmer Assurance Provision (Section 733), “Monsanto Protection Act” Section  735 of HR 933, has put the spotlight on the need for the strict regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMO) and genetic engineering (GE). Consumers have a right to know if their food has been genetically engineered or modified.  The effects of suing GE crops are not known because there has not been a lot of research conducted to provide an in-depth analysis. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, Monsanto has become the sole owner of many of the very seeds necessary to support the world's food supply, an incredibly powerful position that no for-profit company should ever hold. In the October 7, 2010 edition of the Ecologist, it was noted that since the mid-1990s just five biotech giants - Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer, Dow and DuPont - have bought up more than 200 other companies between them to dominate our access to seeds. These seed companies not only threaten the continuation of sustainable, renewable farming practices, their monopoly over the food supply threatens the health of every single person on the planet. 

Call To Action

Review Genetically Modified Foods in America - Health Documentary | Food industry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i8ZMFJG3wE

Please share with your family and friends. Notify your Congressmen and Say No To GMOs!