RANT: Pharma crops

A Canadian company by the name of SemiBioSys Genetics has submitted an application to the USDA to grow genetically engineered safflower on 1,000 acres in Washington State. The company has engineered the safflower plant—typically grown for the vegetable oil obtained from its seeds—to produce a drug to boost the immune systems of farmed shrimp.

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All I can say is -- horrifying. These pharma food crops are absolutely horrifying. Oh yeah, this is exactly what we need, a growth-hormone producing safflower plant. Because we don't have enough artificial growth hormones in our food already. We don't have enough little girls starting their menses at age 7.

We gotta act on this one, people. If you haven't already gotten the memo, the USDA nor biotech companies can be trusted to prevent contamination of our food supply with their little experiments. These fields will be outdoors. The company says that regular safflower isn't grown in northcentral Washington, "which makes it a good place for the genetically modified version because there won't be any concern of cross-contamination," says company president Andrew Baum. Yeah, right, I feel so much better now. You've allayed all my fears with that declarative statement, Mr. Baum.  

The USDA has been overseeing GE pharma crops for over 15 years and still does not have a program in place to protect against their risks. For example, the department admits that “the safety of carp growth hormone to humans and animals other than fish has never been investigated.”

Go to the Union of Concerned Scientists website and send a letter to the USDA urging the denial of the SemiBioSys application.
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