How To Reduce GMO Contamination

How To Reduce GMO Contamination
by Allison Scott 
March 30, 2011  

For those of us who would like to eat foods free of GMOs, we turn to organic foods.  However, organics may not always be the best way to avoid GMOs.  There is no mandatory testing for GMOs on organic farms.  A survey of organic farmers showed that only "17% of respondents have had GMO testing conducted".  This means that about 83% of organic farms have never been tested for GMO contamination!  Of the 17% of organic farms tested for GMO contamination "11% of those who have had GMO testing done recieved a positive test result."

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How much contamination is there?  "Organic dairy farmer Albert Straus started testing corn fed to his 300-head dairy herd in 2007, and found that about one-third had GE contaminants."
http://q.gs/21uE9

So what do we do to avoid GMO contamination of our food.

Step 1.  Ask your local organic farmer not to grow plants that could be contaminated by GMOs through cross fertilization and to test for GMO contamination.

 Do not buy the crops most likely to have been contaminated by GMOs, such as corn, canola or soy or any products containing them, even if they are organic.  We should be able to be sure that we are not eating GMOs and not just hoping our food has not been contaminated.  By not growing the crops most likely to be contaminated by GMOs and testing for GMOs organic farmers will be able to give us much more assurance that our food is not contaminated by GMOs.  

Step 2. Native Plants.

 There are hundreds of native edible plants in the U.S. that are not generally grown agriculturally for food.  This means it is very unlikely that these native edible plants will ever be genetically modified.  Even if companies decided to genetically modify native plants in the U.S. they would have a fight on their hands.  Many native plants are considered sacred by native americans.  For example kalo(taro) which is sacred to Hawaii was banned from being genetically modified in parts of Hawaii.

http://q.gs/21uG8

 Another example is wild rice which is sacred to the Anishinaabekwe (Ojibwe), "a protection bill for wild rice was signed into law in early May 2007.  The legislation requires that any entity wanting to grow genetically engineered wild rice in Minnesota must file an environmental impact statement with the state.  It also requires that state entities notify the tribes of any permits granted to grow genetically engineered wild rice in other states, and that they engage in studies to better understand the threat that genetic engineering poses to wild rice."
http://www.mindfully.org/Farm/2007/Ricekeepers-Struggle-LaDuke1jul07.htm

  Eating native plants not generally used for agriculture will not only reduce our chance of eating GMO contaminated food but will also benefit the planet including the native animals in our area.  There are over 600 endangered or threated native animals and over 700 endangered or threatened native plants in the U.S.  About 42% of those endangered and threatened native plants and animals are endangered or threatened because of invasive plants and animals.  There are about 4000 species of invasive plants in the wild in the U.S.  This is about 25% of all the plants in the wild in the U.S.  There are also about 500 species of invasive animals in the wild.  There have been 200 native plants that have become extinct in the u.s. and about 5000 species are considered at risk.

Not only do GMOs have the potential to harm wildlife, so do invasive species.  Many of us are growing invasive species on our property right now and may not even know it.  If you have a grass on your lawn there is a good possibilty it is an invasive grass.  If we want to reduce GMO contamination and help the environment we should eliminate the invasive grass on our lawns which are a waste of valuable land and replace it with native edible plants.  Join your local Native Plant Society to learn more about which plants are native to your area, how to plant them etc..

Many native plants have had little research done on them yet they have been eaten for thousands of years.  For all we know a native plant may contain the cure for cancer etc.  By growing native plants researchers will be more likely to study these plants for their medicinal and nutritional values.  Perhaps researchers will even decide to spend more time studying the native plants etc. which already exist, before trying to genetically modify plants and animals etc.     

A "Native Diet" may also be healthier than a "Western Diet".  The Pima Indians who adopted a "Western Diet" who "are now running a 51 percent rate of diabetes, had only one single documented case of diabetes by 1920 when they were still living on their land and eating their indigenous diet.  Their cousins, the Tarahumaras, who have stuck with a natural diet and remained on their land, have only 6 percent incidence of diabetes."
http://www.naturalpedia.com/Pima_Indians.html

Step 3. Breed indoors.
 By eating the edible native plants that are not generally used for agricultre we will avoid cross fertilization but there are other ways GMOs can contaminate our food such as Horizontal Gene Transfer.
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/new_route_for_GM_gene_escape.php  

To avoid Horizontal Gene Tranfer as much as possible we should set up a breeding program indoors or in a greenhouse etc. where they will not be as exposed to possible contaminants.  A closet in your house may be enough space to have an area to breed for most plants.  So give to charity or have a yard sale to get rid of  all the "extra stuff" you never use anyway and you should be able to clear out a closet.  If you have a yard sale you may even make enough to pay for the lighting etc. you will need for your closet.  The seeds from the plants grown indoors will be less likely to be contaminated and will better ensure that you have GMO free food in the future. 
  
Step 4. Convince your neighbors to grow native.
If you replace your front lawn with one type of native edible plant and convince your neighbor to replace their front lawn with a different native plant, you will be able to trade with your neighbor.  If you can convince several of your neighbors to do this you will likely have a variety of plants to eat just in your neighborhood.  By convincing your neighbors to grow native plants you will also be reducing the chances of your own plants becoming contaminated by GMOs.  Remember if your neighbor grows any GM plant on their property it increases the risk of GMO contamination to your plants from Horizontal Gene Transfer. 
  
Step 5. GMO Awareness
 Many people do not even know what a GMO is.  By increasing awareness we will be informing people of the possible health risks of GMOs and possible environmental impact as well.  This may lead people to avoid buying GMOs which would lead to less of a demand and less farmers growing GMOs which will reduce GMO contamination.  By getting people to sign petitions to get GMOs labeled the average consumer will become aware of what foods contain GMOs and will be more likely to avoid them.  You can increase awareness by getting bumper stickers and t-shirts with GMO messages on them, sending emails, joining groups about GMOs etc.