GMO ban efforts start in Lake, Monterey counties

State Farm Bureau opposes local GMO ordinances

Elizabeth Larson
© Capital Press Agriculture Weekly
March 14, 2008

[excerpt:]
Groups in Lake and Monterey counties are beginning to lay the groundwork for bans on genetically modified organisms.

Bans currently are in effect in Mendocino, Marin, Santa Cruz and Trinity counties and in the cities of Arcata and Point Arena.

Chuck March, executive director of Lake County Farm Bureau, said the Farm Bureau is opposed to any localized ordinance against genetically engineered crops, which they believe should be controlled at either the state or federal levels. . . .

In Lake County, the Coalition for Responsible Agriculture - a consortium of farmers, activists and organizations - is leading the effort to prevent cultivation of all genetically modified organisms, said attorney Steve Elias, who helped draft the proposed ordinance. . . .

In Monterey County, a similar effort is under way. Lorna Moffat, one of the organizers, said . . . she was spurred to action after hearing Henry Daniell, a molecular biologist at the University of Central Florida, who expressed interest in growing a genetically modified, insulin-producing lettuce in Monterey County. . . .

The full article is available on the Capital Press website.