Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Genetic engineering is a process whereby genes from one organism are moved into the genome of another organism. In the case of genetically engineered foods, genes from bacteria or other plants or organisms are moved into foods such as soybeans, corn, potatoes, and rice to provide herbicide-tolerance and/or insect resistance to the plants.

Environmental Commons believes that genetic modication and engineering:

• Constrict farmer seed and variety privileges.
• Confer private ownership of otherwise commonly held life forms.
• Create unanticipated environmental effects.
• Threaten human health.
• Suppress the development and integrity of less intensive, more sustainable farming systems.
• Damage local farming economies.

GMOs & Food Democracy

Due to a dearth of adequate regulations regarding GMOs, local communities are democratically reaching decisions regarding the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and transgenic organisms.

Threats to Food Democracy

In response, state legislators supported by the agribusiness industry began introducing legislation removing local communities ability to shape their food systems in lieu of adequate oversight.

Environmental Commons believes a community's food policies should be determined by public support and local policymakers, not by agribusiness lobbyists in backrooms of the state or federal legislatures.

GMO News
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