OSGATA et al v. Monsanto In Depth

The following is an excerpt from our Executive Director, Bill Duesing's, article in our newest edition of the Gleanings eNewsletter that was released today.  In the article, Bill details his visit to Manhattan on Tuesday to support farmers who are trying to prevent Monsanto from suing them for patent infringement.  If you would like to read the full newsletter, click here.  If you'd like to sign up to receive our monthly eNews, click here.

A GMO Hearing and Wingnuts
February 1, 2012

activists outside the courthouse

Yesterday I had the honor of representing CT NOFA and its members at a hearing, in the Southern District Court in lower Manhattan, on Monsanto's motion to dismiss our suit asking the court to prevent Monsanto from suing farmers whose crops are contaminated by Monsanto's modified genes. (See this document for more information on the lawsuit, including a list and descriptions of our co-plaintiffs.)
 
I joined 54 other organic and non-GMO farmers, representatives of organic farming organizations and organic seed producers before 7 AM in order to get a seat in the courtroom. We came from 20 different states and one Canadian province. Although there was no opportunity for us to speak, our attorney felt it was important to show the judge that there are real people behind the law suit. There was standing room only in the courtroom. Monsanto's only supporters were its four attorneys.
 
After about three hours of waiting... Read more here!

In the following video, Dan Ravicher explains what OSGATA et al v. Monsanto is all about.  The video is a little long, but gives a really good explanation that's easy to understand for those of us who aren't familiar with legalese. 


These resources help to explain why this lawsuit is important, and give an idea of what the outcome will mean for both farmers and consumers.  If you want to learn more about activism surrounding this case, check out the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association's website.

You can also read two articles in the news about Tuesday's event here and here.

One Great Reason to go Organic: GMOs

Right now the only way to know for sure if the food you're eating is GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) free is to buy organic.  Organic produce is prohibited from containing any genetically modified material, and organic livestock may not be given any genetically modified feed.  Maria Rodale, CEO and Chairman of Rodale, Inc., posted an article yesterday on the Huffington Post that describes the dangers of GMOs and the resulting need for product labeling.  Maria sites three studies listed in her article and summarizes them concisely: "One reports that GMOs survive in our bodies -- they aren't killed in the stomach, as some have suggested, but travel to the intestine where they remain active in the body. Another study reports that we are exposed to these GMOs, not only from the GMO foods themselves, but also from eating animals that eat GMO foods. And finally, animal studies reveal that these GMOs may be linked to disease.

So I say, Just Label It!"

The Just Label It campaign calls for mandatory labeling of GMO ingredients. The NOFA Interstate Council, NOFA RI, NOFA-VT, NOFA-NY and CT NOFA have joined the Campaign and are also plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Monsanto to protect organic producers from the ramifications of GMO contamination.  As part of our GMO Activist Program, we are building a list of members interested in anti-GMO activism who can help send letters to the FDA or locally organize to advocate for state labeling regulation in which Rep. Roy and the Ledgelight Health District have led the way. Please e-mail Kristiane if you'd like to be added to the list as we coordinate more GMO activism activities.

Check out our webpage to learn more about what you can do to ensure that you know what's in your food.

Have a great week!
-Melissa

CT NOFA's work to protect farmers and consumers from the threats of GMOs

Hey all, here's a press release about CT NOFA's work to educate the public and farmers about the potential threats to consumer rights, the environment and organic farming posed by genetically modified foods.   If you want to take action and demand labeling of GMO Foods please visit our GMO Page!  

Best,

Kristiane

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                        Contact: Kristiane Huber

November 10, 2011                                                                             kristiane@ctnofa.org

CT NOFA’S GMO PROGRAM SEEKS PROTECTION FOR FARMERS AND MANDATORY LABELING ON GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS

Dan Ravicher prepares to discuss "Suing Monsanto" at Yale Law School

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut (CT NOFA) has launched a campaign to educate consumers about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the environment and food supply. GMO crops pose a great threat to small-scale agriculture, biodiversity, food security and consumer rights.  GMO crops have failed to make agriculture more sustainable or feed the world as the biotechnology industry promised, according to The Global Citizens Report on the State of GMOs, released by Navdanya International and the International Commission on the Future of Food and Agriculture.

In June of 2011, CT NOFA joined the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) and over 80 other plaintiffs in suing Monsanto to protect independent or organic farmers from patent infringement charges should their non-GMO crops be contaminated with Monsanto’s patented genes.  “Hopefully this suit will raise awareness here and all over the country about the dangers of GMOs and slow the pollution they are spreading into the seeds which sustain us” explained CT NOFA’s Executive Director, Bill Duesing.  In October, CT NOFA and Yale Law School co-hosted “Suing Monsanto: Intellectual Property, Genetic Contamination and Farmers’ Rights”, a talk by Dan Ravicher, the lawyer representing organic producers in OSGATA et al. v. Monsanto and the Executive Director of the Public Patent Foundation.

Representative Roy at CT NOFA's Annual Meeting

CT NOFA has partnered with the Just Label It! Campaign and advocates for the right of consumers to know about genetically engineered ingredients in their food and their right to choose whether to eat it or not. According to the Center for Food Safety, over 85% of soy, cotton and corn are genetically modified and 70% of packaged foods contain a genetically modified material. There is an overwhelming consensus that GMO labeling is an ethical issue related to consumer rights according to polls conducted by MSNBC Health Poll, ABC News and the New York Times.

One of Connecticut’s leading GMO labeling advocates, Representative Richard Roy (D-Milford), Chair of the Connecticut Environmental Committee, was invited to speak at the CT NOFA annual meeting about his efforts to establish Connecticut GMO labeling legislation.  Representative Roy believes that Connecticut can be a leader in GMO labeling in the same way the state led the way in establishing a BPA ban in containers for children.  The first bill that contained a GMO labeling amendment failed to be passed in the House of Representatives, but he plans to introduce another GMO labeling amendment in a House Bill this year. 

Jeffrey Smith, CT NOFA's
Winter Conference Keynote
Speaker

CT NOFA has also added a GMO workshop track at the CT NOFA Winter Conference on March 3, 2011.  The Winter Conference keynote speaker is Jeffrey Smith, lead spokesperson on the dangers of genetically modified foods, and author of internationally bestselling “Seeds of Deception.” He is also the Executive Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology. 

For now, the only foods that are guaranteed to be GMO-free are those labeled as organic.  To avoid GMO foods, consumers are encouraged to buy local, know their farmer and support organic producers.  For more information about our past programs, the Winter Conference or to take action and support GMO labeling laws, please visit CT NOFA’s website: www.ctnofa.org or our GMO information page: http://ctnofa.org/GMO%20resource%20page.html