Biotechnology and Organic

Biotechnology Issues Affecting Organic Agriculuture

OFRF is dedicated to voicing the concerns of organic farmers regarding the development and repercussions of genetic engineering in agriculture.

According to the USDA National Organic Program Rule, which governs the definition of organically grown products, agricultural technologies that utilize genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are excluded from usage in organic production. The National Organic Program Rule states:

A variety of methods used to genetically modify organisms or influence their growth and development by means that are not possible under natural conditions or processes are not considered compatible with organic production.

Today, GMO technologies are becoming increasingly widespread in conventional U.S. agriculture. In partcular, corn, soy, canola and cotton crops are commonly grown using herbicide-resistant (RoundupReady) and pest resistant technologies, and milk is commonly produced from cows injected with recombinant bovine growth hormone. New GMO-based agricultural products come on the market every year, and organic farms and organically grown products are at risk of GMO contamination, a condition that consumers of organic products are clearly concerned about, and in general, have rejected.

OFRF Activities on GMOs:

OFRF Policy Statement on Genetic Engineering in Agriculture

OFRF comment on USDA-APHIS-BRS Environmental Impact Stament: Introduction of Genetically Engineered Organisms, April 13, 2004 [pdf file, 52K]

Certified organic farmer responses to OFRF 4th National Organic Farmers' Survey: GMOs and Organic, 2004 [pdf file, 239K]

Links to Useful Websites