December 21, 2000

The American Corn Growers Association (ACGA) plans to make biotechnology liability protection for farmers a major priority in the upcoming 107th Congress. In a presentation to the Policy Committee of the National Farmers Union in Minneapolis, ACGA Executive Director Lynden L. Peter said the organization would work with the new Congress on legislation "to make sure that producers are compensated for lost markets and protected against environmental risks."

Peter added, "Farmers are suffering big losses from the contamination of genetically engineered crops and it's not their fault. Seed companies, EPA and Congress need to step to the plate or else the courts will have to step in to make up the difference. I hope we can all work together."

The ACGA action comes in the wake of the StarLink corn strain, a biotech corn unapproved for human consumption, found commingled with regular corn in grain elevators and bins across the country.

Peter said seed companies, EPA and USDA ignored the obvious consequences of approving StarLink corn. When farmers grow traditional corn next to genetically modified corn, pollen drifts and gene pools contaminate each other.

Biotech companies are urging EPA to temporarily approve StarLink for human consumption to stave off large corporate losses. ACGA, in a recent statement to EPA, expressed the concern that approval would erode the credibility of our regulatory system, an important consideration of foreign buyers of U.S. grains.

Peter also urged farmers to get assurances from seed dealers that the bags of seed they buy are true to their variety number. ACGA is recommending to corn producers that they demand testing of seed before it is delivered to assure purity of content. "This thing could get out of hand," said Peter. "Farmers are locking in seed for next year's crop. Yet seed companies can't guarantee 100 percent purity in the seeds they will deliver to farmers this spring. When you order a Buick with factory air and leather seats, that's what you want from the dealer. Seed purchases are no different."