Watch the video interview with Dr. Don Huber about the new pathogen that’s threatening our food. And then tell President Obama to say “no” to GMO Alfalfa and Sugar Beets!

FARFA worked with Food Democracy Now! on an interview with Dr. Huber to undrstand the science behind the new pathogen that is threatening our food supply.  It’s planting season now. If these new Roundup Ready alfalfa seeds go in the ground, it will be too late to stop them from making their way up the food chain — putting America’s crops, livestock, and ultimately our families at risk.

TAKE ACTION

1) CALL THE WHITE HOUSE

• Phone: (202) 456-1111
• Fax: (202) 456-2461
• Online: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

MESSAGE: “I’m appalled that President Obama and Secretary Vilsack ignored Dr. Huber’s warnings about the threat posed by a new pathogen linked to genetically modified crops and Roundup. It was wrong to approve GMO alfalfa and sugar beets without more research. I insist that President Obama place an immediate moratorium on the planting of these GMO crops.”

2) SIGN THE PETITION

Together with Food Democracy Now!, we have drafted a letter to President Obama and Secretary Vilsack insisting that they suspend the sale and planting of Monstanto’s Roundup Ready Alfalfa seeds until independent third party scientific research can be conducted proving the safety of GMO crops. Will you please sign on?

You can view the video and sign the petition on Food Democracy Now’s website — scroll to the bottom of the page for the petition. (Note: because of the software, you will be automatically signed up for Food Democracy Now’s email alerts, but you can choose to unsubscribe if you prefer.)

BACKGROUND

On January 17, 2011, Dr. Don Huber, an internationally-recognized plant pathologist and Professor Emeritus at Purdue University, sent a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack alerting him to a serious problem facing U.S. agriculture. This letter warned Secretary Vilsack of a previously unknown pathogen that “should be treated as an emergency.”

Dr. Huber’s letter discussed the new pathogen in dire terms, saying that a top team of scientists had discovered a link between the new pathogen, the steady rise of plant diseases in Roundup Ready corn and soybean crops, and the high rates of infertility and spontaneous abortions of animal livestock consuming feed that had been treated with the weed killer Roundup.

The letter urged Secretary Vilsack not to approve Roundup Ready alfalfa because of the high levels “of this new animal pathogen in Roundup Ready crops, and its association with plant and animal diseases that are reaching epidemic proportions,” and to conduct research on the relationship between Roundup Ready crops, glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup), and this new pathogen.

The USDA chose to ignore this warning and less than three weeks later approved two new GMO crops, including Monsanto’s Roundup Ready alfalfa, creating a threat to the primary forage feed for US livestock.

The letter, although intended to be confidential, was leaked by a third party, after which Dr. Huber gave permission for FARFA and others to post it. The now-public letter unleashed a storm of accusations and recriminations, including a quick response from Monsanto.