Biotechnology continues to be an issue that generates a high level of passion among farm policy observers as well as citizen voters both internationally and domestically.
The biotech issue has tremendous implications for agricultural trade and development.
This month, two separate votes on biotech ballot initiatives provide an interesting snap shot into the current nature of the debate.
On the international front, Sunday’s International Herald Tribune reported that, “Swiss voters today supported a five year-ban on the farming of genetically modified crops, offering a further sign of widespread distrust in Europe of scientifically enhanced foods.”
In addition to noting that the vote is an issue for “biotech companies like Syngenta, Bayer and Monsanto as they try to overcome consumer doubts about safety,” the article also pointed out that, “many nations say further tests are needed before allowing widespread farming of genetically modified crops.”
Meanwhile, a similar political action regarding biotechnology was the subject of recent debate here in the U.S.
Voters cast ballots on an initiative known as “Measure M” earlier this month in Sonoma County, California.
According to a Sacramento Bee article, “Measure M supporters said banning biotech crops for 10 years in Sonoma County represented a reasonable response to the spread of genetically modified foods. The moratorium was based on Europe’s so-called ‘Precautionary Principle,’ which says a new technology must be proved safe before it can be deployed.”
On the other hand, “[T]traditional farmers said Measure M would elevate fear above science and deprive them of tools necessary to improve the county’s two big agricultural industries – the $309 million wine-grape business and the $100 million dairy industry.”
In the end, voters rejected the proposed ban on genetically modified crops in Sonoma County.
These two votes demonstrate that the high octane debate regarding biotechnology is far from settled and will continue to have overarching implications for agricultural trade.
Keith Good writes The FarmPolicy.com News Summary, an Email newsletter containing a summary of news relating to U.S. farm policy which is published most weekdays. To learn more about this publication, go to www.farmpolicy.com.
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Branecky grew up in rural Texas, the daughter of a vocational agricultural educator. She attended Clarendon College where she was on the 2001 National Junior Collegiate Champion Meats Judging Team and was honored as the 2002 Female Agricultural Student of the Year. Branecky is a December 2005 graduate of Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications.
Loutzenhiser grew up on his family’s cow-calf operation near Flagler, Colo., with responsibilities that included animal husbandry, range management and dryland farming. He served in various officer positions in FFA including Colorado State FFA President. Loutzenhiser is a December 2005 graduate of Colorado State University (CSU) as an Honors Scholar with a bachelor’s degree in animal science & ag business. 
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