Organic Seed May Soon Be Required

I got my email magazine from the Organic Farmers Association and right in the middle is good article by Harriet Behar entitled “Organic Seed: Protect Organic Integrity from GMO’s.”

I have heard this issue raised many times over the last few months and it is because most in the organic industry don’t know any way to make sure the nonorganic seed you may be buying has not been genetically engineered. GE or genetically engineered seed is a process whereby no new DNA is introduced to the plant but is simply a modification of the original plant. According to Harriet Behar, “the only gene-edited seed available in the US is mustard greens.” I didn’t know about this one, but I do know that there have been articles in American Fruit Grower about companies exploring GE for several fruit crops including blackberries.

Harriet makes the point, “gene-editing technologies like CRISPR are not traceable or trackable since there is no marker to test if gene-editing occurred.” GMO’s have a marker which is why they can get you for saving THEIR seed! Currently the problem (GE Plants or Seed) is so new and so controversial that the National Organic Program has not addressed the issue even though the NOSB has asked them to classify GE just like a GMO.

What may be pushing this issue to the forefront is the European Union and its organic program. In the EU they list specific crops by country that must be grown with organic seed because they have determined there is enough organic seed available. If the EU moves to put more organic varieties on these country lists because of the potential for GE in seed varieties, then the US is sure to follow suit. This is because of the organic equivalency agreements between the US and EU which make organic trade possible.

It is a good article and so I pulled it out and have it here to download. If you haven’t had a chance to sign up for the free email magazine from OFA then try it now….