In early 2009, six farmers leasing public land from Boulder County petitioned the County Commissioners to grow genetically modified “GMO” sugar beets on open space public land. At a study and public comment session hosted by the Boulder County Commissioners on May 28^th, the farmers said they “would be at a considerable economic disadvantage” not to be able to use that land to grow Roundup-ready GMO sugar beets. Sugar beets are primarily grown to be processed into refined sugar, and after just one year since the introduction of GMO sugar beets, approximately 95% of the national sugar beet crop is now grown using Roundup-ready GMO seeds.

I was at this County Commissioners “study session-slash-hearing,” testifying on behalf of The Organic Center as an independent, nonprofit research and education institution serving to advance credible, peer-reviewed scientific research behind the health and environmental benefits of organic food and farming, and as a member of the Boulder organic community.

Proponents of GMO agriculture, including the farmers petitioning the county, say that such technology allows them to be more sustainable, as it requires less application of herbicides. Yet, according to data compiled by The Organic Center’s chief scientist Chuck Benbrook, Ph.D., overall herbicide usage has increased since the advent of GMO agriculture in the mid-1990s.

The jury also is out on the health and environmental effects of GMO food and agriculture, say critics of genetically engineered food and farming. A growing number of studies have shown that animal health may be compromised, and that GMO foods have been associated in laboratory studies with food allergies, lower fertility and immunity, and decreased body weight.

GMO’s threat to the environment includes the potential creation of “super weeds” resistant to such widespread use of Roundup herbicide. Also, this herbicide can remain for some time in the soil. Additional research has shown that GMO sugar beets may be more prone to root rot diseases, and that genetic drift may occur into related species such as table beets and chard. Researchers in Mexico have definitive evidence that GMO corn has contaminated the seed stock of traditional maize varieties, grown for thousands of years.

It’s hard to put this GMO stuff back into the box, so to speak. In fact, if it’s not organic and it’s got soy or corn, it’s likely to be GMO—the vast majority of all conventional soy and conventionally farmed corn is now genetically engineered—mainly to be Roundup resistant! And GMO wheat and veggies are being cued up next by the biotech industry for wide-scale commercialization.

Back to the Boulder County Commissioners, there’s more. Another study session was called for June 12 and yours truly was invited back to the table to offer input. Further hearings are set for July 23 (Parks and Open Space Advisory Council), July 30 (Food and Agriculture Policy Committee), and August 25 with the Board of County Commissioners. Check the website atwww.bouldercounty.org/openspace/Sugarbeets.htm for updated information. Also, you can send comments to Tina Nielsen, Special Projects Manager, Boulder County Parks and Open Space,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Boulder region is a hotbed for organic farming and leading organic businesses—and if any farming is to be encouraged on publicly owned open space, organic agriculture surely ought to be considered for the truly environmentally friendly farming system that it is—saving energy inputs and costs, tying up more carbon in healthy organic soils, promoting biodiversity, and further contributing to Boulder’s healthy brand image.

The good news is the county is considering organic farming on open space land. With your comments, you can help sway their decision.

Organically yours,

Steve Hoffman, Managing Director

The Organic Center

www.organic-center.org