To: Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the USDA
Stop Open Field Trials of Unapproved GMO Wheat!
Please declare a moratorium on open field trials of genetically engineered (GMO) wheat. The current USDA proposal doesn't do enough to prevent contamination to neighboring fields and organic farmers.
Why is this important?
Genetically engineered wheat that was never approved for human consumption was found in an Oregon field in 2013 and in a Montana field in 2014. These contamination incidents costs farmers millions of dollars and the unapproved GMO wheat likely ended up in the food system.
Now the USDA wants comments on how they control field trials. If the USDA and patenting biotech companies cannot rein in GMO technology, then they must put a stop to open field trials before more incidents like these occur.