(Reuters) — It is becoming increasingly difficult for U.S. farmers to grow crops that aren’t contaminated by genetic modification and pesticides, says a new report.
New government rules to control contamination are needed, according to the report issued by Food & Water Watch and the Organic Farmers’ Agency for Relationship Marketing.
Based on information from 268 farmers in 17 states, the report said more than 30 percent of farmers seeking to grow organic crops reported that unintended GM presence has been found or suspected on their farms.
The report was issued as the U.S. Department of Agriculture took public comments on a plan for “enhancing co-existence” of non-GM and GM crops. The public comment period ended March 4.
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Farmers trying to grow non-GM crops have to take many steps and sometimes spend several thousands of dollars to try to protect their crops from GM crops, which have become pervasive across the United States, the groups said.
“The risks and the effects of GMO contamination have unfairly burdened organic and non-GMO farmers with extra work, longer hours and financial insecurity,” the report said.
The level of contamination of non-GM crops by GM crops is an area of concern because some foreign buyers of U.S. crops will not accept GM varieties.
