Food
	Land
	and Culture

	Presentation Summary
	Lac Courte Oreilles Casino and Convention Center Oct 3-4, 2002
	The Neighborhood Issue: Can GMO, Non- GMO, And Organic Farmers Coexist?
	Walter R. Fehr Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture Director of the Office of Biotechnology Iowa State University
	The introduction of genetically engineered traits into crops is creating a major challenge for farmers who are attempting to serve consumers who have different attitudes about food. There are multiple ways that seed or pollen of a genetically engineered (GMO) variety can end up in another GMO variety or a non-GMO variety. The contamination caused by a GMO variety can cause farmers to lose a market that does not find the GMO trait acceptable. The ability of farmers to grow grain free of undesirable GMO contamination often is determined by the actions of their neighbors. The neighbors may live next door or miles away. This was illustrated well by the number of farmers impacted in 2000 by StarLink corn, which was approved for use only as livestock feed. A farmer who grew StarLink corn impacted neighbors when pollen drifted to adjacent fields and when the corn was delivered to the local elevator, instead of feeding it on the farm. The neighborhood issue will be particularly important as crops are engineered to produce pharmaceuticals and industrial products, if the products are not determined to be safe for human consumption by the federal regulatory agencies. References: Animal Vaccines in Transgenic Plants: The Education and Regulatory Challenge http://www.biotech.iastate.edu/publications/IFAFS/Walt_AV_Paper.html Strategies for the Coexistence of GMO, Non-GMO, and Organic Crop Production http://www.biotech.iastate.edu/publications/IFAFS/Walt_coexistence.html Production of Pharmaceuticals in Plants: The Role of Public and Private Institutions in Regulation and Education http://www.biotech.iastate.edu/publications/IFAFS/PewMeetingPaper.html
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