Washington state labeling initiative could have global impact

Ballot initiative 522 will be decided by voters in the state of Washington on Election Day, and has the potential to significantly impact companies, farmers and consumers around the U.S and the world.

If passed, the initiative would require labeling for foods that contain GMOs. A report from the Washington State Academy of Sciences found that grocery costs would increase among families due to costs that would likely be imposed on producers.

Brian Kennedy, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) director of communications, released a statement that said "I-522 would falsely mislead consumers to consider products labeled as 'genetically engineered' as somehow different, unsafe or unhealthy - in clear contradiction of scientific facts."

In addition to GMA, a number of food companies individually have made efforts to stop the bill from passage. All that, of course, is in addition to what several CropLife members, working with CropLife International and individually, are doing to encourage a NO vote.

In an open letter, one Filippino farmer and Truth About Trade and Technology (TATT) Global Farmer Network member expressed her fears regarding the impacts of this vote. Although it seems strange that a Filippino farmer would feel compelled to appeal to Washington voters, she argues that the choices made by voters in the U.S. have the power to influence food security and availability of modern agricultural tools in her country.

She writes: "Approval of I-522 won't stop me from growing GM crops next season, but it would send a signal that Americans have new doubts about biotechnology. It could cause another delay, for instance, in my country's approval of GM talong (also known as eggplant), which is a staple food here."