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As part of the global campaign to ban genetically engineered foods, we are currently working to induce soy bean growers and dealers in the US to segregate the genetically engineered soybeans from the natural ones that will be harvested this fall. This will make it possible for buyers in Europe and Scandinavia, where consumers have expressed the strong desire that genetically engineered foods at least be labelled, to obtain large quantities of soybeans that are not contaminated with genetically engineered beans.
As you know, the US government is not requiring segregation of these genetically engineered soybeans from natural ones, and the European Union has opened the door to the importation of genetically engineered beans mixed with natural ones. Therefore, our approach is to convince farmers and soybean dealers in the US that it will be highly advantageous economically for them to segregate natural and -genetically engineered soybeans.
Specifically, we wish to establish in their minds that there is strong demand among European consumers that, at least, genetically engineered foods should be labelled, and that unless they can assure European buyers and food processors which lots of soybeans are or are not genetically engineered, they will have difficulty in selling them at top prices.
I am writing at this time to ask you to approach government officials and representatives of the food industry and high level executives in large food distribution and food processing companies in your country asking each of them for a statement calling for the US soybean industry to segregate genetically engineered soybeans.
Attached is a statement from the British Retailers Consortium, which serves as an ideal model for the statements that we would like you to obtain from officials in your country. The essential points that need to be included in these statements are
(1) that consumers demand that genetically engineered foods be labelled
as such;
(2) that to maintain consumer confidence in the food industry, it is
essential that genetically engineered foods be labelled;
(3) that because of this, food processors and buyers in your country
will require segregation of US soybeans;
(4) that if segregation is not accomplished on a reliable basis, buyers
in your country will either purchase the soybeans that they need from other
sources, such as South America, or will substitute materials other than
soy in their products.
In your campaign against genetically engineered foods, you have probably already identified key individuals in government and in the food industry that you could approach to request a statement. In some cases, ministers with responsibilities for food, agriculture, health, or the environment may have already publicised such a statement.
In addition to approaching officials directly, you might consider working through other contacts that you might have in the government or elsewhere, who might be useful in stimulating officials to release such statements. For instance, you might ask assistance from members of your National Parliament or of the European Parliament who have a record of opposition to genetic engineering or a record of support for environmental issues, or leaders of advocacy groups that have useful contacts within the government or food industry.
The statements that you obtain from officials in your country will be extremely useful here in the US in convincing farmers and soybean dealers to segregate this year's harvest.
This is a highly time-sensitive project. The soybean harvest will begin in late September or early October. Thus we need to begin working with grain dealers and farmers right away so that they will be prepared to segregate when harvesting begins.
As soon as you have obtained one or more statements, please fax a copy of each to my office, and mail clean photocopies (unfolded) as well. We will begin using these immediately in approaching soybean dealers, farmers coops, and individual farmers to encourage them to keep genetically engineered soybeans separate from natural ones.
We will also try to identify grain dealers here in the US who will be willing to work with buyers in Europe who require a high level of certainty in obtaining soybeans that are not genetically engineered. We have already identified one such organisation, and should find others as well. We will be happy to put buyers in your nation in contact with these dealers at your request.
It may be of interest to you that we have developed a scientific test in our laboratory here at Maharishi University of Management that is capable of detecting genetically engineered soybeans. This test is highly sensitive and accurate. Even if a lot of soybeans is only lightly contaminated (one genetically engineered bean in 5000), this test will detect the contamination. This test can be used by buyers in Europe and by dealers in the USA to identify lots of beans that are free of contamination with genetically engineered soybeans. Using this test, the food industry in your country can offer safe, non-genetically engineered soy products to consumers with a high degree of confidence.
It should be mentioned in closing that the goal of our campaign continues to be to remove all genetically engineered foods from the market. The strategy of this particular initiative is to show American farmers, and farmers world wide, that there is a much greater demand for natural soybeans than for genetically engineered ones, and that this demand will translate into higher prices for natural soybeans. If farmers recognise this, they will spontaneously choose to grow natural soybeans in future years. Thus, we are using economics to move the food production system away from dangerous genetically engineered foods. If we succeed with soybeans, it will be increasingly easy to accomplish the same thing for other genetically engineered foods.
John Fagan
Professor of Molecular Biology
Maharishi University of Management
1000 North Fourth Street
Fairfield, Iowa, 52557-1078
Phone : 1-515-472-8342 or 1-515-472-1111
Fax: 1-515-472-5725 or 1-515-472-1167
email adress: jfagan@mum.edu
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