Ecotopia #203
Title: Label GMOs
August 21, 2012

This week we’re talking about Proposition 37. Our guests are both proponents of the proposition to label products that contain GMOs, genetically modified organisms. We’ll talk first with Grant Lundberg; he’s the CEO of Lundberg Family Farms and on the Board of Directors of the Non GMO Project.

And then we’ll talk with Dave Murphy, a frequent guest on this program. He’s the founder and executive director of Food Democracy Now!, a nonprofit that dedicated to reforming policies relating to food, agriculture and the environment.
Listen to the Program

Our Conversation with Grant Lundberg

On the phone with us now is Grant Lundberg, CEO of Lundberg Family Farms and on the Board of Directors of the Non GMO Project

1. Grant, you are a proponent of Yes on Prop 37, which would require the labeling of GMO products. What exactly does the proposition call for? What does GMO mean?

2. What are the goals of the California Right to Know, an activist group supporting Proposition 37? Are there efforts to ban GMOs altogether?

3. You’re also involved with the Non GMO Project? How does that relate to Prop 37?

4. Why do you think it’s important to label GMO products? Beyond the fact that we have a right to know, what’s wrong with GMOs?

5. What got you involved in the efforts to let the public know about GMOs?

6. The website for the Non GMO Project (www.nongmoproject.org) has a very useful “handbook” called “GMO Myths and Truths: An evidence-based  examination of the claims made for the safety and efficacy of genetically modified crops.” What kinds of myths are common about GMOs?

7. What kind of media ads might we expect to see about Prop 37 in the next few months? How can people learn more? California Right to Know  website is www.carighttoknow.org

Thank you so much, Grant Lundberg. We’ve been talking to Grant Lundberg, who’s the CEO of Lundberg Family Farm and active in the Yes on Prop 37, aiming to require the labeling of products with GMOs.

Our Discussion with Dave Murphy
Back on the show with us is Dave Murphy. He’s founder and executive director of Food Democracy Now!, a grassroots organization of more than 300,000 farmers and citizens. He is a tireless activist, working to reform policies related to food, agriculture and the environment.
phy
1. What work has Food Democracy Now! done in the past on the issue of GMOs?

2. Why do you think this is an important issue? What are some of the risks of GM crops? Why not go for a ban on GM crops rather than just labeling GMOs?

3. I read in your blog on Food Democracy Now! that the parliamentary standing committee on agriculture issued a report calling for a reversal of India’s policy to allow GM crops to be cultivated. What do think the outcome of that is likely to be? How to other countries treat GM crops?

4. You also write that recent campaign finance reports show that pesticide and processed food companies have contributed nearly $10 million to oppose Proposition 37. Who are some of those companies? What rationale, if any, do they offer for opposing Prop 37? In what form will we see the opposition to Prop 37?

5. Tell us about some of the lobbying efforts both locally and nationally to create support for GM crops?

5. What do you think will be the outcome of this proposition? How is Food Democracy Now! participating in the California Right to Know Campaign?

6. We’ve already mentioned the www.carighttoknow.org website. Food Democracy Now! also has information on this topic: fooddemocracynow.org. Tell us a bit more about some of the efforts of Food Democracy Now!

Our guest has been Dave Murphy. He’s the founder and executive director of Food Democracy Now!, a grassroots movement of more than 300,000 American farmers and citizens dedicated to reforming policies relating to food, agriculture and the environment. Thanks for being with us again, Dave.”

Playlist

1. Real Food    2:58    Jerry Engler    Very Jerry    Country
2. The GMO’s    2:55    Synthetic Folk Hero    Synthetic Folk Hero    Pop
3. Genetically Modified Organisms    3:49    Panika    Genetically Modified    Hip-Hop/Rap
4. Monsanto (Go Away!)    6:17    Human    Naked    Pop
5. Weave Me the Sunshine    4:28    Peter, Paul And Mary    The Very Best of Peter, Paul and Mary    Folk        100    7/6/12 3:57 PM
6. Food    2:40    The Turtles    The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands    Pop        4    6/13/11 12:53 PM
7. Food Food Food (Oh How I Love my Food)    2:10    The Wiggles    Toot Toot    Children’s Music        5    8/21/12 8:42 AM