OPINION: ‘Yes’ on Measure M to go GMO-free

If you remember a time a generation ago when it was legal to smoke in restaurants in California, you will recall that there were two sections, one for smoking and one for non-smoking.|

If you remember a time a generation ago when it was legal to smoke in restaurants in California, you will recall that there were two sections, one for smoking and one for non-smoking. The theory was that a smoker could puff away at a table in one side of the restaurant, while another person could enjoy a smoke-free meal in their section.

This of course was disingenuous since smoke can travel throughout a restaurant and contaminate the non-smoking side. The solution, then, was to ban smoking in restaurants altogether.

A similar effect happens in agriculture, where cross-pollination from genetically modified organisms can contaminate conventionally-grown crops, causing a farmer to lose their “organic” label. While this happens very infrequently, and only a small percentage of crops grown in Sonoma County are GMOs, the only way to prevent this contamination from ever happening is by banning GMOs.

We encourage voters to support Measure M on the Nov. 8 ballot to make Sonoma County the sixth county statewide to become GMO-free.

The process of modifying the DNA of crops to make them more resistant to drought or pesticide is not inherently bad. Like other techniques such as grafting and cross-breeding, the technology often helps to produce heartier crops and a more robust food system that can feed more people. Possible health risks of consuming GMO foods are still being studied, but to date there is no evidence to suggest that genetically engineered crops are unsafe.

But many people feel that, with more research, GMOs could prove to be harmful and they would rather avoid foods containing GMOs. Others object to the way GMOs have been used by biotech and big ag companies in the corporatization of the food system.

This has helped drive a lucrative market for organic produce, which many Sonoma County farmers have long tapped into. By passing Measure M, we can ensure that there will be no question that produce marketed as being grown in Sonoma County is GMO-free.

The measure is not a sweeping denunciation of GMOs. It does not outlaw the sale of food or animal feed that contains GMO products grown outside the county. It does not outlaw human or animal vaccines. And it does not outlaw research on genetically engineered organisms.

Traditional breeding techniques, such as hybridization and grafting, would still be permitted if the measure passes.

As the market for non-GMO food increases, there needs to be a better way of identifying such food for consumers. While this measure does not address food labeling, the way that food manufacturers identify GMO ingredients should be more clear.

President Obama signed a law last month that requires most food packages to carry an electronic code readable by smartphone that indicates whether the food contains GMOs. That requires consumers to take an extra step to find out what’s in their food, but it is a step in the right direction.

If Measure M passes, consumers will know that food grown in Sonoma County is GMO-free, and our farmers can market their produce as such. We recommend a “yes” vote on Measure M.

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