Farm Bureau Applauds Right to Grow GMO Program

The Montana Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau support the recent announcement that farmers who are looking to plant new technologies have a reliable way to market their product with the “Right to Grow GMO” program. The program, developed by Syngenta and Gavilon Grain, LLC, will serve as a model to provide confidence for the American farmer that they will continue to have access to new technologies while meeting the needs of international customers.

Montana Farm Bureau Wheat Committee Chair Ken Johnson expressed his enthusiasm for the program. “Last week I attended the American Farm Bureau Commodity Advisory Committee meetings in Washington, D.C. where I served on the Wheat Committee. Although there is no GMO wheat to date, our committee agreed we needed to work with other countries so we’re all on the same page growing GMO crops. We believe there is a need for coordinating with all of the major exporters and importers of wheat to see if countries are ready for it.”

Johnson, a Conrad farmer, noted many people equate GMOs only with “Roundup Ready” crops, but that’s not necessarily the case. “GMOs can provide drought resistance, reduce the need for fertilizer and provide nitrogen efficiencies. Roundup Ready is another tool, but that’s not our main interest. GMOs can help increase yields during drought, provide resistance to disease, and help prevent mold in humid areas. GMOs can provide health benefits, and may eventually be able to help people who are gluten intolerant. The perception is GMOs are created by greedy chemical companies, but that’s all they think. They don’t take time to learn about the actual technology and think about the benefits to both farmers and consumers.”

American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman says, “Now more than ever, it is imperative that American farmers have access to new technologies to continue to provide a safe, healthy and affordable food supply both domestically and internationally. While the U.S. regulatory system is built on predictability and ensuring that new technology is safe, we also recognize that our international customers are subject to their own regulatory systems.  As such, it is important that U.S. exporters meet the needs of our export customers.”