Sugar Producer

8 Sugar Producer AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016 FROM THE ASGA By Luther Markwart | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Senate Faces Historic Debate Over GMO Labeling Legislation would void Vermont's labeling law The massive clash between anti- GMO activists and the nation's farmers and food manufacturers finally played out this summer. It has been a torturous marathon process, bringing together the entire food chain to battle the activists. Almost 1,100 farm and agribusiness groups from across the country locked arms to push a labeling package through Congress—an absolutely unprecedented coalition effort. The Vermont law went into effect July 1 without a federal bill being passed by the Senate. It is hopeful a bill will pass the Senate by July 7, and then be considered in the House without amendment. It is essential to get it passed and signed into law before the Congress breaks on July 15 for political conventions and the August recess and returns after Labor Day. What is most important is achieving the federal preemption of state labeling laws. Once the federal law is passed and signed by President Obama, it will immediately preempt the Vermont labeling law. There will be no more ballot initiatives or bills through state legislatures to require labeling of biotech products. That will be a huge victory for farmers and food manufacturers and a long-term response to the mischief created by the activists. It is absolutely essential to get this bill right for the long-term impact on our industry. There has been and is no other legislative priority like this labeling bill for our industry. I will wait until we have certainty that the bill has been completed to outline the various specific provisions for growers. There have been many misinterpretations and representations of what the bill says or does. This has been the ultimate test of patience, persistence and collaboration within a huge coalition. Rest assured, your voice has been heard loud and clear throughout the process. In a labeling "perception" survey released in late June, four key conclusions were drawn: • Consumers have been misled and are very confused about the safety and environmental benefits of both GMOs and organic foods. Both are not what they are perceived to be by consumers. • 35 percent of consumers perceive GMO labeling to imply the product is "less safe." (Products labeled non-GMO are implied to be better or safer–not true.) • 75 percent of consumers say they are less likely to buy a product bearing one of the Vermont GMO labels. • Consumers tend to make purchasing decisions based on perception and not on science. (GMO labels are a market segmenting tool to gain a marketing advantage by organic producers.) What does this survey mean for the GMO labeling bill? • If biotech products are going to be disclosed, significantly more information is needed to educate consumers about the safety and benefits of the biotechnology, which can only be done through electronic means. • Mandatory on-pack words or symbols do not educate consumers, but are only intended to differentiate and disparage safe and affordable consumer products for the benefit of non-GMO products.

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