OCA & Groups Nationwide Rally Behind New Anti-Biotech Documentary"The Future of Food"

From <www.commondreams.org>

PRESS RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 2, 2005

CONTACT: Future of Food Campaign
Chrissy Poulos, thefutureoffood at hellocoolworld.com, 604-251-5567 x 247

Activist Groups Nationwide Rally Behind "The Future of Food"
Film Begins National Theatrical Run As Debate on Genetically Engineered Food
Grows

"If you eat food, you need to see The Future of Food." - Newstarget.com
"There's a stunning revelation in almost every scene. Grade: A." - David
Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor

LOS ANGELES - September 2 - The Future of Food, a feature documentary by
Deborah Koons Garcia, offers a startling look at the changes happening in
our food system today. For the first time, a feature film takes an in-depth
look at the takeover of our food supply by multinational corporations and
the widespread advent of unlabeled, patented, and unregulated genetically
modified crops and foods. The film will premiere in New York at Film Forum
on September 14 and widen thereafter.

The film has been utilized around the world as a key anti-GMO (genetically
modified organisms) activist tool by grassroots organizations such as the
Organic Consumers Association, The Center for Food Safety and The Campaign.
Ronnie Cummins, author of Genetically Engineered Food: A Self-Defense Guide
for Consumers and Director of the Organic Consumers Association calls The
Future of Food "the most powerful documentary we have ever used in educating
consumers." The film was a key part of the success of passing Measure H in
2004 in Mendocino County, California, which was one of the first local
initiatives in the country to ban the planting of GMO crops.

Most Americans are unaware that GMO crops are now growing on well over 100
million acres of America's farmlands. An estimated 80% of all soy, over 35%
of all corn, 75% of all cotton and most canola in the marketplace are now
genetically engineered. Of these crops, an estimated 80% are now used for
animal feed. The other 20% of GMO crops turn up on America's supermarket
shelves in everything from corn tortillas, to snack foods that contain soy
lecithin, canola oil, and corn syrup. These genetically engineered organisms
have found their way into consumer foods like milk and other dairy products
with the introduction of Bovine Growth Hormone, another widely prevalent GMO
from the agribusiness biotech giant, Monsanto.

National organic standards from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture do not permit
crops containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to be certified
organic -- and certified organic foods are soaring in popularity as the last
bastion of GMO-free eating. The issues at stake in the race to protect our
food system are numerous.

? Labeling is a key issue: The United States and Canada are the only
industrialized countries in the world that do not yet have labeling either
in place or underway, while the European Union and 40 other countries around
the world already do.

? Pre-emptive legislation: Monsanto and the American Farm Bureau have
been behind "pre-emption laws" in 14 states. Often referred to as the
"Monsanto Law," they are intended to prevent local counties and townships
from banning the growing of genetically engineered crops and animals.

? GMO pollution: Biotech companies are rushing recklessly ahead in
planting new crops, such as genetically engineered alfalfa and
bio-pharmaceutical crops, even though they are well aware they cannot
control genetic pollution.

? News updates: For more information on these and other timely issues
related to GMO farming and food, visit the Organic Consumers Association,
www.organicconsumers.org/gelink.html

In cities across the country, events such as speakers' panels on topics such
as genetics, patenting and the future of organics will be organized to
support the opening of the film. In conjunction with the September release
of the film in New York, healthy food organizations such as GRACE, Slow
Food, Just Food, NYSAGE, Consumers Union, the Center for Food Safety and
local CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture initiatives), will introduce the
film and facilitate discussions after selected screenings. In the East
Village in New York, Bluestockings Bookstore (www.Bluestockings.com) will
host a series of after-screening discussion cafes where audience members
will be invited to participate in discussions about the issues raised in the
film, and to find out how they can participate locally.
The award-winning documentary will premiere at Film Forum in New York on
September 14. Following the premiere, the film will widen to cities across
the nation including Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Berkeley (CA), Boston,
Seattle, Denver, Boulder and Chicago. Distribution will be handled by Cinema
Libre Studio.

Editors and Producers: For a screener copy of the film and press materials
please email Mary Keeler at mkeeler@cinemalibrestudio.com; phone (818)
349-8822. High resolution, downloadable images can be found at:
http://www.thefutureoffood.com/media. Details on theatres can be found
below.
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