Spotlight on Land O’ Lakes – Doing Monsanto’s Bidding on GE Alfalfa
If Monsanto is the devil, as many would say, then there has been little if any mention of those doing the devil's bidding here, in this case that disciple being Forage Genetics International (FGI). FGI is a wholly (or rather "unholy") owned...
February 15, 2011 | Source: Windy Ridge Poultry | by Tim Koegel
Long before now, everyone in
the organic community, as well as most of the conventional
community, have become thoroughly familiar with RoundUp Ready
Alfalfa (RRA). Of course there have been countless outcries
against Monsanto, and it has been Monsanto’s name in virtually
every print and web article as well as radio and TV show. But if
Monsanto is the devil, as many would say, then there has been
little if any mention of those doing the devil’s bidding here,
in this case that disciple being Forage Genetics International (FGI).
FGI is a wholly (or rather “unholy”) owned subsidiary of Land O’
Lakes. While Monsanto owns the patented RoundUp Ready (RR) gene,
FGI is the developer of RR Alfalfa and licenses the patents to
do so from Monsanto.
Many have asked, “Why the big deal now? After all this is only
one more in the string of GMOs.” Perhaps one of the most
significant points in this case is that genetically engineered
(GE) alfalfa is the first perennial GMO. It can cross breed with
wild alfalfa and provide a rogue GE gene pool, greatly
increasing the probability that eventually all alfalfa will
become contaminated. Alfalfa is also considered “insectary” due
to the large number of insects it attracts, which will also
accelerate the genetic contamination. If GMO alfalfa follows the
same path as GMO soy and corn, then within 15 years we should
expect to see 80-90% of the 21 million acres currently planted
in alfalfa to be of a GE variety. This means a serious challenge
to producing organic alfalfa, vital for organic dairy. It also
means a substantially increased environmental human exposure to
the herbicide RoundUp, a known endocrine disrupter.
Plant pathologist Don Huber, PhD, professor emeritus of Purdue
University, says the repercussions of introducing Roundup Ready
technology to another crop, like alfalfa, could be disastrous.
“If indications hold true, we’re set up for the greatest
disaster that this country or the world has ever seen, that will
dwarf any major famine or drought that has ever been recorded,”
says Huber.
Should consumers choose to take their own action against this
assault on human health, we wanted to point out some of the Land
O’ Lakes brand names & licensees so that you can contact them
and tell them what you think about their grand “little”
experiment on mankind.
Here are a few of the most well known
names:
Land O’
Lakes
–
http://www.landolakesinc.com/utility/contact/default.aspx
–
http://www.facebook.com/LandOLakes
-(800) 328-9680
Purina
Mills (Livestock feeds)
–
http://cattle.purinamills.com/ContactUs/default.aspx
-(800) 227-8941
Dean
Foods (Owner of Horizon Organics) packaging LOL products under
license
– (214) 303-3400
Dean Foods Consumer Response P.O. Box 961447 El Paso, TX 79996
–
media@deanfoods.com
White
Wave (Owned by Dean foods) packaging LOL products under license
-Land O’Lakes products: 800-878-9762
–
jarod.ballentine@whitewave.com
–
http://www.facebook.com/pages/WhiteWave-Foods/108451807072
Alpine
Lace (Lowfat cheese products)
–
http://www.alpinelace.com/contact/other.cfm
Of course you
could also contact Forage Genetics directly at:
– Forage Genetics International, P.O. Box 339 Nampa, ID 83653-0339
–
(800) 635-5701
info@foragegenetics.com
-Mark McCaslin, PhD, President – mccaslin@foragegenetics.com
If consumers
let these food giants know that they will NOT buy their poisons,
they WILL have no choice but to eventually listen.