Agriculture • GMO battleground takes shape in California

GMO battleground takes shape in California
John Maday, Managing Editor, Drovers CattleNetwork | Updated: August 22, 2012

Opponents are far outspending supporters of California Proposition 37, which would require labeling of food products made from genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
MapLight Voter’s Edge, a non-partisan organization, provides information about ballot measures along with the funding, endorsements, and advertisements for and against the ballot measure. The organization’s analysis shows campaigns supporting the proposition have raised $2 million, while opponents have raised $25 million. Organic-foods and alternative-health groups account for 86 percent of the total money in support, while food and beverage, agriculture and bio-tech companies have provided 99 percent of the total money in opposition.
According to MapLight, the top five organizations providing funds in support of the measure are:
Mercola.com Health Resources LLC: $800,000
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps All-One-God-Faith Inc.: $290,000
Nature’s Path Foods U.S.A. Inc. Fine Natural Food Products: $250,709
Wehah Farm, Inc./Lundburg Family Farms $200,000
Organic Consumers Fund $54,639
The top five organizations providing funds in support of defeating the measure are:
Monsanto Company: $4,208,000
E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.: $4,025,200
PepsiCo, Inc.: $1,716,300
BASF Plant Sciences $1,642,300
Bayer Crop Sciences $1,618,400
A significant percentage of commercially manufactured food products that use corn or soybeans as ingredients would be affected by the labeling law, as many varieties of those crops are considered genetically modified. The proposition would exempt animals fed or injected with genetically engineered material but not genetically engineered themselves.

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Statistics: Posted by yoda — Wed Aug 22, 2012 9:25 pm