Los Angeles may become largest GMO-free area in the US

[YayFun]

http://rt.com/usa/los-angeles-gmo-ban-643/

I know a lot of you are don't care about gmo, but here it is anyway.

Part of article:

Los Angeles is considering a ban on the cultivation, sale and distribution of genetically modified organisms, which would make the city the largest GMO-free zone in the US.

Los Angeles City Councilmen Paul Koretz and Mitch O’Farrell introduced Friday a motion to curb growth and proliferation of GMO seeds and plants within the city.

The councilmen said the proposal aims to protect local gardens and city-grown food from future contamination from GMO seeds. The motion would not impact the sale of food containing GMO ingredients, however.

GMO seeds are mostly used only by large-scale farming operations, of which none exists in Los Angeles city.

"The pending ordinance would be symbolic more than anything else, but we do feel it's an important step to have the second-largest city in the nation declare itself as against genetically modified seeds," said head of Learning Garden and Seed Library of LA David King, who assisted in creating the motion.

King told The Huffington Post that if GMO seeds begin to be marketed to smaller farmers, the ban would be in place to protect home-grown food.

O’Farrell said suspicions that powerful new pesticides - incorporated into plant DNA via genetic engineering - have devastated worldwide honeybee populations by 40 to 50 percent in 2012 is the “canary in the coal mine” for GMOs. California’s almond crop, which supplies 80 percent of US almonds, has fallen on tough times given almonds rely so much on bees.

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[dorkdotdan]

Almost every fruit and vegetable you eat has been genetically modified and it has been going on, intentionally or inadvertently, for hundreds of years. There are virtually zero risks associated with GMOs in humans. They may affect ecosystems from cross pollination, but ultimately the product you are receiving is better.

And they might as well ban corn altogether because that has been modified continuously since the Mayans.

[Operator¹]

you also have to look at the social implications here because GMOs are cheaper and therefore easier for those lower class folks to obtain.

[The Magical Dunes]

sure is great to see someone opposing monsanto's terrible rule over the city of angels. i've seen kids develop asthma after walkin' by them monsanto farms. this is really a turning point in us agricultural policy considering the crucial role that los angeles plays in our food supply. its sickening to think that we could be eating a plant that shares genes with a non-plant organism. kifflom, brother brother ^_^

[YayFun]

Almost every fruit and vegetable you eat has been genetically modified and it has been going on, intentionally or inadvertently, for hundreds of years. There are virtually zero risks associated with GMOs in humans. They may affect ecosystems from cross pollination, but ultimately the product you are receiving is better.

And they might as well ban corn altogether because that has been modified continuously since the Mayans.

You're confusing GMO from plant breeding. GMO is genes from lets say a fish injected into the DNA of an apple, or strawberry in a lab. Plant breeding is naturally creating a cross of two types of plants that are compatible without the use of injecting anything. It happens in your very own yard most likely. It's also known as a hybrid. GMO didn't go to mass market until the early 90's. Another example is in 2012 Monsanto changed corn to create it's own pesticide which they consider "safe", and does not wash off.

[Harm94]

I thought San Francisco would become the largest GMO free area or at least part of it.

Almost every fruit and vegetable you eat has been genetically modified and it has been going on, intentionally or inadvertently, for hundreds of years. There are virtually zero risks associated with GMOs in humans. They may affect ecosystems from cross pollination, but ultimately the product you are receiving is better.

And they might as well ban corn altogether because that has been modified continuously since the Mayans.

Coming from a rural family I can most genetic modification is just people cross breeding types of same plant.